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David Roberts
The Last of His Kind
The Life and Adventures of America's Boldest Mountaineer
William Morrow, Winter 2009
Brad was unquestionably the greatest mountaineer in Alaskan history. He is generally conceded to be, with the Italian Vittorio Sella, one of the two finest mountain photographers ever. As a cartographer, he produced maps—of Mount McKinley, Mount Everest, the Grand Canyon, and other regions—that in terms of both precision and artistry surpassed anything that had come before them. In 1935, at the age of 24, he led a three-month exploratory traverse, beginning in the dead of winter, of what was then the largest remaining blank on the map of North America, 6,400 square miles of glaciers and mountains in the frozen heart of the Saint Elias Range.
David Roberts, a lifelong admirer, illustrates the life of THE LAST OF HIS KIND in a series of exciting adventure tales that, taken as a whole, will define a one-of-his-kind explorer and climber, and place him in the context of the development of mountaineering throughout the middle of the 20th century.
“A well-crafted biography of "the greatest mountaineer in Alaskan history." Roberts writes with measured authority about Washburn as a character, especially his overwhelming passion, impatience and stubbornness. Though unadorned, Roberts's style effectively captures the suspense and danger of Washburn's adventures. A thorough and admiring portrait.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Reading this excellent biography, you'll wonder why you have never heard of Bradford Washburn before this moment. Washburn, who died in 2007, is one of those people who are legends in their own fields but little known outside them. This book could change that, at least for anyone with even the slightest interest in mountain climbing.”—Booklist
James Monroe Thorington Award for the Best Work of Mountaineering History
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Agent: Stuart Krichevsky