description Annapurna Overview
Annapurna is a 1951 book by French mountaineer Maurice Herzog that documents his expedition's successful first ascent of Annapurna, a 26,545-foot (8,091-meter) peak in the Himalayas. Published in 1951, the book recounts how Herzog and Louis Lachenal reached the summit on June 3, 1950, making it the first successful climb of an 8,000-meter peak in history. Herzog's account became one of the most influential mountaineering books of the 20th century, describing both the triumph of the achievement and the severe physical consequences the climbers suffered during their descent.
insights Ranking position
Annapurna ranks #76 of 263 in the Adventure Novel ranking, behind Streets of Laredo, ahead of A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court.
help Annapurna FAQ
What mountain does Maurice Herzog describe in his book "Annapurna"?
The book details the 1950 French expedition to Annapurna, a massive 8,000-meter peak in the Himalayas. It famously chronicles the first-ever successful ascent of an 8,000-meter mountain by Maurice Herzog and his teammate Louis Lachenal.
What happened to Maurice Herzog during the descent from Annapurna?
During the grueling descent from the summit, both Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal suffered severe frostbite due to losing their gloves. Herzog ultimately lost all his fingers and toes, a harrowing experience detailed graphically in his 1951 memoir.
Why is "Annapurna" considered a classic mountaineering book?
The book is revered for its dramatic, first-person narrative of survival, heroism, and the immense physical toll of high-altitude mountaineering. It became a massive international bestseller upon publication in 1951 and inspired generations of alpinists.
Did the 1950 French expedition use supplemental oxygen to climb Annapurna?
No, the 1950 French Annapurna expedition successfully summited the mountain without the use of supplemental oxygen. This made their achievement of reaching the top of an 8,000-meter peak an extraordinary and punishing physical milestone in mountaineering history.
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