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A review by oliver_ikin
Into the Silence: The Great War, Mallory and the Conquest of Everest by Wade Davis
4.25
Takes a nuanced and contextualised view that hopes to better understand the fateful heroics on Everest. A truly poignant portrait of life in the trenches, constructed from detailed research of the protagonists’ experience, diaries and letters; this is mirrored by the ‘battle’ fought on Everest, again exploring the intimately private hopes and fear of the participants.
Without bombast or deification, Davis allows one to understand the bravery of the assault, and to find great respect for their exploits. Alongside the double narrative of war and mountaineering, Davis explores the fascinating visions of Tibetan culture and politics, life under the Raj and the sexuality and thought of English intellectual society in the early 20th century.
Throughout, one learns not just the challenge of exploration, but the era of fear and death that the post-War generation dealt with and the motivation that drove them into the ultimate challenge.
Without bombast or deification, Davis allows one to understand the bravery of the assault, and to find great respect for their exploits. Alongside the double narrative of war and mountaineering, Davis explores the fascinating visions of Tibetan culture and politics, life under the Raj and the sexuality and thought of English intellectual society in the early 20th century.
Throughout, one learns not just the challenge of exploration, but the era of fear and death that the post-War generation dealt with and the motivation that drove them into the ultimate challenge.