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Coronation Everest: Jan Morris's Epic Journey to the Top of the World

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Published in Coronation Everest Jan Morris

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In 1953, the world was captivated by the news that Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay had become the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest. As part of the expedition, a team of journalists and photographers was tasked with documenting the historic climb. Among them was Jan Morris, a young Welsh writer who later became one of the most acclaimed travel writers and historians of her time.

Morris's account of the expedition, published in 1958 as Coronation Everest, is a classic of mountaineering literature. It is a vivid and suspenseful account of the climbers' journey to the top of the world, as well as a meditation on the challenges and rewards of exploration.

Coronation Everest

by Jan Morris

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1659 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	180 pages

The Climb

Morris begins her narrative with the climbers' arrival in Nepal. From there, they trekked for weeks through the rugged Himalayan foothills, carrying their supplies and equipment on their backs. As they ascended, the air became thinner and the conditions more treacherous. But the climbers pressed on, determined to reach the summit.

On May 28, 1953, Hillary and Norgay finally made it to the top of Everest. Morris and the other journalists were there to witness the historic moment. She described the scene as "one of wild and terrifying beauty."

The Aftermath

The successful ascent of Everest was a major triumph for British mountaineering. It was also a moment of great national pride. Morris wrote that the news of Hillary and Norgay's achievement "electrified the world."

In the years that followed, Everest became a symbol of human ambition and achievement. It is now one of the most popular trekking and mountaineering destinations in the world. But Morris's account of the first ascent remains a timeless classic, a reminder of the courage and determination of the men who first conquered the world's highest peak.

Jan Morris

Jan Morris was born in Wales in 1926. She began her career as a journalist and later became a travel writer and historian. She is best known for her books on the British Empire, the Middle East, and the American West.

Morris was a gifted writer and a keen observer of the world. Her work is characterized by its vivid descriptions, its insightful analysis, and its wry wit. She was also a pioneer in the field of transgender writing. In 1972, she became one of the first people in the United Kingdom to undergo gender reassignment surgery.

Morris died in 2020 at the age of 94. She is remembered as one of the great travel writers of her time. Her work continues to inspire and inform readers around the world.

Coronation Everest

Coronation Everest is a classic account of the first ascent of Mount Everest. It is a vivid and suspenseful narrative that captures the excitement and danger of the expedition. It is also a thoughtful meditation on the challenges and rewards of exploration.

Morris's book is a must-read for anyone interested in mountaineering, history, or travel writing. It is a timeless classic that will continue to inspire and inform readers for years to come.

Jan Morris's Coronation Everest is a masterpiece of mountaineering literature. It is a vivid and suspenseful account of the first ascent of Mount Everest, as well as a thoughtful meditation on the challenges and rewards of exploration. Morris's writing is characterized by its vivid descriptions, its insightful analysis, and its wry wit. Coronation Everest is a must-read for anyone interested in mountaineering, history, or travel writing. It is a timeless classic that will continue to inspire and inform readers for years to come.

Coronation Everest

by Jan Morris

4.5 out of 5