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  • Everest 1953

  • The Epic Story of the First Ascent
  • By: Mick Conefrey
  • Narrated by: Barnaby Edwards
  • Length: 11 hrs and 40 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,179 ratings)
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Everest 1953 cover art

Everest 1953

By: Mick Conefrey
Narrated by: Barnaby Edwards
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Summary

On the morning of 2 June 1953, the day of Queen Elizabeth's coronation, the first news ebbed through to the British public of a magnificent achievement: Everest had finally been conquered.

Drawing on first-hand interviews and unprecedented access to archives, this is a groundbreaking new account of that extraordinary first ascent. In a thrilling tale of adventure and courage, Mick Conefrey reveals that what has gone down in history as a supremely well-planned attempt was actually beset by crisis and controversy, both on and off the mountain.

From funding panics to Sherpa rebellions, hostile press to menacing weather, John Hunt and his team had to draw on unimaginable skill and determination, as well as sheer British ingenuity, to succeed. An intimate insight into the forgotten personalities behind the ascent including Eric Shipton, the enigmatic Mr Everest, and Tom Bourdillon and Charles Evans, who came within 100 metres of being first to the summit. Everest 1953 recounts a bygone age of self-sacrifice and heroism, using letters and personal diaries to reveal the immense stress and heartache the climbers often hid from their fellow team members.

©2012 Mick Conefrey (P)2013 Audible Ltd

Critic reviews

"Groundbreaking... a magnificent book that deserves to become the definitive version. We cannot hope for a more human, funny or meticulous account of what was a very British expedition" ( Independent)
"An exciting, moving account... a fascinating piece of documentary writing, as readable and poignant as Into Thin Air or Touching the Void." ( Spectator)
"Conefrey describes this frenetic scramble for ownership of the mountain brilliantly... I often found myself deeply moved." ( Observer)
"Mick Conefrey painstakingly studied the vast volume of detail surrounding the British expedition and can claim to have filled in some significant blanks on the map." ( The Times)

What listeners say about Everest 1953

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Man! That story is epic!

Any additional comments?

This book can be divided into three parts. First is the history of discovery and attempts to summit the Everest. I found it fascinating how late Europeans actually got anywhere near the mountain, not to mention the summit.
Second part is about the British attempts. There are moments when you think that, surely, author is joking, creating caricatures of men in power, grandiose characters with outdated racial, national and cultural attitudes. But than you realise, that it really was like that. And you just love it.
Third part is about 1953 attempt itself. It's a story of experience, preparation, racial and cultural tensions and the hell a lot of good luck.
If I wasn't obliged to go to work I would have listened it to it non-stop it was so good.

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23 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

tremendous

If you could sum up Everest 1953 in three words, what would they be?

engaging, interesting, frightening

What other book might you compare Everest 1953 to, and why?

it's an adventure book, which really held my interest, despite my knowing the outcome. it included loads of details which didn't hinder the telling of the story at all. i also found myself becoming really involved with the story and wondering how the mountaineers held their nerve.

What does Barnaby Edwards bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

he kept my interest - he included a few varied accents, etc., but generally played a straightforward game. really good.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

(like the book): epic

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Page turner

A wonderfully thorough and well written account of a landmark in human achievement.

The writing brings the whole expedition and its many personalities to life. I was sorry to reach the end. Highly recommended.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic narration!

A truly excellent look at the 53 Everest expedition with some of the best narration I have heard.

Pacy, historical, authentic and well written.

Fantastic lines such as "Tenzing Norgay stood atop the summit and gazed upon the topography of his life - Khumbu, Darjeeling and the plains..."

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Thorough telling of the '53 ascent and since

Obviously any book about the 1953 accent to the peak of Everest is read knowing it was successful.

The author sets the scene well, covers in detail the preparations for the ascent (previous expeditions and the '52 training) and the eventual success. He also creates a sense of time and place - the motivations of the team, the political environment, the privations, mistakes and upsets along the way. This gives the listener a better appreciation for the experiences of the team and some of the post decent turmoil.

I found it very interesting, well narrated and edited and didn't feel like I was listening to 11 hours.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Once you've reached the top the only way is down!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes - I've already done so. It is an excellent account for a famous event. It gives a lot of insight into the before and after reaching the top. I had no idea about how poor the equipment was and how Hunt, Hillary and Tenzing had suffered personally after the euphoria very quickly died down.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Tenzing Norgay. He demonstrates that non-Europeans can also be global heroes.

Any additional comments?

Even if you aren't interested in mountain climbing (I've not got a head for heights!) this book is sill worth listening to. It is an amazing story which many people know the event but maybe not the details of overcoming odds, poor equipment and prejudices. It is well written - even though we know they made it to the top the author still keeps the suspense going. I found what happened afterwards fascinating and also very sad - particularly Tenzing who had once been tea-total but died an alcoholic possibly because of the strains of fame and the behaviour of politicians.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Boys-Own Adventure.

Top performance by Mick Conefry reading this 1950's boys own adventure. Of course, we all know the basics of this story, or think we do, but this book adds meat to the gristle and there was so much new to me to make it a very worthwhile listen. At times I found myself holding my breath as the climbers progressed higher and higher. Wonderful stuff!

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good chronological story of the climb

Where does Everest 1953 rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It is a good non-fiction book that I really enjoyed as it keeps a steady pace and the chronological story telling makes it ideal to follow on audio. The only thing which is missing in parts is a sense of who the main characters really are before climbing. Although the book starts with the 1951 expedition to Everest, I didn't feel I really knew the characters well and so in places it was just became a list of names of the various climbing teams and it didn't matter who reached the summit. I think the pace would have suffered if the author had included backstory using flashbacks, so I'm unsure how he could've tackled this problem.

The description of the climbing and the struggles to adjust to high altitude and media attention etc was moving and not too technical like some books on this subject. There was also a short chapter following up their lives post 1953. Overall recommended as an informative read from all sides but rather bland from an emotional viewpoint.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Everest 1953

A very good book very informative all in all worth a listen and if one is interested in the history of climbing a good reference.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Not bad at all. I enjoyed this.

it's not my typical thing. but it was on a daily deal and only £1.50 so I thought if try it. glad I did. it kept me entertained for a while, and I felt I learned some history too.

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3 people found this helpful