The entire time I was reading this book, all I kept thinking was\u2026mic drop.<\/p>\n
In True Summit<\/i>, David Roberts reveals the truth of what really happened when Maurice Herzog summited Annapurna on June 3, 1950. Robert\u2019s does a great job starting off the book by re-introducing the summit events the way it was told by Herzog in his own book, Annapurna<\/i>. As most readers of this book, I\u2019m assuming, have previously read or heard about the initial Annapurna story, Robert\u2019s doesn\u2019t waste much time re-creating it before diving into the facts unknown. Robert\u2019s hypocritical tone gives the book some life and kept me intrigued, wanting to read on.<\/p>\n
What makes this whole \u201cfraud\u201d an interesting and fairly big deal, is that fact that Annapurna<\/i> has had such an immense impact on the mountaineering world. Robert\u2019s even admits that it was that very book that sparked his interest in mountaineering, and claims \u201cAnnapurna<\/i> hit me hard\u201d (p 23). Uncovering lie after lie while also revealing undisclosed facts, Robert\u2019s shuts down\u00a0Herzog\u2019s story, while admitting that it was \u201ca hard thing to have one\u2019s hero of forty years\u2019 standing dismantled before one\u2019s eyes\u201d (p 24). Robert\u2019s backs up his claims with a substantial amount of credible evidence, including visits to Rebuffat\u2019s widow, Francoise, and Lachenal\u2019s personal diary from the climb.<\/p>\n
Robert\u2019s not only provides \u2018behind-the-scenes\u2019 facts, but also criticizes Herzog\u2019s writing in Annapurna<\/i>. On p 47, Robert\u2019s provides some dialogue from Herzogs book, and questions its credibility on the fact that Herzog seemed to be able to remember \u201cevery exchange down to the exact word\u201d even months after it all happened. Even in the dialogue itself from Annapurna<\/i>, Robert\u2019s points out that no individual voices emerge, leaving one to assume its been concocted (p 47).<\/p>\n
However, Robert\u2019s main argument regarding Herzog\u2019s actual writing itself, is how he remains so optimistic, with \u201cnot a trace of bitterness or self-pity\u201d (p 21). Despite lost fingers and toes, and many horrible catastrophes after another, Herzog seems to continually praise the amount of \u201cloyalty, teamwork, courage, and perseverance\u201d (pg 23), which highly contradicts Lachenal and Rebuffat\u2019s versions. One extremely effective example of this, is where Robert\u2019s provides a quote from Herzog describing how \u201cthe ceremony was deeply moving\u201d (p 32), while on the next page providing a quote from Rebuffat\u2019s notes that showed a deep disdain towards Herzog and the so called \u2018ceremony\u2019. Here, Rebuffat is seen mocking the ceremony, by calling it \u201cDe-personalization\u2026a certain Nazification\u201d (p 33).<\/p>\n
With all this said, it raises an important question. Do you think Herzog was justified in his actions to provide a much needed sense of \u201cvictory\u201d for the French, considering the humiliating\u00a0loss suffered by them in\u00a0WWII? Do you think the need for a national hero for the French, was important and necessary enough to turn Annapurna into \u201ca campaign of national honour\u201d (p 32)? Does the end justify the means? I can\u2019t help but immediately think of Lance Armstrong, and the pain and humiliation that was brought to not only himself, family, teammates, and country, but also the sport itself.<\/p>\n
Robert\u2019s passion for the real<\/i> story to be heard shines through in his disappointment and sarcasm, finishing the book with a quote from Lachenal: \u201cThat march to the summit was not a matter of national glory, it was une affair de cordee<\/i>\u201d. And\u2026mic drop.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The entire time I was reading this book, all I kept thinking was\u2026mic drop. In True Summit, David Roberts reveals the truth of what really happened when Maurice Herzog summited Annapurna on June 3, 1950. Robert\u2019s does a great job starting off the book by re-introducing the summit events the way it was told by…<\/p>\n