Literature Mountain Literature Classics: Scrambles Amongst the Alps by Edward Whymper
The engravings may be better than the writing, but with its blend of triumph and tragedy, the story of Whymper's five-year campaign for the first ascent of the Matterhorn is one of mountain climbing's defining narratives, says Ronald Turnbull.
Comments
Really fascinating read, to go beyond the western-centred conception of romanticism, where everything is traditionally viewed through a John Clare/Lakes Poets/Caspar David Friedrich lens. Thanks Ronald.
The horse pissing next to the pillow put me in mind of another C17th reference that modern backpackers might recognise themselves in:
"Here, therefore, they wallowed for a time, being grievously bedaubed with the dirt; and Christian, because of the burden that was on his back, began to sink in the mire."
Wonderful stuff!
(Cheered me right up
Sitting in airport lounge
Sad I cannot climb)
Thanks for this article Ron.
I really enjoying this series (worked in a bookshop for 14 years and used to be in charge of the 'Outdoor' section amongst others). I've read many of the books you've featured but have just ordered this one. "Cold Mountain Poems" is another great one, this time from a Chinese writer from back in them there olden days, though you might have featured it already. I read Gary Snyder's translation.
Definitely related to several of the Basho quotes you included, although I've never chucked half my pack away part way through a trip :).
Keep up the great writing.
.... "Cold Mountain Poems" is another great one, this time from a Chinese writer from back in them there olden days, though you might have featured it already. I read Gary Snyder's translation.
I very much second this. Like you, I first read the Cold Mountain poems (by an anonymous 8th or 9th century Chinese hermit) in Gary Snyder's translations - in "Riprap and Cold Mountain Poems". (Gary Snyder of course a brilliant poet of mountains and wilderness in his own right). There's another more recent translation, with many more poems than Snyder translated (more than 300, compared to Snyder's 24), by Red Pine (Bill Porter) that I'd recommend too.
I really enjoyed the Basho article too.
Chiao Jan
(730-799)
Inscribed on the wall of the hut by the lake
If you want to be a mountain-dweller...
No need to trek to India to find one
I have a thousand peaks
to pick from right here on the lake.
Fragrant grasses and white clouds
hold me here
What holds you there,
World-dweller?
Han-Shan 9th century
Among a thousand clouds and ten thousand streams,
here lives an idle man,
In the daytime wandering over green mountains,
At night coming home to sleep by the cliff.
Swiftly the springs and autumns pass,
But my mind is at peace, free from dust or delusion.
How pleasant, to know I need nothing to lean on,
To be still as the waters of the autumn river!