Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Killing Dragons

Subtitle: The Conquest of the Alps

Author: Fergus Fleming

Narrator: Richard Halverson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 45 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-06-15

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: History, World

Publisher's Summary:

In a riveting narrative of daredevils and eccentrics, Fergus Fleming gives us the breathtaking story of some of history's greatest explorers as they conquer the soaring peaks of the Alps. Fleming recounts the incredible exploits of the men whose centuries-old fear of the mountain range turned quickly to curiosity, then to obsession, as they explored Europe's frozen wilderness.

In the late 18th century, French and Swiss scientists became interested in the Alps as a research destination, but in the 1850s the focus changed: The icy mountains now offered an all-out competition for British climbers who wanted to conquer ever higher and more impossible heights, and explorers fought each other on the peaks and in the press, entertaining a vast public smitten with their bravery, delighted by their personal animosities, and horrified by the disasters that befell them.

Critic Reviews:

"...excellent popular history, with its proper share of mad dogs and Englishmen.... Fleming's rendition is dramatic and masterful." (Anthony Brandt, National Geographic Adventure)

Members Reviews:

Exploring the Alps

The author of "Barrow's Boys" has once again written an extremely interesting work that deals, mainly, with British eccentrics doing unusual things: this time they are exploring, and climbing, the Alps. I found the subject very compelling, because I have always had a desire to see the Matterhorn, a desire that began when I saw, as a young boy, Walt Disney's "Third Man On The Mountain". Having lived one winter in Denver, I loved going into the Rockies and just looking around, and observing the majesty of creation. This work is a very good introduction to the beginning of mountaineering in Europe, and is suitable for the general reader. Anyone who considers themselves learned in the field will probably not like this work, but I enjoy learning something new in everything I read, and this book certainly gave me that type of information. There were a few typos scattered here and there, but they didn't detract from my pleasure in reading this work. The writing style is casual, and it's something worth reading if you love mountains, and like hearing about the odd and determined people who climb them.

but it was recommended before a trip to Switzerland

A very interesting history of climbing the Alps. This was a subject I ordinarily wouldn't read, but it was recommended before a trip to Switzerland. Well written and entertaining as well as informative.

Five Stars

Excellent historical treatment of mountaineering in the Alps. Very well written.

Thoroughly enjoyable, well written survey of alpine exploration (with a somewhat botched finale)

"Killing Dragons" is an engrossing series of portraits of men and mountains woven into a chronology of alpine exploration that spans 150 years. The bulk of the narrative focuses on two big, suggestive mountains - Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn - and their two principal suitors: de Saussure and Whymper. But there are delightful side roles for a whole throng of colourful characters such as Bourrit, Forbes, Tyndall, Ruskin, Stephen and Coolidge.