The Day the Rope Broke: The Tragic Story of the First Ascent of the Matterhorn

Excellent analysis of the fateful day in July 1865 when Whymper having at last made the first ascent of the Matterhorn lost four of his companions on the descent. The story of the first ascent made headlines all over Europe, and really broke Whymper, a silent man who never learnt to to express or get in touch with his feelings. (If he had, he would have been amongst the world's great ones.) The rest of his life was even lonelier, right up to his death, alone in his hotel room having told the doctors to leave him in peace, in 1911 at Chamonix. That July day has been a matter of intense discussion right up to our day. In 1865 it was a major scandal, and went right up to Queen Victoria who wondered that her clerics and peers had nothing better to do than to throw themselves off mountains.A good addition to your collection of history of mountaineering books. Do not, of course, miss Whymper's own "Scambles Amongst the Alps".

I have been amazed by this event since visiting Zermatt several years ago and it is nice that there is finally a well written book to tell the story. Originally I read Edward Whympers own book "scramble amongst the apls" which was dull as dishwater and only featured this incredible event in his life in the last chapter. This book proves that a good story needs a good writer to make a good book.Surely someone will see that this would make a great film - magnificent setting, good mix of characters, international rivalry, race-to-the-top excitement, and of course the tragedy given away in the title (even though they would probably have to pretend Whymper was an american!).

I have been in that mountain and know is dangers while reading the book I was there

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