In a thrilling tale of adventure and courage, Mick Conefrey reveals that what has gone down in history as a supremely well-planned attempt was actually beset by crisis and controversy, both on and off the mountain. From funding panics to Sherpa rebellions, hostile press to menacing weather, John Hunt and his team had to draw on unimaginable skill and determination, as well as sheer British ingenuity, to succeed. Plus the climbing ability of two unknown 'colonials', Ed Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, was of utmost assistance.
Exploring long enduring controversies, did Tenzing or Hillary reach the top first? Why was Eric Shipton sacked as leader? Conefrey offers a fascinating window onto the media's coverage of the expedition. The Times had an exclusive deal, but other papers used all means necessary to break their monopoly (Ralph Izzard of the Daily Mail even hiked up to base camp alone, only to be met with stony silence and a cup of tea). Charting how the ascent affected the original team in subsequent years and detailing its immense cultural impact today, Everest 1953 is the perfect book to commemorate this remarkable feat of the human will.
