|
TheRagens
Site Contents
Home Page
Book Resources
Family History
Newsletters
Reunions
Wildlife Photos
Wine Tastings
- Bottled
Poetry
Other Pages
About Us
Contact Us
Privacy Policy
Registration
Site Map
Affiliate Sites
Additional Affiliate Programs
| |
The Boardman Tasker Memorial Award For Mountain Literature
The Award was founded as a memorial and tribute to the
talents and achievements of Peter Boardman and Joe Tasker who disappeared in
1982 on a first attempt at the Northeast Ridge on Mt Everest.
The Prize of £2,000 is given to the author (or co-authors) of
an original work which has made an outstanding contribution to Mountain
Literature. The Prize is open to works of fiction, non-fiction, drama or poetry
published in the English language initially or in translation. Since 1984, it
has been awarded annually to a variety of books including biographies, novels,
short stories, expedition accounts and autobiographies. In addition,
mountaineering histories, philosophical books, conservation books, essay
collections, and a guidebook/compendium have been short-listed.
The
The Boardman Tasker Memorial Award
is truly international and
has so far attracted authors from twelve nations: America, Nepal, Australia,
Canada, New Zealand, India and six European countries. Liveliness in the judging
panel is maintained by a two-year term of office and the juxtaposition, each
year, of three judges with varied interests. The Trustees intend that the Award
will promote discussion, stimulate interest in the entries, and give continuing
encouragement to writers alert to the beauty and challenge of the mountains, and
of life in high places.
The Boardman-Tasker Award Winners
We include lists for both the winners and the
finalists (from the short list) since the award
was first given in 1984. When available, we have include links
to
Amazon.com in the US, Canada, and the UK.
| YEAR |
Winning Titles and Author |
| 2007 |
The Wild Places by Robert MacFarlane
Adapted from the award citation: This is neither a book of forensic investigation, nor autobiography,
but elements of both styles are vibrantly present in this moving,
challenging, luminously written book. MacFarlane wants to search for, and find “wildness” – noticeably,
he never uses the term “wilderness” – but not only to find it: to sense it, feel it, understand it,
capture something of its soul. This is a magical book in which
hedgerow, summit, crag, tree, storm, shingle beach, bivouac and solo exploration are discovered and
described anew. His evocations of the ordinary are extraordinary. A spurt of birds driven down the
wind; a tall bright sky; a flash of the sea grass; a shrapnel-blast of shingle.
There are also quiet and moving meetings with extraordinary people, first among whom is
the late, great Roger Deakin. Indeed, part of the true delight and revelation of this book is the integration
he achieves, melding disparate sources, observations, facts and firsthand experience; he leads us to
see and think the way he does. He seeks to find and to feel the nature of Nature itself. He shows us how wildness exists just round the corner, as well as in the
remote mountain peaks and vistas. That we can be moved to visit our own little pieces of wildness and
come to terms with our responsibility to preserve them for others to discover anew, is gloriously
celebrated in this book.
Check out the
other finalists below. |
|
| Amazon US |
Amazon UK |
Amazon CA |
| 2006 |
An Afterclap Of Faith: Mallory On Everest by Charles Lind
The perennial mystery of Mallory and Irvine on Everest receives an intriguing twist in a
reconstruction of their fateful climb written virtually in Mallory's own words. Drawn from
the climber's letters, writing and Mallory's background as a classicist, this is a near forensic
examination of the evidence and points to one firm conclusion. There is a second half to the book, almost as interesting and
of the same length as the first, in which the evidence for the first ascent is presented
informatively and very persuasively. |
| Amazon US |
Amazon UK |
Amazon CA |
2005
(tie) |
Learning to Breathe by Andy Cave
Andy Cave's autobiography telling the story of his journey from working as a
miner during the 1984 miners' strike to his emergence at the forefront of
British alpine climbing and a gripping conclusion on Changabang. |
|
| Amazon US |
Amazon UK |
Amazon CA |
The Villain: A Portrait of Don Whillans by Jim Perrin
A detailed and compassionate view of the life of a complex and often
difficult character, who was one of the key figures in British climbing
since the last war. The book is in turns funny, sad, thrilling and
infuriating as one is suddenly confronted with such a rapid decline of a
giant personality in our sport. |
| Amazon US |
Amazon UK |
Amazon CA |
| 2004 |
When The Alps Cast Their Spell: Mountaineers Of The Alpine Golden Age by Trevor Braham
From the award citation: "An epic work of reference, written with skill and
a deep understanding of the subject. The author opens up to the reader the
learning that the early climbers underwent, their determination and bravery.
It is not only the story of great summit bids but also the story of the way
that cols were crossed for the first time linking the Alpine regions of
Switzerland, France and Italy." |
|
| Amazon US |
Amazon UK |
Amazon CA |
| 2003 |
The Fall: A Novel by Simon Mawer
From the award citation: "Simon Mawer encompasses a great swathe of British
mountaineering from rock climbing in North Wales, to Himalayan expeditions
and alpine ascents such as the Eiger North Face. The book succeeds where
most climbing novels fail. The Fall works as an investigation into what
constitutes love, friendship and betrayal, and as an authentic account of
what it is like to climb and what it is like to be a climber." |
|
| Amazon US |
Amazon UK |
Amazon CA |
| 2002 |
Fatal Mountaineer: The High-Altitude Life and Death of Willi
Unsoeld, American Himalayan Legend by Robert Roper
From the award citation: "Robert Roper tells the story of Unsoeld’s obsession with Nanda Devi mountain and the
climb he would attempt with his daughter of her namesake mountain -- a climb
that would claim Devi’s life at 24,000 feet on its Northwest Face." |
|
| Amazon US |
Amazon UK |
Amazon CA |
| 2001 |
Hazard's Way by Roger Hubank |
| Amazon US |
Amazon UK |
Amazon CA |
| 2000 |
The Wildest Dream: The Biography of George Mallory by Peter and Leni Gillman |
|
| Amazon US |
Amazon UK |
Amazon CA |
| 1999 |
The Totem Pole And A Whole New Adventure by Paul Pritchard |
| Amazon US |
Amazon UK |
Amazon CA |
| 1998 |
Eric Shipton: Everest and Beyond by Peter Steele |
| Amazon US |
Amazon UK |
Amazon CA |
| 1997 |
Deep Play: A Climber's Odyssey From Lanberis To The Big Walls by Paul Pritchard |
|
| Amazon US |
Amazon UK |
Amazon CA |
| 1996 |
A Portrait of Leni Riefenstahl by Audrey Salkeld |
| Amazon US |
Amazon UK |
Amazon CA |
| 1995 |
Geoffrey Winthrop Young: Poet, Mountaineer, Educator by Alan Hankinson |
| Amazon US |
Amazon UK |
Amazon CA |
| 1994 |
At The Rising Of The Moon by Dermot Somers |
|
| Amazon US |
Amazon UK |
Amazon CA |
| 1993 |
The Ascent: A Novel by Jeff Long |
| Amazon US |
Amazon UK |
Amazon CA |
| 1992 |
In Monte Viso's Horizon: Climbing All the Alpine 4000m Peaks by Will McLewin |
| Amazon US |
Amazon UK |
Amazon CA |
1991
(Tie) |
Mer de Glace (Masks) by Alison Fell |
| Amazon US |
Amazon UK |
Amazon CA |
|
A View From The Ridge by Dave Brown and Ian Mitchell |
|
| Amazon US |
Amazon UK |
Amazon CA |
| 1990 |
Elusive Summits by Victor Saunders |
| Amazon US |
Amazon UK |
Amazon CA |
| 1989 |
Climbers by M. John Harrison |
| Amazon US |
Amazon UK |
Amazon CA |
| 1988 |
Touching the Void: The Harrowing First Person Account Of One Man's Miraculous
Survival by Joe Simpson
My Review |
| Amazon US |
Amazon UK |
Amazon CA |
| 1987 |
A Walk To The Pole: To The Heart Of Antarctica In The Footsteps of Scott by Roger Mear and Robert Swan |
|
| Amazon US |
Amazon UK |
Amazon CA |
| 1986 |
Lost Mountains: Climbs in the Himalaya by Stephen Venables
Note: Published in the UK as Painted Mountains: Two Expeditions To Kashmir. |
| Amazon US |
Amazon UK |
Amazon CA |
| 1985 |
Menlove: The Life Of John Menlove Edwards by Jim Perrin |
|
| Amazon US |
Amazon UK |
Amazon CA |
1984
(Tie) |
Living High: A Family Trek In The Himalayas by Linda Gill |
|
Amazon UK |
|
|
Shisha Pangma: The Alpine Style First Ascent of the Southwest Face by Doug Scott and Alex MacIntyre
My Review |
| Amazon US |
Amazon UK |
Amazon CA |
| YEAR |
Short-Listed Titles and Author |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
2005 |
|
| 2004 |
|
|
| 2003 |
|
| 2002 |
|
|
| 2001 |
|
| 2000 |
|
|
| 1999 |
|
| 1998 |
|
| 1997 |
|
|
| 1996 |
|
| 1995 |
|
| 1994 |
|
|
| 1993 |
|
| 1992 |
|
| 1991 |
|
|
| 1990 |
|
| 1989 |
|
| 1988 |
|
| 1987 |
|
|
| 1986 |
|
| 1985 |
|
Eponymous Book(s)
The Boardman Tasker Omnibus:
Savage Arena, The Shining Mountain, Sacred Summits, Everest The Cruel Way
by Peter Boardman, Joe Tasker
This collection of four books describes the progression of these two climbers as
they reached ever more difficult peaks. In particular, The Shining Mountain
is a great account of their expedition to Changabang. It demonstrates the determination
of two guys with virtually no support and a shoestring budget who climb a 23,000
foot mountain with near sheer rock walls over a route that no one has
done before.
Read Review
If you like this list of award winning mountaineering books, you may be
interested in checking out the winners of some of the other outdoor and climbing
book prizes:
Return to TheRagens Books homepage.
For other books on our lists of recommended books, follow the links below.
| |
|
