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IN THE HEIGHTS
George Mallory, like Robert Falcon Scott, has departed the ranks of mere humanity and entered British consciousness as a Galahad of the snows, a titan who showed what a chap can do if he’s made of the right stuff. It’s fertile material for fiction... more.
Description
The Paris Wife meets Into Thin Air in this breathtaking debut novel of obsession and divided loyalties, which brilliantly weaves together the harrowing story of George Mallory's ill-fated 1924 attempt to be the first man to conquer Mount Everest, with that of a single day in the life of his wife as she waits at home in England for news of his return.
A captivating blend of historical fact and imaginative fiction, Above All Things moves seamlessly back and forth between the epic story of Mallory's legendary final expedition and a heartbreaking account of a day in the life of Ruth Mallory. Through George's perspective, and that of the newest member of the climbing team, Sandy Irvine, we get an astonishing picture of the terrible risks taken by the men on the treacherous terrain of the Himalaya. But it is through Ruth's eyes that a complex portrait of a marriage emerges, one forged on the eve of the First World War, shadowed by its losses, and haunted by the ever-present possibility that George might not come home.
Drawing on years of research, this powerful and beautifully written novel is a timeless story of desire, redemption, and the lengths we are willing to go for honour, glory, and love.
A captivating blend of historical fact and imaginative fiction, Above All Things moves seamlessly back and forth between the epic story of Mallory's legendary final expedition and a heartbreaking account of a day in the life of Ruth Mallory. Through George's perspective, and that of the newest member of the climbing team, Sandy Irvine, we get an astonishing picture of the terrible risks taken by the men on the treacherous terrain of the Himalaya. But it is through Ruth's eyes that a complex portrait of a marriage emerges, one forged on the eve of the First World War, shadowed by its losses, and haunted by the ever-present possibility that George might not come home.
Drawing on years of research, this powerful and beautifully written novel is a timeless story of desire, redemption, and the lengths we are willing to go for honour, glory, and love.
Tanis Rideout introduces her debut novel Above All Things
Comments & Discussion
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I could not say enough good things about Above All Things. I liked it a lot. I am not going to repeat my whole review, you can see it on the title profile page, but I really highly recommend it. I have a lot of respect for all writers who can create a novel based on events that are well known and yet they manage to keep the reader so engaged. I loved the fact that it was a two sided story: not only we followed Mallory but we also heard from his wife, Ruth. After reading this book I went straight into reading Into the Silence by Wade Davis. This is a pretty large nonfiction account of all of the first three expeditions to Mt Everest. I did not have a chance to review that book yet but I can say that it is one of the best nonfiction books that I have ever read, simply brilliant!
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TrainMan commented:
Yes, hard to believe this novel is a first novel - Rideout has taken extensive research and turned it into an engrossing and moving story - this novel also made me want to read more about Mallory and the early attempts to climb Everest.
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It is hard to believe that Above All Things is a first novel, as in my view it is very accomplished on many different levels. First of all, I have to say that I have great respect for writers who can take a familiar story and turn it into a page...
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Tanis Rideout's debut is a wonderful, lyrical account of Mallory's ill-fated expedition, that manages to be a fascinating exploration of longing, love, obsession and duty, as well as a ripping yarn. Mallory's trials are contrasted with the emotional...
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