Above All Things - Hardcover

Rideout, Tanis

  • 3.69 out of 5 stars
    3,949 ratings by Goodreads
 
9780399160585: Above All Things

Synopsis

“Tell me the story of Everest,” she said, a fervent smile sweeping across her face, creasing the corners of her eyes. “Tell me about this mountain that’s stealing you away from me.” 

In 1924 George Mallory departs on his third expedition to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Left behind in Cambridge, George’s young wife, Ruth, along with the rest of a war-ravaged England, anticipates news they hope will reclaim some of the empire’s faded glory. Through alternating narratives, what emerges is a beautifully rendered story of love torn apart by obsession and the need for redemption.

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About the Author

Tanis Rideout’s work has appeared in numerous publications and has been shortlisted for several prizes, including the Bronwen Wallace Memorial Award and the CBC Literary Awards. Born in Belgium, she grew up in Bermuda and in Kingston, Ontario, and now lives in Toronto. Above All Things is her first novel.

Reviews

“Because it’s there.” George Mallory’s famous riposte to the question of why he attempts to scale Mount Everest satisfies everyone but his wife, Ruth. Theirs is a passionate romance, though one increasingly strained by Mallory’s insatiable need to crest a mountain that has vanquished him twice before, leaving his reputation in tatters after seven crew members died on his previous expedition. Given yet another chance to conquer the mountain, Mallory reneges on his promise to Ruth and mounts one final expedition. While Ruth soldiers on at their Oxford home, buoyed by family and friends but unsettled by relentless anxiety, Mallory and his team endure unimaginable hardships as they set out for the top of the world. With a gripping, “you are there” realism, Rideout’s powerful prose evokes the scalpel-like sting of arctic winds and the bone-shattering cold of frigid mountain nights. Impeccably researched, Rideout’s vividly authentic debut historical novel is a paean to the ability of love to conquer all but the highest mountains. --Carol Haggas

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