"Because it's there"

Archer's latest book must have found its way to the best-sellers list in India thanks to the popularity of his earliest works and more so for it's presence in the media. Thanks to numerous articles covering the book launches at Landmark and those stressing the Indian presence in the novel, one couldn't have missed the information that Paths of Glory is inspired by the true story of mountaineer George Mallory.

I found the book a hard read at the start. The pieces of Mallory's childhood, growing up years were badly written. Maybe the intention was to provide a small biography of sorts, but the result was terrible. I had to struggle through the first few chapters, with only the wondering about the prologue to push me on. Proved to be worth the effort though. Not having known about Mallory and how the expeditions went, I enjoyed the latter half of the book. Enjoyed it so much that I finished it in one sitting. I'd like to set aside all evidences gathered since 1924 and think that reality was just as what Archer paints it for us in his book.

I don't have more to say about the book except that I'm glad I read it, I particularly liked the few descriptions of India (very few, so much for the Indian presence!) in the 1920's under British rule, the contrast with those of England at the same time!

I'm still reading about what 'really' might or might not have happened, thoughts about ambition, history, progress running about in my head.

Why read a book, why write about it, why struggle with life's hurdles .. "why bother with climbing mountains"..in the words of Mallory, "because it's there."

The boast of heraldry, the pomp of pow'r,
And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave,
Awaits alike th' inevitable hour:
The paths of glory lead but to the grave.
-Thomas Gray

That all paths lead but to the same end only frees you to make a journey of choice and battle on till you can. And extraordinary people like Mallory remain long after their 'inevitable hour' just for that choice they made.