Jeffrey Archer - Paths of Glory

I really enjoyed this book and didn't want it to end! I was worried after reading Robert Goddards wonderful new novel 'Fault Line' that I wouldn't settle into another, but I did.
This biographical novel, a mixture of fact and fiction, portrays what a determined, caring, loyal person George Mallory was. He was a great believer in 'rights for women' an unusual thing for a man in the early 1900's. I would love to think he did finally make his climb to the top of his beloved Chomolungma and put the photo of his other beloved there..
Its a story of George Mallory from boyhood to his sad end. It starts with his body being found in the snow, on the slopes of Everest. Then we go back and trace his life up to that point. But it is such a riveting tale. Even though you know when he dies it certainly does not detract in any way from the story.
His determination to conquer Everest even though he hated leaving his beloved wife Ruth and his children behind each time he went with the climbing party. His wife sent him with her blessing, whilst hiding her true feelings, how she would have loved to have told him not to go as she missed him so much and wanted to grown old with him.
The loyalty and respect each of the climbers had for each other, some being old friends from university, was heartwarming. The snobbery (in the Royal Geographical Society Committee)that thwarted the final climb was criminal and possibly caused the death of Mallory. Because Finch, one of Mallorys choices for his climbing team and the one who would accompany him on the final leg, was not 'old school', didn't dress correctly or act in the 'English' way (and also wanted to use oxygen for the climb), Hinks (from RGS) was determined to stop him being on the team, using whatever sneaky, underhand tricks he could find to do so. No thought for the fact that they would be sending Mallory on his final attempt without his best climber beside him! I hoped Mallory would thump him!
I am not a mountaineer or interested in climbing mountains but I had such respect for the gritty determination of these guys, 27,000 feet+ above sea level, no mobile phones or GPS or a map, of Everest. Freezing 200mph winds and minus 40 degrees.
This story stayed with me long after I had read it and I will never look up at a mountain without thinking of Mallory and Chomolungma.