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Summary
Summary
Some people have dreams that are so magnificent that if they were to achieve them, their place in history would be guaranteed. Francis Drake, Robert Scott, Charles Lindbergh, Amy Johnson, Edmund Hilary, Neil Armstrong, and Lewis and Clark are among such individuals.
But what if one man had such a dream, and once he'd fulfilled it, there was no proof that he had achieved his ambition?
Jeffrey Archer's latest book, Paths of Glory , is the story of such a man---George Mallory. Mallory once told an American reporter that he wanted to climb Mt. Everest, "because it's there." On his third attempt in 1924, at age thirty-seven, he was last seen six hundred feet from the top. His body was found in 1999, and it still remains a mystery whether he ever reached the summit.
But only after you've turned the last page of this extraordinary novel, inspired by a true story, will you be able to decide if George Mallory's name should be added to the list of legends, in which case another name would have to be removed. Paths of Glory is truly a triumph.
Author Notes
Jeffrey Archer was born on April 15, 1940, in London, England. After graduating from Brasenose College, Oxford, he founded his own company named Arrow Enterprises and promptly amassed a fortune. In 1969, he was elected to the House of Commons. A conservative Member of Parliament, he was, at the age of 29, the youngest member at that time. While in Parliament, he invested in a corporation and lost his fortune because of embezzlement. Devastated and facing financial ruin, he recounted his experiences in his book, Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less. The success of this book launched his writing career.
His other works include Kane and Abel, Honor among Thieves, Shall We Tell the President?, A Quiver Full of Arrows, The Prodigal Daughter, and The Sins of the Father. He is also the author of The Clifton Chronicles series. He writes plays including Beyond Reasonable Doubt and The Accused. He was sentenced to four years imprisonment because of perjury and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, and was released in July 2003. He published three volumes of his Prison Diary: Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. In 2014, his title Be Careful What You Wish For made The New York Times Bestseller List. In 2015 his title Mightier than the Sword made the same bestsller list.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (2)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Veteran actor Roger Allam brings an impressive range and energy to Archer's historical novel. The tale finds its inspiration in the real-life mystery surrounding adventurer George Mallory, who may-or may not-have reached the summit of Mount Everest in 1924 before perishing in the ice and snow. Allam's remarkable accents are the highlight of the audio book, especially in his brief but highly memorable turn as a colorful American agent who organizes a rather exploitative and ethically dubious publicity tour for Mallory. Allam also shines in his portrayal of Mallory's devoted wife, Ruth, who chooses to mask her doubts and fears in order to support her husband's lifelong dream of climbing to the highest point on the planet. Admittedly, Archer's text offers a hero who would rather explore mountains than the depths of moral or psychological complexity, but Allam's performance renders the listening experience entertaining. A St. Martin's hardcover (Reviews, Jan. 5). (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Library Journal Review
Best known for his thrillers, deft storyteller Archer (A Prisoner of Birth) tries something different with this entertaining novel based on the life of famed British climber George Mallory, who disappeared along with climbing partner Andrew Irvine on Mount Everest in 1924 while attempting to become the first man to reach the world's highest peak. Mallory's body was found on Everest in 1999, but whether he succeeded in reaching the top before his death remains one of mountaineering's greatest mysteries. In creating his own imaginative answer to this enigma, Archer provides a readable tale that traces Mallory's path from an adventurous childhood to his education at Cambridge, followed by marriage and military service in World War I. Throughout, Archer interweaves the overarching theme of Mallory's passion for the mountains, which leads him inexorably toward Everest. Although Archer's prose occasionally feels flat and overly workmanlike, this quality is offset by the frequent inclusion of heartfelt and moving letters from Mallory to his beloved wife. This novel is best suited for general readers who enjoy popular fiction, while climbing or adventure devotees may prefer Jochen Hemmleb and others' Ghosts of Everest: The Search for Mallory and Irvine. Biography fans may like Peter and Leni Gillman's The Wildest Dream: The Biography of George Mallory. Recommended for larger public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/15/08.]-Ingrid Levin, Salve Regina Univ. Lib., Newport, RI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Excerpts
Excerpts
ONE St. Bees, Cumbria, Tuesday, July 19th, 1892 If you had asked George why he'd begun walking toward the rock, he wouldn't have been able to tell you. The fact that he had to wade into the sea to reach his goal didn't appear to concern him, even though he couldn't swim. Only one person on the beach that morning showed the slightest interest in the six-year-old boy's progress. The Reverend Leigh Mallory folded his copy of The Times and placed it on the sand at his feet. He didn't alert his wife, who was lying on the deckchair beside .shine, oblivious to any danger their eldest son might be facing. He knew that Annie would only panic, the way she had when the boy had climbed onto the roof of the village hall during a meeting of the Mothers' Union. The Reverend Mallory quickly checked on his other three children, who were playing contentedly by the water's edge, unconcerned with their brother's fate. Avie and Mary were happily collecting seashells that had been swept in on the morning tide, while their younger brother Trafford was concentrating on filling a small tin bucket with sand. Mallory's attention re.lutely toward the rock. He was not yet worried, surely PATHS OF GLORY the boy would eventually realize he had to turn back. But he rose from his deckchair once the waves began to cover the boy's knee breeches. Although George was now almost out of his depth, the moment he reached the jagged outcrop he deftly pulled himself out of the sea and leaped from rock to .self, and stared out toward the horizon. Although his favorite subject at school was history, clearly no one had told him about King Canute. His father was now watching with some trepidation as the waves surged carelessly around the rocks. He waited patiently for the boy to become aware of the danger he was in, when he would surely turn and ask for help. He didn't. When the first spray of foam touched the boy's toes, the Reverend Mallory walked slowly .mured as he passed his youngest, who was now intently building a sandcastle. But his eyes never left his eldest son, who still hadn't looked back, even though the .end Mallory plunged into the sea and started to swim .tary breaststroke he became more aware that it was much further away than he had realized. He finally reached his goal, and pulled himself onto the rock. As he clambered awkwardly to the top he cut his legs in several places, showing none of the surefootedness his son had earlier displayed. Once he'd joined the boy, he tried not to reveal that he was out of breath and in some considerable discomfort. .serve his wife, standing at the water's edge, shouting desperately, "George! George!" "Perhaps we should be making our way back, my boy," suggested the Reverend Mallory, trying not to sound at all concerned. "We don't want to worry your mother, do we?" "Just a few more moments, Papa," begged George, who continued to stare resolutely out to sea. But his father decided they couldn't wait any longer, and pulled his son gently off the rock. It took the two of them considerably longer to reach .dling his son in his arms, had to swim on his back, only able to use his legs to assist him. It was the first time George became aware that return journeys can take far longer. When George's father finally collapsed on the beach, George's mother rushed across to join them. She fell on .ing, "Thank God, thank God," while showing scant interest in her exhausted husband. George's two sisters .etly sobbing, while his younger brother continued to build his fortress, far too young for any thoughts of death to have crossed his mind. The Reverend Mallory eventually sat up and stared at his eldest son, who was once again looking out to sea although the rock was no longer in sight. He accepted .cept of fear, no sense of risk. Excerpted from Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer. Copyright (c) 2009 by Jeffrey Archer. Published in December 2009 by St. Martin's Press. All rights reserved. This work is protected under copyright laws and reproduction is strictly prohibited. Permission to reproduce the material in any manner or medium must be secured from the Publisher Excerpted from Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.