Sir Edmund never explains the odd grammar of his 1975 autobiography's title, although after reading a few chapters, you will realize that the old adage "nothing ventured, nothing gained" perfectly summarizes his attitude to his mountaineering exploits, the people around him, and his life.
The great Everest expedition is the heart of the book, of course, and he added more details and interesting impressions about fellow mountaineers and the Sherpas who accompanied the expedition than were included in his 1955 account High Adventure (see further down). His writing is earnest, a bit dry, humble, occasionally funny, and full of his passion for detail. I admire him. He spent much of the latter part of his life working to build schools and hospitals in Nepal, for the Sherpa people. It's not an exciting, juicy book -- it's just a depiction of an admirable life.
In fact, how is it that he seems to have remembered the location of every handhold, the width of every crevasse, the shape of every minor slope, the feel of the snow at each step? It's amazing. He seem to replay every step of his expeditions. How did he record those details there, at 27,000 feet? I can only assume that he wrote prolifically in his journals at every possible resting moment. After all, he wanted others to be able to retrace his steps.
2 comments:
Re: the "odd grammar" of the title.
This is one of those old English sayings that has been updated for modern ears. Here's an example from the 19th century by the renowned British preacher, Charles Spurgeon.
“Why sit we here until we die?” (2 Kings 7:3)
"Dear reader, this little book was mainly intended for the edification of believers, but if you are yet unsaved, our heart yearns over you: and we would fain say a word which may be blessed to you. Open your Bible, and read the story of the lepers, and mark their position, which was much the same as yours. If you remain where you are you must perish; if you go to Jesus you can but die. “Nothing venture, nothing win,” is the old proverb, and in your case the venture is no great one. If you sit still in sullen despair, no one can pity you when your ruin comes; but if you die with mercy sought, if such a thing were possible, you would be the object of universal sympathy. None escape who refuse to look to Jesus; but you know that, at any rate, some are saved who believe in him, for certain of your own acquaintances have received mercy: then why not you? The Ninevites said, “Who can tell?” Act upon the same hope, and try the Lord’s mercy."
Another really admirable thing about Hilary Ji was the pact he made with Sherpa Tenzing -that they would never disclose who took the first step at the summit.As,he strongly felt,they did it together and so the world should know it so;Such genuine comradeship-is indeed a rare thing nowadays.Especially,as there are all kinds of stories floating about -on how the Sherpas first risk it and set the ropes &ladders so that 'moneyed mountaineers' may summit;
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