This lavishly illustrated, fully authorized biography follows the life of legendary explorer Sir Edmund Hillary-from his historic 1953 Everest climb to his adventures in New Zealand and the Pacific, Antarctica, North America, and India to his philanthropic achievements for the Sherpa people.
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Explorer and philanthropist Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to climb Mt. Everest more than 50 years ago, gets the royal treatment in an illustrated, coffee-table–size biography that is lavish, well designed and beautifully printed, even by DK's high standards. From early 20th-century family photos through previously unpublished diary pages from Hillary's Everest expedition to his groundbreaking work building a hospital and schools for the Himalayan Sherpa community, the range of Hillary's life and work is presented in almost obsessive detail, and many of the photos from his climbs are breathtaking. "Official biographer" Johnston was guest curator of an exhibition in 2002 on Hillary at the Auckland War Memorial Museum; this book is a direct product. And while Hillary's many adventures have been recounted in many other memorable books—including his own autobiography—Johnston's text is thorough, although her style is often bland (e.g., "Hillary's early years in this small country town were happy"). However, sidebars profiling the various people who were intimately involved with Hillary's work—especially a long section highlighting the many accomplishments of the first Sherpa students to attend the school built by Hillary in the 1960s—impressively show Hillary's continuing human impact. (Nov. 14)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
The first ascent of Mt. Everest, the world's highest peak, which was achieved in 1953 by Edmund Hillary, is called here "one of the great adventure stories of the twentieth century." Anyone foolish enough to think otherwise needs only to read this scrapbook-as-biography by Hillary's official biographer (as well as a family friend). Heavily illustrated with photographs but not short on sprightly accompanying text, the large-format book is based in large part on Hillary's personal archives, and it is perfect for the general reader wanting a workable but not overly detailed account of this modest but fascinating man. Interesting family history and a look at Hillary's upbringing (he was a "typical New Zealand schoolboy" with a growing need for adventure) give way to an exciting narrative about his attraction to mountaineering and, expectedly, a rich discussion of the Mt. Everest expedition itself. Nearly of equal interest is Hillary's postclimb career, about which most readers will have little acquaintance. In all, a rousing tribute to a man who deserves all the accolades accorded him. Brad Hooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
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