Imperial Ascent: Masculinity, Mountaineering, and Empire

by Peter L. Bayers

The thrills and chills of mountaineering literature have long attracted a devoted audience of serious climbers, adventure-seekers, and armchair enthusiasts. In recent decades, scholars have come to view these tales of prowess and fortitude as texts laden with ideological meaning. In Imperial Ascent , a comparative study of seven such twentieth-century mountaineering narratives, Peter L. Bayers articulates the multiple and varied ways mountaineering and its literature have played in the formation and maintenance of national identity. By examining such works as Belmore Browne's The Conquest of Mount McKinley and Sir John Hunt's The Ascent of Everest , Bayers contends that for American and British climbers, mountaineering is tied to imperial ideology and dominant notions of masculinity. At the same time, he demonstrates how Tiger of the Snows, , Sherpa Tenzing Norgay's account of climbing Mount Everest, undermines Western conceptions of mountaineering and imperialism. Throughout this theoretically informed critique, Bayers manages to retain the sense of awe and adventure inherent in the original works, making Imperial Ascent a highly engaging read.

184 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2003

Reviews

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very academic book that uses the situation of mountaineering in the 20th century as the basis for describing one form of masculinity -
imperial masculinity as Bayers describes it. While he makes a strong argument, I wanted to see it better supported. At times, he simply repeats that x or y act reinforces imperial masculinity. Nevertheless, I was intrigues by his claims and feel like this form of traditionally masculine endeavor does lend itself well to a critique of masculinity and national identity. It is well written and sparked my curiosity about narratives of mountaineering and mountaineering itself.