Mallory, Irvine and Everest

The last climb of George Mallory and Andrew Irvine, towards the summit of Mount Evereston 8 June 1924, has been shrouded in mystery for a century. Were they the first humans tostand at the highest point in the world? The discovery of Mallory's body in 1999 didnothing to resolve the mystery. Until now, accounts of their climb have been driven byspeculation and preconceived narrative.

In this book, which marks the 100th anniversary of the fateful climb, Dr Robert Edwardsbrings the fresh and original perspective of a mathematician to the story of Mallory andIrvine. Dr Edwards has assembled the contemporary accounts of the early British expeditions,written by the climbers and their leaders, and has identified their anomalies andinconsistencies. He has studied the letters of George Mallory, and has held in his hand thediaries of Andrew Irvine. He has viewed, in person, some of the surviving artifacts: the iceaxe found in 1933, and Mallory's boots, recovered in 1999. He has corresponded withmodern mountaineers who have climbed Everest. Above all, he has applied mathematicsand modern imaging and mapping technology