A HISTORY OF MOUNTAINEERING IN THE ALPS

A compendium of names of people and places, of peaks and dates that is sadly lacking in the human interest and excitement which the reader might expect from the subject matter. To the initiated few who are already familiar with Alpine geography and history, this may prove an exhaustive reference work; however, the interested lay reader will probably give up after the first few chapters of early naturalists who troop by in confusing succession looking for flora and discovering the joys of climbing. The last few chapters provide a bit of the hoped for action, yet even this is blunted by the serious, superior tone of the author who seems to take a very dim view of ""hikers"" as opposed to ""climbers"" and obviously considers anything smaller than an alp no mountain at all. Quite disappointing after the quaint charm of The Early Alpine Guides (P. 14) which covers much the same material or Frank Smythe's stunning if more general Behold the Mountains (P. 673).