Letters from the Himalayas. Edited by Sergey Boyko

Reinhold Messner — a living legend of mountaineering, traveler, writer, and a man who forever changed the perception of human possibilities in the mountains.

In the autumn of 1986, he accomplished what was considered impossible: the first in history to climb all 14 eight-thousanders in the world without artificial oxygen, and he soloed two of them. He has more than 3000 ascents, 100 first ascents, and 70 books translated into dozens of languages under his belt.

In this book, Reinhold Messner summarizes more than a century of high-altitude mountaineering history, relying on rare archival materials, documents, and personal testimonies. The publication is made particularly valuable by unique, previously unpublished letters from the Himalayas — the voices of those who were at the origins of mountaineering: Albert Mummery, Wilhelm Vitzthum, George Mallory, and other legends.

These are letters about fear and hope, victories and defeats, about the choice between returning and stepping into the unknown. Many of them became the last words sent from the heights. Through these texts, the reader feels the full range of human emotions — from despair to absolute freedom, from deadly risk to unconditional love for the mountains.

The new edition in a convenient format will be an ideal gift not only for climbers and outdoor enthusiasts but also for anyone who appreciates real stories about people pushing the boundaries of the possible.