Eric Shipton: Everest and Beyond

Steele’s delightful biography of Shipton, legendary mountain explorer, provides insight into this enigmatic character, who is still the role model for post-war expedition climbers. Steele had access to Shipton’s family, friends, diaries, and personal letters to trace his life from early farming days in Kenya to his last journeys in Patagonia. He also examines the political undercurrents of Everest expedition maneuvering and the controversy surrounding Shipton’s replacement as leader of the 1953 Everest expedition.