Man against Nature

A famous triad of literary themes is man against nature, man against man, and man against himself. It is hard to imagine a more classic expression of man against nature than the first solo climb of the world's tallest mountain. Part of what makes the theme compelling is the notion of Nature as the great mother or nurturer of all living things including humans. Through much of recorded history, at least until the age of high technology and advanced science revealed the damage humans have done to the earth, Nature was regarded as too big to harm. It was inexhaustible, unpredictable, and all-powerful. It was an opponent to be conquered. The notion of stewardship of Nature's resources played little part in people's thinking. In this book, Messner has a profound regard for Mount Everest, the Himalayas, and the isolated and religious world of the Tibetans. He...