In 1921, the British organised the first official expedition to Mount Everest, having been granted permission for the undertaking by the Dalia Lama the previous year. The expedition intended a reconnaissance of the mountain prior to the actual assault (planned for 1922). George Mallory joined the party, which included also other capable climbers and a team of surveyors. Although the death of A.M. Kellas from 'over-exertion' marred the expedition, it did not prevent the successful completion of the reconnaissance. The tremendous reception given the returning expedition and its intrinsic importance accounts for the continuing demand for this seminal Everest book.

This was the first expedition to approach Everest. The discovery of the Rongbuk Glacier route to the North col and other northern approaches to Everest makes this one of the most important books about the mountain.

This is the account of the reconnaissance expedition to Mount Everest in 1921, led by the author, to establish the groundwork for a complete assault on the summit by the British Everest Expedition in 1922. It also provided the first photographs of the peak. This is the account of the reconnaissance expedition to Mount Everest in 1921, led by the author, to establish the groundwork for a complete assault on the summit by the British Everest Expedition in 1922. George Mallory was the driving force in this as well as the 1922 and 1924 expeditions.