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Ghosts of K2
- Narrated by: Barnaby Edwards
- Length: 12 hrs and 15 mins
- Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, Adventurers, Explorers & Survival
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Summary
At 28,251 feet, K2 might be almost 800 feet shorter than Everest, but it’s a far harder climb. It will kill you on the way up and the way down.
Mick Conefrey guides us through the early story of the legendary mountain and the extraordinary attempts that led up to its first ascent in 1954 - these are tales of riveting drama and unimaginable tragedy.
Starting with the ill-fated attempts of the drug-addicted occultist Aleister Crowley and the wealthy Italian Duke of Abruzzi, the book then focusses on the three dramatic expeditions of 1939, 1953 and 1954.
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What listeners say about Ghosts of K2
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Andrew
- 04-11-15
The story behind the story - very good
I read the previous book (Everest) first and so had high expectations.
The obvious research really shows that the author knows his stuff and weaves the information into an intriguing series of events. Not quite the exciting story as Everest as the climax was lacking, but that's not the point of the book, that's the set up for the story behind the story.
The end is great and truly compelling. It's fantastic to peel back the layers around the team that you come to know well through the initial adventure, only to see them in differing light- some from several view points.
Highly recommended
4 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 02-01-21
Great book with good information
It covers from the first attempts to the first summit. followed by analysis of the controversy. It is written in an interesting way, I would not say its riveting but a pleasant and informative listen.
2 people found this helpful
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- "emeraldstargazer"
- 30-09-17
Fascinating
As a non-mountaineer, I came to this book with little to no knowledge of high altitude climbing or of K2. The book was recommended by the author Sarah Lotz in her excellent novel about Everest 'The White Road' and, having read hat, I wanted to know more about climbing and the history of some of the world's highest peaks. This didn't disappoint. It's a well researched, thorough (without being too dense for the layperson) and fascinating account of the various expeditions to K2. The audio is well narrated with a nice pace for easy listening. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend to anyone wanting to know more about K2.
2 people found this helpful
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- Mr. Damian M. Sears
- 14-11-19
exciting and detailled
I have thoroughly enjoyed this book from Mick after having also read his book on Everest previously. The accounts of all of the attempts are thrilling and detailed and I found myself unable to stop listening obsessively and holding my breath at times.
I don't agree with the criticisms of the later chapters. I feel that all of that detail adds to the romance of the K2 story. It is also interesting to hear of the subsequent changes in those that achieve their dreams or have them ripped away. It is interesting to hear the progression of climbing style, equipment and attitudes of people. The insights delve far deeper than simply mountaineering and I really salute this Author. The stories are so touching that I even listened to the final chapter of credits.
1 person found this helpful
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- Lukas33
- 05-04-21
Brilliant K2 History
A really immersive education of climbers history with K2 throughout the 20th century. Having only really been intrigued to learn about Crowley and Epsteins attempts as I already knew the other stores, I was surprised when I found myself utterly absorbed by the authors in depth knowledge and research on these stories.
You will not want for information before during and after these epic adventures and may I also say that the narrator is absolutely superb. Eloquent well paced and interested in what he is reading.
Highly recommend this one.
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- Matthew Dixon
- 18-03-21
Exciting and well told
This book is really very well done with its exiting and intense story I highly recommend to this book to anyone with interest in mountaineering or the great outdoors.
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- James Cotton
- 17-03-21
Just another Mountaineering book.
Doesn't really stand out from other mountaineering books but when you pick up one of these titles you generally know what you're in for. it gets very boring towards the end but is held up by it's brilliant naration.
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- Sonya
- 06-03-21
Beautifully written and presented!
I love climbing books even though I'm not a climber myself. And this book is a beauty. You get to know the main characters and the mountain, and relive every dramatic moment as close as you can from the comfort of your house. A classic.
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- g a.
- 04-03-21
all new subject to me
loved it, narreated well and very informative
was not sure how in beginning if I would like it but yes I did.
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- Mr. Sjb Horth
- 27-02-21
No a great telling of an amazing g achievement
Well narrated but the story is not great. The author complains of speculation and conjecture in the accounts of the climbers and then goes on speculate and draw conclusions based on conjecture.
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- Matthew
- 20-10-15
First Review? It was an "okay" book
There were no reviews; Audible or Amazon, when I purchased this book and as of this writing it appears I am the first? Having only the description and the audio sample by which to make my determination left me a bit apprehensive, but I got the book because I enjoy history and world-renowned or history changing events. I really enjoy books that tell both the history of an event, but also provide some manner of mental or emotional connection with one or more of the persons discussed in the book. I just finished this today and I’m left with the feeling that my thirst for an engaging true story has not been assuaged. I wouldn’t say that this is a bad book, but I certainly cannot say it is a great book. I can only say it is an “okay” book.
This book thoroughly told the history of this event pretty much to a fault, but I couldn’t establish any connection with the people involved. It outlined a tremendous amount of history leading up to the first summit, but that story itself took up very little of the book. While there were some very engaging moments in this book, that is all there was. Some moments. The author tended to go too far into the weeds in some areas, such as providing an overly detailed history of what happened to the members of the first summit team after they returned home. Those points just left me saying; who cares?
I'm not so sure that at least some of the feelings I have toward this book aren't the result of the narration / narrator? The only other title that I've listened to with Barnaby Edwards narrating was Bomber Command by Max Hastings. I re-read that review just now and I realized I have almost exactly the same feelings with this book. A completely different subject and author, but my lukewarm feeling about the book is a mirror image to how I was left with that title. I feel like I just finished a history class textbook and I need to prep for the exam. The book evoked no emotions whatsoever. There was no point where - "I just couldn’t stop listening because I was riveted by the telling”. It was simply a very matter of fact and detailed account of the times, the places, the people, and the individual stories. I think, to be fair, I will need to listen to this book again. That said, I wonder if another narrator wouldn’t be better suited and help improve the book? Certainly a story like this is better with a British narrator, but Edwards is too monotonous and too matter of fact I think. Perhaps an abridged version with a different narrator would be better?
So, if you’re the type of person that enjoys historical non-fiction that reads like fiction this book is not that and you will likely come away feeling the same or worse. However, if you are in any way fascinated with K2, mountain climbing and/or learning about defining moments in history you will probably enjoy the book, but you will likely not love the book.
4 people found this helpful
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- Michal
- 01-02-19
Gripping
Are you a fan of books on alpinism? Here's one for you, as good as they get - interesting factual and action packed. It provides an overview of expeditions on K2 and their participants. No bs, just good stuff.
1 person found this helpful
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- John
- 11-04-17
A mountain climbing story of the mid 20th century
As with any book, it took a couple of chapters to identify all the players in this true hard wenching adventure. Once done, the adventures began. It is amazing what humankind would do to obtain a goal, including sacrificing their life.
1 person found this helpful
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- Patty Mullin
- 21-09-16
One of my fave audible books
Fascinating and engrossing throughout, excellent narrator. I have listened to this book at least three times - can't get enough!
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- kenny milne
- 17-11-15
Well written account of the first ascent of K2, and the many different attempts.
The book was good. It seems like the author did a lot of research on the many different first ascent attempts of K2. Although I don't know about some of the 'facts' he claims to have about the oxygen systems that were used, it's defiantly a well written account and does not really play any biased either way.
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- G
- 07-09-17
Buy something else if you want a good k2 book
Boring and not well written. One of the worse mountaineering book I have read. Buy something else