Tilman and Shipton were the first humans to enter the Nanda Devi sanctuary, a valley surrounded by some of the greatest Himalayan peaks. They were indelibly marked by the experience.

Not only is Tilman's book brillantly written, but his chapter on "Two Mountains and a River," which focuses on the Swiss/British expedition to Rakaposhi and the Kukuay Glacier illustrates all the problems and hardships my uncle, Hans Gyr experienced during his quest for conquering the Rakaposhi in the Karakorum. Thanks to Tilman, I know now so much more about these few trying weeks in snow and ice. I recommend this book to all who like not only mountains, but solitude and the ultimate challenge.

In this anthology Tilman's pioneering travels through central Asia are recounted in his wonderfully laconic voice. This is a great addition to any exploration or mountaineering collection, particularly because Tilman was the first European to visit many of the peaks and places described. The portrait of Nepal he presents I will always treasure.

A man before his time, H. W. Tilman changed the history of mountaineering by creating an ethic of the small, compact team attempting to summit high peaks and sail remote seas.

Bill Tilman was indeed the 'Last Hero'. His exploits are absolutely unbelievable. From being wounded twice in the first world war, to a coffee planter in kenya, to cycling across africa in the 1930s, climbing Kilimanjaro, Mt Kenya and the Ruwenzori, the first ascent of Nanda Devi in 1936, reaching 27,200 on Everest without oxygen 1938 (many with Eric Shipton), fighting behind enemy lines in Italy and Albania in the second world war, finally sailing to such remote regions including Greenland and Spitsbergen. Unfortunately this biography does not match the orginal 'High Mountains and Cold Seas' by J. Anderson which is now out of print. Tilman was a great author with a great sense of humour. His 7 mountain and 7 sailing books rate as possibly the best travel/adventure books ever. However, if this is the only book on Tilman you can get hold of, it is still worth the read.

Bill Tilman was happiest when his crew was Australian. Bill Tilman was comfortable in his old boats as they set off on voyages of months and years, and he could not understand why others aboard felt otherwise. This is an uncomfortable book in that it portrays the selfishness of an explorer, the selflessness of the explorer. Bill Tilman was a very hard man on himself, and anyone else who thought they had the stamina to go with him. A must read for anyone thinking of going on an Outward Bound course.