Book description
Freedom Climbers is the multi award-winning book by Bernadette
McDonald, now available in the UK and Ireland thanks to Vertebrate Publishing.
Freedom Climbers tells the story of the extraordinary Polish
adventurers who emerged from under the blanket of oppression following
the Second World War to become the world's leading Himalayan climbers.
Although they lived in a war-ravaged landscape, with seemingly no hope
of creating a meaningful life, these curious, motivated and skilled
mountaineers built their own free-market economy under the very noses
of their Communist bosses and climbed their way to liberation.
At a time when Polish citizens were locked behind the Iron
Curtain, these intrepid explorers found a way to travel the world in
search of extreme adventure - to Alaska, South America and Europe, but
mostly to the highest and most inspiring mountains of the world. To
this end, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Nepal became their second
homes as they evolved into the toughest Himalayan climbers the world
has ever known.
"One of the most important mountaineering books to be written
for many years." (Boardman Tasker Prize for Mountain Literature).
"Climbers everywhere have much to l learn from this bold, tragic,
ultimately magnificent story." (Grand Prize Winner, Banff Mountain
Book Festival). "A brilliantly crafted tale of mountain and
political adventure that reveals a golden era in Himalayan climbing that
was as glorious as it was tragic." (Sir Chris Bonington).
"This important volume documents a defining chapter of Himalayan
climbing history." (Reinhold Messner). "Painstakingly
researched and well crafted, this remarkable book acknowledges the
significance of Polish mountaineers during the golden age of Himalayan
exploration. Fascinating." (Andy Cave, author of Learning to
Breathe). "McDonald deserves special praise for bringing to light
the stories of these remarkable men and women, and doing so in a manner
that does honour to their memory." (Wade Davis, author of Into the
Silence: The Great War, Mallory and the Conquest of Everest). "A
gripping read, bound to become a classic of mountain literature."
(Maria Coffey, author of Explorers of the Infinite). "Takes the
reader from deep within Communist-controlled Poland and into the lonely,
dramatic landscapes of the world's most formidable mountain
ranges." (Jim Curran, author of High Achiever: The Life and Climbs
of Chris Bonington). "Freedom Climbers is a very enlightening and
captivating look at the Polish climbing superstars." (Ed Viesturs,
author of No Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World's 14 Highest
Peaks). Bernadette McDonald is the founding vice president of Mountain
Culture at The Banff Centre in Canada and author of seven books on
international mountaineering, including: Tomaz Humar (Random House UK,
2008); Brotherhood of the Rope: The Biography of Charles Houston (The
Mountaineers Books, 2007) and I'll Call You in Kathmandu; The Elizabeth
Hawley Story (The Mountaineers Books, 2005). In addition to the prizes
scooped by Freedom Climbers, McDonald is the winner of numerous awards,
including Italy's ITAS Prize for mountain writing (2010) and is a
two-time winner of India's Kekoo Naoroji Award for Mountain Literature
(2009 and 2008). She has also received the Alberta Order of Excellence
(2010), the Summit of Excellence Award from The Banff Centre (2007), the
King Albert Award for international leadership in the field of mountain
culture and environment (2006), and the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal
(2002).
