Annapurna

The ascent of Annapurna accomplished in 1950 by a group of French mountaineers led by Maurice Herzog was the event that paved the way for the conquest of Everest, the highest peak on earth. The Goddess of Abundance - this is the meaning of the name in Sanskrit -, which measures 8091 meters in height, was, in fact, the first of the fourteen eight-thousanders on Earth to be conquered by man. The feat, which marks a fundamental stage in the history of human courage, is told in this mountaineering classic, written by Herzog himself, from the moment it was conceived to its completion. It is a fascinating, exciting and historically significant diary which describes the strenuous, mysterious preparation and therefore, phase by phase, in its victories, frustrations, deprivations and terrible suffering, the long climb. In addition to the tension due to the incredible adventure it narrates, the strength of this milestone of mountain literature lies in describing the high sense of human solidarity which, more than anything else, allowed us to overcome obstacles that seemed invincible.