Tiger of the Snows by Tenzing Norgay (1955)

The autobiography of Tenzing of Everest with James Ramsey Ullman. One of the great adventure books of our time, a magnificent story of the world's last frontier.

Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary made history of May 29,1953 by standing atop Mount Everest for the first time ever. Hillary took a photograph of Tenzing on the summit, ice axe aloft, a tiny Union Jack flag fluttering in the wind, which was printed on the front page of every newspaper in the world. Instant celebrity followed, with all the challenges that brings. 

Tenzing participated in the ascent of Everest not as porter or sirdar, but as a full member of the climbing team, highly respected and regarded for his previous efforts on mountains like Nanda Devi, Nanga Parbat, and Everest with the Swiss in 1952.

Although he spoke many languages through his work with foreigners and travel through the diverse regions of Asia, the Sherpa language has no written component, and thus Tenzing needed to collaborate with a writer for this book. He joined forces with James Ramsey Ullman, the leading climbing writer of the day, who put Tenzing's words to paper and helped structure the book.

The book describes Tenzing's childhood, work with various climbing expeditions and foreigners passing through the region, and ultimately gives his viewpoint on the first ascent of Everest.

Hardcover first edition, published by G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York. Book and dustjacket in fair condition, with some damp smell. This book was published in the UK under the title Man of Everest.