Customer Reviews

No Picnic on Mount Kenya: A Daring Escape, A Perilous Climb

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I just needed to comment that the author is my grandfather, and I am very proud of both him and his work.
He was - apart from his job as a diplomat - a passionate Alpinist. He loved mountains. It was not only to relieve the boredom of POW life that he and his two friends made the climb, it was also because they fell in love with Mt Kenya the first time the clouds finally cleared and they saw it...
He spent a large portion of his life working to protect Antartica from development and other human intrusions.
He was a great man, and he wrote a wonderful book. Look for an upcoming T.V. documentary on their climb; it should be interesting.

I first borrowed a copy of this wonderful non-fiction book from a friend of mine 15 years ago. I have since bought several more and given as gifts.

On the surface, this is a great tale: Benuzzi and several of his friends who were involved in the administration of Italian Ethiopia find themselves in POW camp in the shadow of Mt. Kenya during the early years of WWII. Bored with camp life, and equipped with an image of Mt. Kenya on the label of a tinned beef can for a map, they scrimp and hoard materials to make mountaineering supplies and break out of the camp in order to climb the mountain.

While the story is fascinating on its surface, is also has a deeper side: these young men engaged in incredibly dangerous activities, ranging from escaping a POW camp to technical climbing without adequate gear. They were motivated not by a thirst for fame or the adrenaline-junkie motivations we're familiar with from various X-games sports. Instead, they did it for the good of their soul.

Benuzzi writes from the safe remove of old age, which imparts wisdom to his writing, but he does not lose the urgency or energy of his exploits as a young man.

No Picnic on Mount Kenya by Felice Benuzzi. This real world tale of adventure and danger to escape the doldrums of life as prisoners of war boggles the mind. Why would three ill-fed, poorly equipped, insufficiently trained, and uninformed Italian prisoners of war escape from their British camp, leaving behind a note saying they would return in two weeks? Encountering bull elephants and real or imagined leopards and rhinos, they slip and slide with hand-built iceaxes and crampons and overburdened backpacks up the slopes of Africa's second tallest mountain. Gives you a sense of wonder about the human animal.

An extremely well-written book, especially considering the author was not writing in his native language. A crazy idea about climbing a mountain by 3 novices; crazier still under the circumstances of escaping from a POW camp with the intention of returning. I bought the book after having read the story in National Geographic "Adventure" of 2 experienced & well-outfitted mountaineers who re-traced their steps. The original is better!

As one who loves mountains and climbing, I relish great stories of exceptional mountaineering feats. At times, however, I ponder the meaning and heroics of well planned, well outfitted and well guided expeditions--even when they produce grim results. This is an almost whimsical mountaineering tale with meaning, heroics...and a lot of heart. Bored with dreary life as an Italian prisoner in a British POW camp, Felice Benuzzi's spirit is lifted as he spies majestic Mt. Kenya break through the clouds and he contemplates the idea of escaping the camp long enough to climb the peak and plant a flag. Given the practicalities of the geopolitical map of East Africa in 1941, Benuzzi realizes he has little hope of a successful escape to friendly territory. So, Benuzzi determines to channel his energy to engaging partners in his quest, storing away supplies and manufacturing within the confines of a POW camp the technical equipment to climb a very difficult peak. After six months of preparation, Benuzzi and his two partners must escape the POW camp and avoid close encounters with Africa's dangerous big game (they are in the heart of prime hunting lands) before they can even begin their mountaineering endeavor. Already weak from their life as POWs, running short of supplies, facing unfavorable weather and lacking adequate information about the mountain's topography, they are denied Mt. Kenya's highest point on the route that also denied an earlier group led by the esteemed Shipton. However, Benuzzi savored the sweet taste of success on the mountain's second highest point before returning to camp. The lingering taste of success sustained Benuzzi through the remainder of his days as a POW. Benuzzi recounts his feat with modesty, grace and subtle humor. Fun and inspiring!

A big adventure story is even more compelling when told in simple prose as this one is. The author's tone is a constant reminder that we are being let into the events by one who lived them, rather than a professional observer with a more polished writing style. I lately discovered "The Ascent", a feature film loosely based on Benuzzi's story, by Canadian Director Donald Shebib. Shebib added a love interest and beautifully photographed the story on location in Kenya. Check it out.

My family loved this book. It appeals to anyone with an adventurous nature. It is especially interesting because it is true. They also made their own equipment.

A real good nonfiction (Is there anything else?) about a British POW camp at the foot of Mt. Kenya. A captured Italian mountain climber saw the top of the mountain and decided to climb it. His escape and the climb are what the book's all about. "BURN ALL FICTION BOOKS"

Tremendous story! Should be a major motion picture! The language is a little awkward, from time to time, due to a combination of the fact that it was written 50 years ago, by a gentleman who is not a writer by trade, and who is writing in a foreign tongue. All in all, it does not detract one iota from this remarkable story about the will of the human spirit to seek adventure, and ultimately to be free. A classic "why did we climb it? because it was there!" story.

A fun book. Not the best I have ever read but fun. 3 guys who made the most of a lousy situation and made for themselves some memories that would last to the grave!!!!!!!