On the Roof of the World

Richard Nelsson

jun 2012 · Guardian Books

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Throughout its history the Guardian has had unparalleled access to mountaineers and climbers, and its coverage of the sport is second to none. From Edward Whymper's conquest of the Matterhorn in 1865 through to the first ever ascent of Everest in 1953, and on to the extreme climbing (and associated apparatus) that dominates the modern-day incarnation of the sport, the paper has chronicled every development with insight and intelligence.

This beguiling collection draws together a selection of Guardian writing that is both informative and celebratory, tracking the sport's history and uncovering how public perception has changed over time.

- Postings on how cigarettes 'aided breathing' on some of the earliest Everest expeditions

- Victorian advice to 'lady climbers': 'Small rings should be sewn inside the seams of the skirt ... [so] that the whole dress may be drawn up at a moment's notice to the requisite height'

- Articles on scrambling, fell-running, rock-climbing and rambling.

Whether you're a serious mountaineer or a weekend rambler, On the Roof of the World is packed full of insights and stories that make it the perfect bedside companion.

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Richard Nelsson is chief librarian of the Guardian and the Observer. He is chair of the Association of UK Media Librarians and has contributed to two editions of the British Librarianship and Information Work. He lives in Tulse Hill in South London with his partner and two daughters, swims at Tooting Bec lido all year round and climbs whenever he can.