Mount Everest : The Reconnaissance 1935 The Forgotten Adventure by Tony Astill REVIEWS This scholarly ‘magnus opus’ explains the 1935 diaries and the outcome of this self-publishing approach is a fine addition to the literature of Mount Everest, complimenting the early Everest books of Norton, Howard-Bury, Bruce and Ruttledge. It is a must read for all mountaineers - young and old.
A very handsome book which largely consists of contemporary diary extracts, linked by his own commentaries, fills the half-century gap in the Everest record and brings the whole enterprise vividly to life. It all makes compelling mountain reading, courtesy of Tony Astill - Jan Morris, The Times
The final chapter of the Everest story - Nigel Winser, past Deputy Director of the Royal Geographical Society/IBG A welcome, thorough and definitive account of this expedition. In the detail, there’s gripping stiff. Mostly, however, the book portrays that for which Shipton is best known. You’ll read it with fascination and just a touch of envy - Rebecca Stephens, Geographical Magazine
Dense, authoritative and entertaining, is beautifully produced - a worthy conclusion to such a sustained and enthusiastic effort - Jim Perrin
The Forgotten Adventure is a heroic recounting in absorbing and fasinating detail, intimatelt told, romantic, seat-of-your-pants tale of 1930's exploratory mountaineering - and the rest IS history - Ed Webster, American Alpine Journal
I am delighted to have it. You did a tremendous job on it and it is a great service to Everest and mountaineering history that you went ahead and published it yourself - Nick Clinch
This was a journey of enchantment and we are fortunate that Tony Astill, in this scholarly labour of love has documented it so handsomely - Stephen Venables, Climber
Now more than seven decades later, this superbly produced book reveals the youthful climbing adventures of three 20th-century mountaineering icons - Ed Webster, Climbing
Most impressive and I'm grateful that you have done it as it very much needed putting together. Could be a great resource for some journeys. Pictures are amazing! - John Shipton
‘Beautifully produced and the idea of having the second dust wrapper with Spender’s map on is a stroke of genius’ - John Earle
Very much delighted and do appreciate your great work, as Shipton did not write his book on the 1935 expedition. My sincerest thanks to you for sending such a superb book - Yoshimi Yakushi
It is a really superb and great work - Tom Nakamura
In a world flooded with Everest tales, it's refreshing to be presented with something genuinely interesting - Adventure Travel
It is hard to imagine why such a book has not been written before because the achievements in 1935 were far greater than in either 1936 or 1938. It has filled a huge gap. This is a definitive book to stand beside the other expedition reports from 1921 to 1953 - Joss Lynam, Irish Mountain Log
More a densely descriptive work of reference than a compelling narrative, explanation or narrative If this sounds dull, it is. - Colin Wells, Climb Magazine
Ed ora presenta il frutto del suo appassionato lavoro in una accuratissima veste grafica e con le autorevoli introduzioni de John Hunt e Ed Hillary - La Revista del Club Alpino Italiano
Everest 1935 will hold pride of place among all the other Everest books - Peter Steele
There is much to be apprecaited. It has the heft and the quality of books published during the great age of exploration with beautifully reproduced photographs and maps. Elements in it leave aspects of the debate over the expedition unresolved. Readers will surely enjoy exploring them - R.W. Sandford, The Canadian Alpine Journal
Now at last we have that missing expedition book. A glimpse of a vanished world, which we can nostalgically view as idyllic - Audrey Salkeld, Climber
Adventure and exploration without the hype - Climber Magazine
Letters and diaries of the expedition members are blended well into the narrative to light up personal reactions and plot the hardships and joys. This makes a fine involvement for the reader and there is much to be enjoyed - Jennifer Bourdillon
It is a beautiful and scholarly book with a wealth of fine black-and-white pictures from the period which will please those interested in mountaineering history - Barney Rosedale, Tower and Town
Tony Astill's research, his diary editing and explanations are excellent. The maps are of high quality and the book is an important addition to the rich and varied approaches to Everest - Norman Hardie, The Climber. New Zealand
The history of man's attempts to conquer Mount Everest has been documented at great length but, until now, one small but important chapter in the story has gone untold - The Hampshire Chronicle
Hillary acknowledges his debt to Bryant in the introduction of this lavishly produced hardback - John Henzell, The Press. New Zealand
Astill applies some skill to organising and interweaving his own commentaries with the diary extracts which cover simultaneous activites of separate small parties. Libraries need this book; anybody intrigued by the glorious age of exploration and empire will be well rewarded. "What a super book" - Paul Newby, The Photogrammetric Record.
An enjoyable travelogue and essential reading for Everest buffs, this retrospective provides a fascinating look at early light-and-fast Himalayan mouontaineering - Jeff Jackson, Rock and Ice. U.S.A.
One of the most interesting recent climbing histories. Tilman and Shipton come across more naturally than in their own books. If you like vivid narratives about late Imperial expeditions, this book will more than repay your time - David Chaundy Smart, Gripped. Canada
Sensational is the only word capable of describing your writing, digging, researching, assembling, and publishing this monumental, vital, comprehensively detailed, exceptionally interesting, and historically significant book. Your book is a masterpiece. It is beautifully assembled, produced to the highest quality, contains many stunning images, and was quite obviously a true labor of love and dedication. It is exceptional in every respect - Ed Webster
It is superbly produced, the book illustrates superbly Shipton’s philosophy of small lightweight expeditions. Tony Astill has done a remarkable job. He has sifted through the material to make a coherent narrative of an important historic expedition. There is no cutting of corners; so many modern expedition books have too few photos; many lack an index. Just don’t expect “Into Thin Air - Peter Steward, UK Climbing
Forthcoming Reviews 2006 Desnivel. SPAIN Journal of the Royal Geographical Society Ed Douglas, Alpine Journal The Royal Dutch Alpine Club Journal Journal of the South African Mountain Club Cambridge University Mountaineering Club Journal Scottish Mountaineering Club Journal Oesterreichischer Alpenverein Yoshimi Yakushi, Japanese Alpine Club Journal Harish Kapadia, Himalayan Club Journal The Marlburian Scottish Mountaineer BMC Summit Magazine Forthcoming Reviews 2007 The Great Outdoors Ouside Magazine U.S.A. Fell and Rock Climbing Club Journal | 
