I received a lot of books during the same week in July and this is the second book haul post I’m showing you which this time features a very varied selection of books from the lovely people at Vetebrate Publishing. There’s a real variety of different types of books so let’s check them out, with their full blurbs written below, and let me know which, if any, you are interested in 🙂
First on the Rope by Roger Frison-Roche – First on the Rope the acclaimed English translation of the French fiction classic Premier de Cordée by Roger Frison-Roche is a tale about the harsh lives of mountain guides and their families in the French Alps in the 1920s and 1930s.
An ascent of Mont Blanc as porter with his uncle leaves young Pierre further convinced he wants to be a mountaineer, breathing the crisp, pure air and soaking up the splendour of the wild landscape. But his family have other ideas. Chamonix is becoming ever more popular with tourists wanting their thrills on the slopes, and they all need somewhere to stay. Running a hotel, however, is not Pierre s idea of fulfilment.
Among the glittering peaks and desolate passes, wonderful sunsets and wild winds, tragedy strikes across the Vallée Blanche on the Dru: a brutal storm leaves sadness and destruction in its wake. Can the onset of spring and the hope it brings rebuild Pierre s passion for climbing?First on the Rope epitomises the rhythm of mountain life, the clanking cowbells and the gurgling streams against the formidable grandeur of the ice and rock. Equip yourself for an immersive and emotive experience in the high Alps.
Edmund Hilary: A Biography by Michael Gill – Edmund Hillary: A Biography is the story of the New Zealand beekeeper who climbed Mount Everest. A man who against expedition orders drove his tractor to the South Pole; a man honoured around the world for his pioneering climbs yet who collapsed on more than one occasion on a mountain, and a man who gave so much to Nepal yet lost his family to its mountains.
The author, Michael Gill, was a close friend of Hillary’s for nearly 50 years, accompanying him on many expeditions and becoming heavily involved in Hillary’s aid work building schools and hospitals in the Himalaya. During the writing of this book, Gill was granted access to a large archive of private papers and photos that were deposited in the Auckland museum after Hillary’s death in 2008. Building on this unpublished material, as well as his extensive personal experience, Michael Gill profiles a man whose life was shaped by both triumph and tragedy.
Gill describes the uncertainties of the first 33 years of Hillary’s life, during which time he served in the New Zealand air force during the Second World War, as well as the background to the first ascent of Mount Everest in 1953, when Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers to reach the summit – a feat that brought the pair instant worldwide fame. He reveals the loving relationship Hillary had with his wife Louise, in part through their touching letters to each other. Her importance to him during their 22 years of marriage only underlines the horror of her death, along with that of their youngest daughter, Belinda, in a plane crash in 1975. Hillary eventually pulled out of his subsequent depression to continue his life’s work in the Himalaya.
Affectionate, but scrupulously fair, in Edmund Hillary: A Biography Michael Gill has gone further than anyone before to reveal the humanity of this remarkable man.
Day Walks in Cornwall by Jen & Sim Benson – Day Walks in Cornwall features 20 circular routes between 7.2 and 13.7 miles (11.6km and 22km) in length, suitable for hillwalkers of all abilities. Researched and written by experienced authors Jen and Sim Benson, and covering the extremities of this stunning peninsula, the walks reach areas from Bude to the Isles of Scilly, and from Rame Head near Plymouth to Lizard Point on the southernmost tip. Taking advantage of the South West Coast Path, discover a unique view of the charming coastline at every turn in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Explore Chapel Porth caves, and countless coves, archways and waterfalls, or simply immerse yourself in a leisurely stroll along white sands and blue waters. Head for the Merry Maidens stone circle in Lamorna, examine the serpentinite rock formations at Lizard Point, watch over medieval Tintagel Castle and parade past Cromwell’s Castle. Find serenity overlooking St Enodoc’s Church or soak up the vibe of trendy fishing village St Mawes, nestled in its sheltered bay; you’ll find Cornwall has it all.
Together with stunning photography, each route features Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps, easy-to-follow directions, distance and navigation information, refreshment stops and local information.
So what do you think? A novel, a biography and a book to take with you when out walking in Cornwall 😀 What do you think of this drastically different selection of books and do any pique your interest? As usual these books will be reviewwed here on this blog in the coming weeks and months, just as soon as I can get through my ever expanding to-be-read pile 😉 🙂
Do any of the above books sound like some you’d like to try reading? What book genres do you enjoy? Let me know what you think in the comments below 🙂
The Strawberry Post 