The climbers: a history of mountaineering

Bonington, a leading British climber for the last three decades, offers a history of mountain climbing from 1786 to 1990. The golden age of mountaineering in the Alps, expedition siege climbing in the Himalayas, and the alpine-style small party climbs of the 1970s and 1980s are given due space, while a final chapter touches on the latest developments in championship and sport climbing. The occasional Briticism ("bloody-mindedness") distracts, but American, Eastern European, and Asian climbing achievements are given as much space as British and West European ascents. Especially interesting or useful are Bonington's comments on incidents in the ascents he describes. His book offers less detail on individual ascents than Walt Unsworth's Hold the Heights (LJ 5/15/94), yet Bonington offers wider coverage of mountaineering history. A desirable purchase for most general collections. Paula M. Strain, Rockville, Md. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.