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When Men and Mountains Meet: The Explorers of the Western Himalayas 1820-1875
The majestic and sublime Himalayas have long exerted a powerful force on the imaginations of explorers and travelers. Indeed, as a challenge for these adventurous souls, the mountain wilderness that separates the Indian subcontinent from Inner Asia is no similar region has ever
aroused such intense interest. When Men and Mountains Meet , a book based largely on out-of-print and archival material, is the first narrative account of the early exploration of this incomparable part of the world.
The difficulty of exploration was not only natural (though the terrain, of course, is the most formidable on earth), but man-made as the Himalayas, then as now, are strategic and political boundaries of great importance. Consequently, independent travelers were discouraged from expeditions,
while official travelers operated behind a dense screen of secrecy. Yet despite these obstacles, between 1820 and 1875 the Western Himalayas were explored by a number of extraordinary characters. In these pages we meet some of the most intrepid explorers of all the American adventurer
Alexander Gardiner; Joseph Wolff, who earned the sobriquet of "mad missionary"; Thomas Thomson the Scottish naturalist; Moorcroft, whose exploits have since become legendary in the region; and the dogged surveyor Godwin. All fully lived up to their magnificent setting, and all are once again brought
to life in this compelling saga of humankind versus nature.
aroused such intense interest. When Men and Mountains Meet , a book based largely on out-of-print and archival material, is the first narrative account of the early exploration of this incomparable part of the world.
The difficulty of exploration was not only natural (though the terrain, of course, is the most formidable on earth), but man-made as the Himalayas, then as now, are strategic and political boundaries of great importance. Consequently, independent travelers were discouraged from expeditions,
while official travelers operated behind a dense screen of secrecy. Yet despite these obstacles, between 1820 and 1875 the Western Himalayas were explored by a number of extraordinary characters. In these pages we meet some of the most intrepid explorers of all the American adventurer
Alexander Gardiner; Joseph Wolff, who earned the sobriquet of "mad missionary"; Thomas Thomson the Scottish naturalist; Moorcroft, whose exploits have since become legendary in the region; and the dogged surveyor Godwin. All fully lived up to their magnificent setting, and all are once again brought
to life in this compelling saga of humankind versus nature.
288 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1977
7 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
John Keay
54 books245 followersJohn Stanley Melville Keay FRGS is an English journalist and author specialising in writing popular histories about India and the Far East, often with a particular focus on their colonisation and exploration by Europeans.
John Keay is the author of about 20 books, all factual, mostly historical, and largely to do with Asia, exploration or Scotland. His first book stayed in print for thirty years; many others have become classics. His combination of meticulous research, irreverent wit, powerful narrative and lively prose have invariably been complimented by both reviewers and readers.
UK-based and a full-time author since 1973, he also wrote and presented over 100 documentaries for BBC Radios 3 and 4 from 1975-95 and guest-lectured tour groups 1990-2000. He reviews on related subjects, occasionally speaks on them, and travels extensively.
John Keay is the author of about 20 books, all factual, mostly historical, and largely to do with Asia, exploration or Scotland. His first book stayed in print for thirty years; many others have become classics. His combination of meticulous research, irreverent wit, powerful narrative and lively prose have invariably been complimented by both reviewers and readers.
UK-based and a full-time author since 1973, he also wrote and presented over 100 documentaries for BBC Radios 3 and 4 from 1975-95 and guest-lectured tour groups 1990-2000. He reviews on related subjects, occasionally speaks on them, and travels extensively.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 15, 2016
This is quite the marvellous book. I did not know about this until I picked it up recently, and it is quite an unknown gem. The tales of the early explorers is quite stirring indeed.
He has a knack of pulling out the stories of unknown people; people who have lived stirring lives and bringing them back to life.
While the Himalayas may seem to be much more explored nowadays, than before, they are quite the magnificent creations of Nature, and the earlier explorers seem to have treated them with more respect than we do nowadays.
The tales seem romantic, in a way. And, maybe this is good. Many of us fear to go where these men went, and I have to say that the Western world's discovery of the Himalayas does make for a great story.
He has a knack of pulling out the stories of unknown people; people who have lived stirring lives and bringing them back to life.
While the Himalayas may seem to be much more explored nowadays, than before, they are quite the magnificent creations of Nature, and the earlier explorers seem to have treated them with more respect than we do nowadays.
The tales seem romantic, in a way. And, maybe this is good. Many of us fear to go where these men went, and I have to say that the Western world's discovery of the Himalayas does make for a great story.
August 18, 2024
Keay’s second book displays his talent for meticulous research and admirable synthesis. His narrative style improved over the years, this slim volume tries to do too much, but the stories are compelling and well-worth the time invested.
July 10, 2007
There is the sea, and there are the mountains, and there is something to be said for people attracted to both of them.
As far as mountains go, these are the grandest and last to be explored, and the book tells the story of this exploration in a way that is very vivid in its descriptions, able to keep you reading without ever losing interest. Makes you wish to be there, getting power from these mountains, as ancient people used to do in the Mahabarata and Ramayana, or as the explorers did in their difficult exploits.
As far as mountains go, these are the grandest and last to be explored, and the book tells the story of this exploration in a way that is very vivid in its descriptions, able to keep you reading without ever losing interest. Makes you wish to be there, getting power from these mountains, as ancient people used to do in the Mahabarata and Ramayana, or as the explorers did in their difficult exploits.
April 25, 2014
Somehow I was disappointed by this one. Certainly enjoyed his other books more - particularly 'The Great Arc'. It is certainly a thoroughly researched history. It is however the description of this amazing landscape that really enthralled. Interested to read about lifestyles in this era, which is increasingly of interest as I research a book on surveying in the UK in the second half of the 1800s.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews