The Mountains of My Life
New York: The Modern Library, [2000]. Uncorrected proof. Paperback. 8 by 5 1/4 inches; 215 by 132 mm. xxxvi, 424, [3] pages. Softcover, in very good condition. The paper wrappers, which carry the book's publishing information in the publisher's standard format, have a slightly roughened area on the front cover, more noticeable to the finger than to the eye, but otherwise a fine copy. Item #482
ISBN: 037575640x
Part of Modern Library's "Exploration Series." First published in Italian, under the title Montagne di una vita, by Baldini and Castoldi in 1998, after Robert Marshall, an Australian interested in Bonatti's career, contacted him after having rediscovered photographs of the famous and controversial first ascent of K2 in 1954. Based on Bonatti's nine books, only two of which have been translated into English, Marshall "arranged and annotated [excerpts] to provide an integrated, chronological account of his most important climbs, the most significant of which was the dramatic bivouac at 26,000 feet during the first ascent of K2. That episode had far-reaching consequences, which form the underlying theme" of The Mountains of My Life. Modern Library published this edition, translated and edited by Marshall, in 2001 as a "paperback original" (rather than issuing a hardcover edition first, the usual practice); this copy, issued in 2000, is an uncorrected proof distributed to reviewers. As such it is quite similar to the final version but carries the standard notice that reviewers "not quote for publication without checking against the finished book." This copy includes photos, but it appears that maps and other artwork were not yet prepared (for example, references to "Map 3" and "Art 5, 6" appear within the text), and therefore the layout of this copy differs from the finished version. A preliminary version of the finished book's color-photographic front cover is also included.
Price: $27.50