The Villain: The Life of Don Whillans [Import] [Paperback]

Jim Perrin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 6, 2006

A fascinating, thought-provoking biography of a climbing legend.

Don Whillans has been an icon for generations of climbers. His first ascent of Annapurna’s South Face with Dougal Haston in 1970, remains one of the most impressive climbs ever made – a standard to which all contemporary Himalayan climbers aspire. But Perrin examines the tough reality behind Whillans’ formidable achievements – the character of the man himself. Despite his skill and daring, Whillans was a savage-tongued, hell-raising scrapper – turned down for a Queen’s Birthday honour, because of a violent fracas with the police. Coming out of a world miles away from the environment of the upper class climbers who dominated the sport, Whillans’ forceful, uncompromising personality gave him superstar status – the flawed heroism of a Best, a McEnroe, or an Ali.


From the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Wonderfully crafted . . . One of the most gifted chroniclers of mountaineering. . . Perrin records it all with a subtle sympathy, laying bare British mountaineering’s most mythologized figure.”
–Independent

About the Author

Jim Perrin is a writer, broadcaster and photographer who has been described as “the most outstanding prose writer of present-day Wales”. His travels on a Harley, across the USA were recently published in the Daily Telegraph under the title High on the Hog.


From the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Arrow (June 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0099416727
• ISBN-13: 978-0099416722
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.9 x 7.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,268,563 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars The Villian, November 25, 2011

By 

eric hollister - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Villain: The Life of Don Whillans (Paperback)

A sad read about such a famous British climber. A very complex individual who was brought up the hard way. A good read though.

5.0 out of 5 stars Why was he a Villain?, February 6, 2005

By 

N. Hollingworth (Somerset, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Villain: The Life of Don Whillans (Paperback)

A terrific piece of writing by Jim Perrin about this hard man of grit who left his mark on hard gritstone rock and the people in that climbing arena then--and even now.

But given the background that the author manages to reveal through his writing about this great icon and his true word craft that paints a Lowry image of Don (not so much a stick figure though!)in a tough northern environment, why is Don Whillans painted as a villain? Maybe a rebel, but a hero not a villain. Sorry Jim, I cannot see the title being right for Don, but its just my opinion:)..Mind you I never got whacked by Don in a few of the times I met him, but his routes are stronger testament to his rebellion to authority than his social exploits.

It was a large project for the author, but very worthwhile to document what needed to be told--warts and all.

Its a bit of climbing history that was special at that time.

Isn't the route described in the book Ferdies Folly at Ravenstones, actually Freddys Folly?

Great.