Listen free for 30 days
-
The Last Great Mountain
- The First Ascent of Kangchenjunga
- Narrated by: Barnaby Edwards
- Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, Adventurers, Explorers & Survival
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Listen with a free trial
Buy Now for £14.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Everest 1953
- The Epic Story of the First Ascent
- By: Mick Conefrey
- Narrated by: Barnaby Edwards
- Length: 11 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
Man! That story is epic!
- By carrosvoss on 12-09-14
-
Blood, Metal and Dust
- How Victory Turned into Defeat in Afghanistan and Iraq
- By: Ben Barry
- Narrated by: Christopher Ragland
- Length: 21 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the high-ranking officer who wrote the still-classified British military analysis of the war in Iraq comes the authoritative history of two conflicts which have overshadowed the beginning of the 21st century. Inextricably linked to the ongoing ‘War on Terror’, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan dominated more than a decade of international politics and their influence is felt to this day.
-
-
Excellent book, poor narration.
- By TS on 21-12-21
-
Ghosts of K2
- By: Mick Conefrey
- Narrated by: Barnaby Edwards
- Length: 12 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
The story behind the story - very good
- By Andrew on 04-11-15
-
Savage Arena
- By: Joe Tasker
- Narrated by: Stewart Crank
- Length: 13 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Joe Tasker lies, struck down by illness, in a damp, bug-infested room in the Himalaya, wondering if he will be well enough to climb Dunagiri, his first venture to the "big" mountains. One of Britain’s foremost mountaineers and a pioneer of lightweight climbing, he is about to attempt one of the first true "Alpine-style" climbs in the Greater Ranges. The Dunagiri attempt forms part of Tasker’s striking tale of adventure in the savage arena of the mountains.
-
-
wow 👏 what a book great listen
- By travel18 on 06-01-21
-
Everest 1922
- By: Mick Conefrey
- Narrated by: David Thorpe
- Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Though it remains by far the world's most famous mountain, in recent years, Everest's reputation has changed radically, with long queues of climbers on the Lhotse Face, lurid tales of frozen corpses and piles of high altitude trash. It wasn't always like this though. Once Everest was remote and inaccessible, a mysterious place, where only the bravest and most heroic dared to tread. The first attempt on Everest in 1922 by George Leigh Mallory and a British team is an extraordinary story full of controversy, drama and incident, populated by a set of larger-than-life characters.
-
The Shining Mountain
- By: Peter Boardman
- Narrated by: Stewart Crank
- Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
"It’s a preposterous plan. Still, if you do get up it, it’ll be the hardest thing that’s been done in the Himalayas." Thus spoke Chris Bonington when Peter Boardman and Joe Tasker presented him with their plan to tackle the unscaled West Wall of Changabang - the Shining Mountain - in 1976. Bonington’s was one of the more positive responses; most felt the climb impossibly hard, especially for a two-man, lightweight expedition.
-
-
Excellent
- By Mrs Susan J Fraser-Smith on 01-10-20
-
Everest 1953
- The Epic Story of the First Ascent
- By: Mick Conefrey
- Narrated by: Barnaby Edwards
- Length: 11 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
Man! That story is epic!
- By carrosvoss on 12-09-14
-
Blood, Metal and Dust
- How Victory Turned into Defeat in Afghanistan and Iraq
- By: Ben Barry
- Narrated by: Christopher Ragland
- Length: 21 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the high-ranking officer who wrote the still-classified British military analysis of the war in Iraq comes the authoritative history of two conflicts which have overshadowed the beginning of the 21st century. Inextricably linked to the ongoing ‘War on Terror’, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan dominated more than a decade of international politics and their influence is felt to this day.
-
-
Excellent book, poor narration.
- By TS on 21-12-21
-
Ghosts of K2
- By: Mick Conefrey
- Narrated by: Barnaby Edwards
- Length: 12 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
The story behind the story - very good
- By Andrew on 04-11-15
-
Savage Arena
- By: Joe Tasker
- Narrated by: Stewart Crank
- Length: 13 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Joe Tasker lies, struck down by illness, in a damp, bug-infested room in the Himalaya, wondering if he will be well enough to climb Dunagiri, his first venture to the "big" mountains. One of Britain’s foremost mountaineers and a pioneer of lightweight climbing, he is about to attempt one of the first true "Alpine-style" climbs in the Greater Ranges. The Dunagiri attempt forms part of Tasker’s striking tale of adventure in the savage arena of the mountains.
-
-
wow 👏 what a book great listen
- By travel18 on 06-01-21
-
Everest 1922
- By: Mick Conefrey
- Narrated by: David Thorpe
- Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Though it remains by far the world's most famous mountain, in recent years, Everest's reputation has changed radically, with long queues of climbers on the Lhotse Face, lurid tales of frozen corpses and piles of high altitude trash. It wasn't always like this though. Once Everest was remote and inaccessible, a mysterious place, where only the bravest and most heroic dared to tread. The first attempt on Everest in 1922 by George Leigh Mallory and a British team is an extraordinary story full of controversy, drama and incident, populated by a set of larger-than-life characters.
-
The Shining Mountain
- By: Peter Boardman
- Narrated by: Stewart Crank
- Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
"It’s a preposterous plan. Still, if you do get up it, it’ll be the hardest thing that’s been done in the Himalayas." Thus spoke Chris Bonington when Peter Boardman and Joe Tasker presented him with their plan to tackle the unscaled West Wall of Changabang - the Shining Mountain - in 1976. Bonington’s was one of the more positive responses; most felt the climb impossibly hard, especially for a two-man, lightweight expedition.
-
-
Excellent
- By Mrs Susan J Fraser-Smith on 01-10-20
-
Winter 8000
- Climbing the World's Highest Mountains in the Coldest Season
- By: Bernadette McDonald
- Narrated by: Merryn D. Griffin
- Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Of all the games mountaineers play on the world’s high mountains, the hardest - and cruelest - is climbing the 14 peaks over 8,000 meters in the bitter cold of winter. Ferocious winds that can pick you up and throw you down, freezing temperatures that burn your lungs and numb your bones, weeks of psychological torment in dark isolation - these are adventures for those with an iron will and a ruthless determination.
-
-
Often a Harrowing Listen
- By SocialGoose on 31-10-21
-
Ascent into Hell
- By: Fergus White
- Narrated by: Roger Clark
- Length: 13 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There is but one aim: the summit, the summit of Mount Everest. What starts with a trouble-free trek into the Nepalese highlands explodes into a gripping tale of hardship, peril and adversity. Pushed beyond their physical and mental limits, climbers drop by the wayside. Their primal instincts for survival battle with their dogged resolve to drag themselves to the top of the world. But the focus remains: battle to the summit, and if successful, somehow get back down again.
-
-
Best mountain book i've listened to
- By RonanFromEire on 19-05-20
-
Everest the Cruel Way
- By: Joe Tasker
- Narrated by: Stewart Crank
- Length: 6 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On 30 January, 1981 Joe Tasker and Ade Burgess stood at 24,000 feet on the west ridge of Mount Everest. Below them were their companions, some exhausted, some crippled by illness, all virtually incapacitated. Further progress seemed impossible. Everest the Cruel Way is Joe Tasker's story of an attempt to climb the highest mountain on earth - an attempt which pushed a group of Britain's finest mountaineers to their limits. The goal had been to climb Mount Everest at its hardest: via the infamous west ridge, without supplementary oxygen and in winter.
-
-
People Will Climb Mountains
- By SocialGoose on 28-09-19
-
K2
- Life and Death on the World's Most Dangerous Mountain
- By: Ed Viesturs, David Roberts
- Narrated by: Fred Sanders
- Length: 12 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In K2: Life and Death on the World's Most Dangerous Mountain, Viesturs explores the remarkable history of the mountain and of those who have attempted to conquer it. At the same time he probes K2's most memorable sagas in an attempt to illustrate the lessons learned by confronting the fundamental questions raised by mountaineering - questions of risk, ambition, loyalty to one's teammates, self-sacrifice, and the price of glory.
-
-
Fascinating chronicle of the difficulties of K2
- By D. J. Pritchard on 08-11-15
-
Shackleton
- By: Ranulph Fiennes
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 1915, Sir Ernest Shackleton's attempt to traverse the Antarctic was cut short when his ship, Endurance, became trapped in ice. The disaster left Shackleton and his men alone at the frozen South Pole, fighting for their lives. Their survival and escape is the most famous adventure in history.
-
-
A truly epic story!!
- By L. BETTLES on 20-10-21
-
The River War
- By: Winston Churchill
- Narrated by: Stephen Thorne
- Length: 13 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The northeastern quarter of the continent of Africa is drained and watered by the Nile. Among and about the headstreams and tributaries of this mighty river lie the wide and fertile provinces of the Egyptian Soudan. Situated in the very centre of the land, these remote regions are on every side divided from the seas by 500 miles of mountain, swamp, or desert. The great river is their only means of growth, their only channel of progress.
-
-
History clearly set out and read very well
- By G. Roberts on 29-03-20
-
The Will to Climb
- Obsession and Commitment and the Quest to Climb Annapurna - the World's Deadliest Peak
- By: David Roberts, Ed Viesturs
- Narrated by: Fred Sanders
- Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The best-selling author of No Shortcuts to the Top and K2 chronicles his three attempts to climb the world's tenth-highest and statistically deadliest peak, Annapurna in the Himalaya, while exploring the dramatic and tragic history of others who have made - or attempted - the ascent, and what these exploits teach us about facing life's greatest challenges.
-
-
A true, engaging documentary
- By Akemi on 03-12-19
-
Into the Silence
- By: Wade Davis
- Narrated by: Enn Reitel
- Length: 28 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A monumental work of history, biography and adventure – the First World War, Mallory and Mount Everest – ten years in the writing.If the quest for Mount Everest began as a grand imperial gesture, as redemption for an empire of explorers that had lost the race to the Poles, it ended as a mission of regeneration for a country and a people bled white by war.
-
-
Epic prize winner
- By M. Griffiths on 22-11-14
-
The Summit
- By: Pemba Gyalje Sherpa, Pat Falvey
- Narrated by: Pat Falvey
- Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On 1 August, 2008, 18 climbers from across the world reached the summit of K2, the world's second-highest and most dangerous mountain - a peak that claims the life of one in every four climbers who attempt it. Over the course of 28 hours K2 had exacted a deadly toll: 11 lives were lost in a series of catastrophic accidents.
-
-
Truly gripping story
- By Phil on 30-11-15
-
The Third Pole
- My Everest Climb to Find the Truth About Mallory and Irvine
- By: Mark Synnott
- Narrated by: Steve Campbell
- Length: 12 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On June 8th, 1924, George Mallory and 'Sandy' Irvine set out to stand on the roof of the world, where no one had stood before. They were last seen 800 feet shy of Everest's summit. A century later, we still don't know whether they achieved their goal, decades before Sir Edmund Hillary and Tensing Norgay did, in 1953. Irvine carried a Kodak camera with him to record their attempt, but it, along with his body, had never been found. Did Mallory and Irvine reach the summit and take a photograph before they fell to their deaths?
-
-
Disappointing
- By Amazon Customer on 11-11-21
-
The World Beneath Their Feet
- The British, the Americans, the Nazis and the Mountaineering Race to Summit the Himalayas
- By: Scott Ellsworth
- Narrated by: Scott Ellsworth
- Length: 13 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From 1931 to 1953, there was a race like no other. It was a race to the top of the world - a race primarily between Great Britain, Nazi Germany and the United States. Carried on across nearly the entire sweep of the Himalayas, it involved not only the greatest mountain climbers of the era, but statesmen and millionaires, world-class athletes and bona fide eccentrics, scientists and generals, obscure villagers and national heroes.
-
-
Great Story Disappointing Narration
- By Ovekat on 02-03-20
-
Maverick Mountaineer
- By: Robert Wainwright
- Narrated by: Robert Meldrum
- Length: 12 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The first full-length biography of George Ingle Finch - maverick Australian mountaineer, scientist, concert pianist and father of actor Peter Finch. George Ingle Finch, mountaineer, soldier, scientist, rebellious spirit, boy from the bush, was in his day one of the most famous men in the world. In 1922 he stood at the highest point on Everest, a feat not bettered for 30 years. He invented the predecessor to the puffer jacket and pioneered the use of oxygen in climbing.
Summary
The Last Great Mountain tells the story of the first ascent of Kangchenjunga the third highest but reputedly the hardest mountain in the world. It was an astonishing achievement for a British team led by Everest veteran Charles Evans. Drawing on interviews, diaries and unpublished accounts, Mick Conefrey begins his story in 1905 with the disastrous first attempt on the mountain by a team led by Aleister Crowley, explores the three dramatic German expeditions of the the late 1920s and brings it all to a climax 50 years later with the first ascent by Joe Brown and George Band. The Last Great Mountain is the final instalment of Mick Conefrey's acclaimed high-altitude trilogy.
More from the same
What listeners say about The Last Great Mountain
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kderbyshire
- 05-09-21
Strong book and narration, very poor editing
I would approximate that at least once every 30 minutes there is a phrase or sentence repeated due to poor editing. One is repeated twice and on one occasion the narrator gets the phrase backwards, repeats the offending word order correctly under his breath and then repeats it again . It's such a shame as it really takes you out of the flow of the narrative each time.
Would still recommend it though, which says a lot about the strength of the writing.
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mr James Meechan
- 06-02-22
Amazing book but terrible audio
The book is brilliant. its interesting and in depth but without getting boring.
The audio is another matter. It is very badly edited and jumps around. A lot of sections are repeated as the audio jumps back on itself. Avoid this recording and buy the book instead
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 13-12-21
Another bit of mountaineering history
Narration was not perfect, with some passages repeated. The story lived up to the others by this author.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- R. Macmahon
- 13-05-22
Editor’s day off?
Riddled with fluffed and repeated lines. Obviously not the narrator’s fault, who does a fine job, but a problem with the editing (or complete lack, thereof). The book itself is just as gripping as the author’s other works and still recommended, if you’re a fan, despite the production issues.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Martin
- 06-02-22
3rd highest mountain and 3rd book in the series
Another fantastic book after Everest 53 and Ghosts of K2. All three are well written and narrated. Highly recommended
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mr. Damian M. Sears
- 17-08-21
Another great account of a peak steeped in history
really enjoyed this tale of a mountain not swamped in pop culture like Everest and K2. Great to hear about the lives and trials of those involved and their worlds extending beyond the mountain itself but as always the most excitement is hearing about the attempts.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mia Swinburn
- 22-07-21
Gripping account not to be missed.
Captivating account of human challenge and endurance. One not to be missed. Easily 5 stars.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- gamlitzer
- 22-07-21
Great story, some glitches
This is a great story, like the others by the same author. There are some glitches in the recording where sentences/words are repeated, but maybe half a dozen in many hours of recording so doesn’t spoil the listen.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ross
- 29-06-21
Poorly edited conclusion to a Fantastic trilogy
This is the third of Mick Conefrey's books performed by Barnarby Edwards. Like the other two books it is fascinating. However, it is really poorly edited and on several occasions phrases are repeated as the right intonation is sought.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 23-03-21
Great story, poorly edited recording.
As usual for the author a great tale that balances research based on good archival history, biography and interviews with a cracking adventure tale.
Let down somewhat by poor editing! Many times there is repetition by the narrator as he tries to get the correct emphasis on phrases, and a few awkward pauses. Not his fault as he does a splendid job, but the editing errors are more in line with something recorded in the 90s for cassette than something recorded in the golden age of the audiobook.