Synopsis
An extraordinary untold story from the first ascent of Everest.
For the first time, drawing upon previously unseen diaries and letters, rare archive material and interviews, Everest -- The First Ascent tells the remarkable story of Griffith Pugh, the forgotten team member whose scientific breakthroughs ensured the world's highest mountain could be climbed. A doctor and physiologist, Griffith Pugh revolutionised almost every aspect of British high-altitude mountaineering, transforming the climbers' attitude to oxygen, the clothes they wore, their equipment, fluid intake and acclimatisation.
Yet, far from receiving the acclaim he was due, he was met with suspicion and ridicule. His scientific contributions were, quite simply, at odds with old-fashioned notions of derring-do and the gentlemanly amateurism that dogged the sport. This insightful biography shows Pugh to be troubled, abrasive, yet brilliant. Eight years in the writing, closely researched, and told with unflinching honesty by Pugh's daughter, Harriet Tuckey, Everest -- The First Ascent is the compelling portrait of an unlikely hero.
About the Author
HARRIET TUCKEY is the daughter of Griffith Pugh. She has a first class honours degree in literature, and an MA in the sociology of literature from the University of Essex, and worked for the Fabian Research Institute, the Department of Education and the Department of Employment in various research capacities. She lives in London.
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