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pippa_w's review against another edition
3.0
But (John Noel's) eyes were drawn to those in khaki, perhaps thirty or more scattered throughout the audience, soldiers like him who had endured the slaughter, the coughing of the guns, the bones and the barbed wire, the white faces of the dead. Only they could possibly know what the vision of Everest had become, at least for him: a sentinel in the sky, a place and destination of hope and redemption, a symbol of continuity in a world gone mad.
Into the Silence reads like it is a labour of love, a passion project, written over many, many years. Indeed, that is precisely what it is - Wade Davis is an anthropologist and amateur mountaineer himself, who was specifically asked to write a book on George Mallory because there was demand for a book by Wade Davis about George Mallory. So he spent ten years on it. And that perspective whispers through every page of the main book, and practically screams from the SIXTY-SEVEN PAGE annotated bibliography.
There are positives and negatives to this. On the plus side, Davis really knows his topic, and that expertise shines without flash throughout. And Davis is an exquisite writer, so despite the fact that this book is saturated with information practically to dripping, each detail is beautifully and lovingly presented. The author really cares about his topic, and about the legacies of the climbers, and it shows.
But, well... let's say, at Christmastime, a fruit-packed plum pudding absolutely drowning in rum comes to mind. It sounds delicious at first, and the first few bites suit you fine, but you find yourself kind of wishing someone had stayed the baker's hand as they were adding dried fruit and drizzling booze. No matter how lovingly these stories are told, there are only so many highly detailed World War I experiences, only so many outfits described right down to the buttons and contents of pockets, you can read through. This story is incredible, but this book is dense, and I should have cared way more about the fates of the climbers by the end of the book than I did. I suppose it didn't help either that they were largely snooty English gentlemen being affectionately humoured by the author. Sure, he's critical, but also these men would probably have loved to know that such close attention was needlessly being paid to every food item they brought on every expedition.
This book wasn't really written for me. People who love Everest expedition stories love this book. So if that topic is your topic, you'll want this on your reading list. If not... well, it's not the worst way to drudge through multiple weeks?
'We expect no mercy from Everest.' - George Mallory, May 1924
Into the Silence reads like it is a labour of love, a passion project, written over many, many years. Indeed, that is precisely what it is - Wade Davis is an anthropologist and amateur mountaineer himself, who was specifically asked to write a book on George Mallory because there was demand for a book by Wade Davis about George Mallory. So he spent ten years on it. And that perspective whispers through every page of the main book, and practically screams from the SIXTY-SEVEN PAGE annotated bibliography.
There are positives and negatives to this. On the plus side, Davis really knows his topic, and that expertise shines without flash throughout. And Davis is an exquisite writer, so despite the fact that this book is saturated with information practically to dripping, each detail is beautifully and lovingly presented. The author really cares about his topic, and about the legacies of the climbers, and it shows.
But, well... let's say, at Christmastime, a fruit-packed plum pudding absolutely drowning in rum comes to mind. It sounds delicious at first, and the first few bites suit you fine, but you find yourself kind of wishing someone had stayed the baker's hand as they were adding dried fruit and drizzling booze. No matter how lovingly these stories are told, there are only so many highly detailed World War I experiences, only so many outfits described right down to the buttons and contents of pockets, you can read through. This story is incredible, but this book is dense, and I should have cared way more about the fates of the climbers by the end of the book than I did. I suppose it didn't help either that they were largely snooty English gentlemen being affectionately humoured by the author. Sure, he's critical, but also these men would probably have loved to know that such close attention was needlessly being paid to every food item they brought on every expedition.
This book wasn't really written for me. People who love Everest expedition stories love this book. So if that topic is your topic, you'll want this on your reading list. If not... well, it's not the worst way to drudge through multiple weeks?
'We expect no mercy from Everest.' - George Mallory, May 1924
peterjf2025's review against another edition
4.0
This was an intriguing book and, although I knew a bit about Mallory, it dealt in considerable detail and most insightful. The parts about the various characters lives prior to the attempts on Everest were very interesting and well written. In particular the events of the first world war were quite eye opening for me as I was quite unaware of the culpability and absolute stupidity of the generals running the war and the extent of the carnage they caused.
It was the longest book I have read for many a day and took a long time to read, but it never became tedious or heavy going.
It was the longest book I have read for many a day and took a long time to read, but it never became tedious or heavy going.
kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review against another edition
4.0
I was sick when I read this book, which is why it took me so long to read. You know, that sick where you can't even read. I hate that type of sick. This book, however, did make me feel better about my cough because at least I wasn't coughing up my throat lining. (And at least this offically qualifies for the first book of the year in the TBR Challenge).
The reason why I point this out is that the book is totally engrossing and despite being stuffed with facts, a very easy, almost speedy read. It is actually particulary engrossing when Davis goes into detail about the first World War (he should write a history of that) as well as the travel to Everest itself. In some ways, the account of climbing the mountain pales to these other parts.
What I found especially interesting (besides the fact that people are drawn to do things that are really quite stupid) is the amount that class and social customs played in determining who climbed the mountain. Mallory developed a dislike, for instance, towards one of his fellow climbers simply because the man was a colonial; at least Mallory was honest enough to admit it. So using the War as well as British social aspects, Davis shows the reader why Everest and why those men.
Good read. It is also quite easy to find a podcast where the author discusses this book.
The reason why I point this out is that the book is totally engrossing and despite being stuffed with facts, a very easy, almost speedy read. It is actually particulary engrossing when Davis goes into detail about the first World War (he should write a history of that) as well as the travel to Everest itself. In some ways, the account of climbing the mountain pales to these other parts.
What I found especially interesting (besides the fact that people are drawn to do things that are really quite stupid) is the amount that class and social customs played in determining who climbed the mountain. Mallory developed a dislike, for instance, towards one of his fellow climbers simply because the man was a colonial; at least Mallory was honest enough to admit it. So using the War as well as British social aspects, Davis shows the reader why Everest and why those men.
Good read. It is also quite easy to find a podcast where the author discusses this book.
firstwords's review against another edition
1.0
F*** this book. Another "adventure into the wild book" that sounds like it was written by a guy in a high-backed leather chair in some men's-only private club somewhere deep in London, surrounded by other gentlemen sipping scotch and listening in.
And the author also writes like that old man, hopping from the trenches of WWI, to early expeditions to Tibet, to childhoods....all of which can be done well, but this author just has "chapter on WWI trench warfare that has little to do with the climbers (except one)." "Chapter on British colonialism." "Chapter on the culture of Tibet and Nepal."
All of these are interesting topics, but there is no connection or transition. You have no idea why you just read 80 pages on WWI trench warfare, as it is never mentioned again. The title made me think that there would be a connection between the two. No, the author was just listing out the chapters.
Crappy book. Great subject matter, so I guess crappy author.
And the author also writes like that old man, hopping from the trenches of WWI, to early expeditions to Tibet, to childhoods....all of which can be done well, but this author just has "chapter on WWI trench warfare that has little to do with the climbers (except one)." "Chapter on British colonialism." "Chapter on the culture of Tibet and Nepal."
All of these are interesting topics, but there is no connection or transition. You have no idea why you just read 80 pages on WWI trench warfare, as it is never mentioned again. The title made me think that there would be a connection between the two. No, the author was just listing out the chapters.
Crappy book. Great subject matter, so I guess crappy author.
desertlounger's review against another edition
5.0
An incredible read, linking together the historical, cultural and political factors, including British Imperialism, Victorianism, World War 1, and Tibetan Buddhism, that culminated in the first attempts at Everest and the famous fate of George Mallory. The descriptions of the horrors of the war are particularly inspired, and hit with a greater punch than heavy metal lyrics.
lagarrett's review against another edition
5.0
An excellent read. - the story of the 3 British Everest expeditions of the early 20s. Lots of fine detail about the people (all survivors of the War), the politics (Britain, Tibet, Nepal and China), the geography (unknown to them until the first expedition), the weather (unpredictable) and the climbing (mostly without oxygen at first). Fascinating reading.
nenenest's review against another edition
3.0
Good start, good end but drags in the middle when he covers the first Everest attempt. Evocative descriptions of WW1.
msrdr's review against another edition
3.0
A chilling read. Pardon my poor humour. I mean Wade Davis’ Into The Silence is haunting, engrossing, and in a sense, immersive. It is a great work of biography and history that beautifully paints a portrait of several teams of British mountaineers in such a way as to explain the sentiments of the Empire and the generation’s emotions, yet alone the inspiring mystery of Mallory and the challenges of the first expeditions.
My disappoint with the book was limited to the first third, wherein Davis bounces back and forth introducing many characters and back stories, in particular, their war-time experiences. This is part of the magic book, as I’ve noted above, but it also seemed too fragmented and non-linear. That is to say, being introduced to as many characters as I was, I would have preferred to have spent a time observing the Great War before moving to the preparation for the expedition, rather than weaving between the two. This is perhaps a greatly subjective, stylistic preference, but nonetheless it accounts for my classification of this as a 3-star, rather than 4-star title.
My disappoint with the book was limited to the first third, wherein Davis bounces back and forth introducing many characters and back stories, in particular, their war-time experiences. This is part of the magic book, as I’ve noted above, but it also seemed too fragmented and non-linear. That is to say, being introduced to as many characters as I was, I would have preferred to have spent a time observing the Great War before moving to the preparation for the expedition, rather than weaving between the two. This is perhaps a greatly subjective, stylistic preference, but nonetheless it accounts for my classification of this as a 3-star, rather than 4-star title.
lgsea's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
5.0