Alpine Tragedy. By Charles Gos. Translated by Malcolm Barnes. (Allen
and Unwin. 18s.)
THIS Swiss writer has reconstructed twenty-two Alpine disasters that took place mainly in the nineteenth century. M. Gos puts " the birth of alpinism " at the conquest of Mont Blanc fat the end of the eighteenth century, and since then hundreds of fatal accidents have occurred, particularly in this century when the Alps have become, as he says, " a public stadium." He has, however, selected those in which climbers or guides were well-known, including the Matterhorn accident in which Edward Whymper was involved. M. Gos treats his disasters in a dramatic, not quite English, way, inventing conversations and feelings ; but he has taken much care in gathering evidence and he is perfectly familiar with the territory. He stresses the devoted work of rescue parties and the affection that exists between climber and guide. The book will be of special interest to those who know the mountains, but may give to others some idea of the fascination of climbing. It is illustrated by tail- pieces by Whymper himself and a series of magnificent photographs of the Alps.
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