By the author of the New York Times bestselling Everest: Mountain Without Mercy; this chronicle of the iconic first American expedition to Mt. Everest in May 1963 – published to coincide with the climb's 50th anniversary – combines riveting adventure; a perceptive analysis of its dark and terrifying historical context; and revelations about a secret mission that followed. In the midst of the Cold War; against the backdrop of the Bay of Pigs fiasco; the space race with the Soviet Union; and the quagmire of the Vietnam War; a band of iconoclastic; independent-minded American mountaineers set off for Mt. Everest; aiming to restore America's confidence and optimism. Their objective is to reach the summit while conducting scientific research; but which route will they take? Might the Chinese; in a public relations coup; have reached the top ahead of them? And what about another American team; led by the grandson of a President; that nearly bagged the peak in a bootleg attempt a year earlier? The Vast Unknown is; on one level; a harrowing; character-driven account of the climb itself and its legendary team of alternately inspiring; troubled; and tragic climbers who suffered injuries; a near mutiny; and death on the mountain. It is also an examination of the profound sway the expedition had over the American consciousness and sense of identity during a time when the country was floundering. And it is an investigation of the expedition's little-known outcome: the selection of a team to plant a CIA surveillance device on the Himalayan peak of Nanda Devi; to spy into China where Defense Intelligence learned that nuclear missile testing was underway.
#226788 in Books 2010-05-04 2010-05-04Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x .78 x 5.13l; .75 #File Name: 0307476421368 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Gripping!By F. S. L'hoirI thoroughly enjoyed this book; which held my interest from first to last. Well-written and thoroughly researched; it not only brings the story of the fascinating; and likely misunderstood; Idina to life; but it also gives us a glimpse into the lives of the British expatriates who were living in the British East Africa Protectorate--later the Crown Colony of Kenya—before and during WWII.Mrs Osborne reveals fascinating historical details of which I was previously unaware. For instance; I had no idea that the British government offered up land in a sort of lottery to veterans of World War I (The doling out of other people's land is reminiscent of Marius (and other consuls) in ancient Rome paying off their veterans with land in North Africa). She also provide insight into the mores and double standards of aristocratic Great Britain during the early half of the 20th century; and the startling changes such norms underwent after the first world war..Osborne's descriptions of Kenya were especially effective in that they actually 'took me there' to the highlands where "explosions of pansies; roses; and petunias" coexisted with giant nettles that "trembled with an unseen animal's roar".I would recommend this absorbing book for anyone who is interested in early 20th-century history in general and British Colonialism and social history in particular.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Really interesting lady !By JulieThis book is a true story about Idina Sackville ;told by her great granddaughter . Idina was among a wealthy group of people ;whose heyday started in the early 1900's . Nancy Mitford used Idina's life as the character "The Bolter " in her book " The Pursuit of Love " . Idina was considered quite a rebel during her lifetime . She really didn't care about acting properly ;or following a strict set of rules . She seemed to enjoy making her own rules in life .Whatever made her happy was usually the path she took ;whether anyone else approved or not .She was married and divorced 5 times and had too many other partners to even count . She loved throwing wild parties where pretty much everyone else enjoyed the same lifestyle as she did .Oddly; you'd think she would have had a lot more enemies than she did ; but most people who got to know her truly loved her . She was among a group who settled in Kenya in an area nicknamed Happy Valley . It did seem to be a magical place where everyone was happy for many years ;but as time went on; the choices they all made began taking their toll . Other well known people mentioned in the book were Beryl Markham; Karen Blixen ; and Denis Finch-Hatton .15 of 15 people found the following review helpful. Blue Blooded NaughtinessBy John D. CofieldIn writing The Bolter Frances Osborne confronted and dealt with some fascinating albeit unsavory details from her family background. Her great grandmother was Lady Idina Sackville; known as The Bolter in London high society in the 1920s and 1930s due to her string of love affairs; flirtations; and five husbands. Osborne has done a fine job of tracing and telling the story of her ancestress in the context of her times.Lady Idina Sackville was born into an unconventional family. Her parents separated shortly after her birth; and Idina and her sister and brother lived a life of material plenty but emotional shortages. Idina married for the first time at 20; divorced for the first time at 25; and then embarked on a string of love affairs and marriages; none of which lasted for more than a few years. Despite having less money than most aristocrats; she managed to live in luxury in Britain and in Kenya and maintained a reputation for well dressed elegance and panache.Osborne does a good job explaining the ins and outs of her great-grandmother's life; using diaries and letters as well as newspaper accounts of her doings. She never really gives as good a sense of what the five husbands were like; with the possible exceptions of the first and third; except for the general observation that all of them were just as emotionally needy and rambunctious as Idina herself. There's also quite a bit of interesting information about Kenya in its days as a British colony; when it served as a rendezvous or hide out for aristocrats who wished to lead a more colorful life than was possible back home.Lady Idina and most of her husbands; friends; and lovers were intelligent people who ought to have led fuller; more praiseworthy lives. Their story is both interesting and cautionary.
