Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer
Summary:
Some people have dreams that are so magnificent that if they were to achieve them, their place in history would be guaranteed. Francis Drake, Robert Scott, Charles Lindbergh, Amy Johnson, Edmund Hilary, Neil Armstrong, and Lewis and Clark are among such individuals. But what if one man had such a dream, and once he had fulfilled it, there was no proof that he had achieved his ambition? Jeffrey Archer’s latest book, Paths of Glory , is the story of such a man-George Mallory. Mallory once told an American reporter that he wanted to climb Mt. Everest, "because it was there." On his third attempt in 1924, at age thirty-seven, he was last seen six hundred feet from the top. His body was found in 1999, and it still remains a mystery whether he ever reached the summit. But only after you have turned the last page of this extraordinary novel, inspired by a true story, will you be able to decide if George Mallory’s name should be added to the list of legends, in which case another name would have to be removed. Paths of Glory is truly a triumph.
Reviews:
Library Journal:
A real-life mountaineering mystery serves as the springboard for bestseller Archer's abysmal latest. The plot begins promisingly with the body of mountaineer George Mallory discovered on the slopes of Mt. Everest in 1999, possibly having been the first man to have reached the summit. But hopes of an adventurous yarn are soon dashed as the novel becomes a long flashback, offering stock vignettes of Mallory's childhood, Cambridge days and mountaineering adventures. These passages are hampered by phoned-in writing, clumsy attempts at verisimilitude and a notable lack of psychological depth. Along the way, Mallory marries, becomes a father, serves in WWI and finds himself pitted against Australian mountaineer George Finch as a potential leader of Britain's push to conquer Everest. Archer does eventually offer his opinion as to whether Mallory summited Everest, but by that point all but his most devoted fans will have fled the icy crags of this lifeless novel.
Booklist:
This historical-adventure novel is a bit of a change of pace for the author of such best-selling contemporary thrillers as Kane & Abel (1979) and The Fourth Estate (1996). Its subject is George Mallory, the famed mountaineer who disappeared while attempting to climb Mount Everest in 1924. (Mallory is the source of the famous line because it is there his answer to the inevitable question asking why one would climb a mountain.) Archer portrays Mallory as an adventurer at heart, a charming, impulsive young man who matures into a dedicated and careful climber. The book shows evidence of exhaustive research. Archer could easily have written a traditional biography, but that wouldn't have permitted him to take the literary license necessary to turn Mallory from a historical figure into a living, breathing human being. This is one of Archer's best efforts, and it's highly recommended to fans of classic adventure fiction.--Pitt, David
From The Times: http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/fiction/article5859048.ece
Author’s home page:
http://www.jeffreyarcher.co.uk/
Author notes:
Jeffrey Archer was born on April 15, 1940, in Somerset, England, and has survived a roller coaster life of fame, financial ruin, political prominence, and scandal. After graduating from Oxford, Archer founded his own company named Arrow Enterprises and promptly amassed a fortune. In 1969, he was elected to the House of Commons. A conservative Member of Parliament, Archer was, at the age of 29, the youngest member at that time. While in Parliament, Archer invested in a corporation and lost his fortune because of embezzlement. Devastated and facing financial ruin, Archer recounted his experiences in his book, "Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less." The success of this book launched Archer's writing career.
"Kane & Abel" and "Honor Among Thieves" are some of Archer's other well-known titles. "Shall We Tell the President?", a work of fiction about an assassination plot on "President Edward Kennedy," created much controversy, and was considered to exhibit poor taste toward the Kennedy family. Archer himself encountered controversy when, while he was serving as the Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party in 1987, a prostitute claimed to have had sex with him and to have accepted money to leave the country. Archer won a case against the tabloids that printed the story and once again survived an unpleasant situation.
In 1992, Archer was created a Life Peer. In addition to his controversial writings, Archer also writes plays and children's books.
Beth’s Comment:
Once they were planning the expedition, I could not put the book down. You felt like you
were a fly on the tent wall! There has been some criticism on yahoo about the facts in this novel. BUT IT IS A NOVEL, not non-fiction.
