Moth and the Mountain: A True Story of Love, War and Everest

The Moth and the Mountain is a book about Maurice Wilson, a World War I veteran who conceived and attempted to fly a Gipsy Moth aeroplane from England to Everest, crash land on its lower slopes, and become the first person to reach its summit. The book is a tribute to one of Everest's forgotten heroes and was shortlisted for the Costa Biography Award 2021 and won the Telegraph Best Sports Writing Award 2021.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 03 June 2021
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Winner of the Telegraph Best Sports Writing Award 2021
Shortlisted for the Costa Biography Award 2021




One of the finest books ever written about the early attempts to conquer Everest, The Moth and the Mountain is a remarkable work of historical writing. The author, Dan Jones, has consistently demonstrated his exceptional talent as a writer, proving time and time again that he is among the best of his generation.


In the 1930s, as official government expeditions aimed to conquer Everest, a little-known World War I veteran named Maurice Wilson conceived his own audacious and breathtaking plan. He would fly a Gipsy Moth aeroplane from England to Everest, crash land on its lower slopes, and then become the first person to reach its summit - all by himself. Wilson had no experience in climbing or flying, but he possessed an unwavering determination, courage, and a vision to achieve the impossible.


Maurice Wilson's story has often been dismissed as an eccentric and a charlatan by many, but he is held in the highest regard by world-class mountaineers such as Reinhold Messner. Ed Caesar's magnificent writing in The Moth and the Mountain restores him to his rightful place in the annals of Everest and attempts to answer the perennial question: why do we climb mountains?


This towering, tragic tale, rescued from oblivion by Caesar's magnificent writing, is a hell of a ride. It is a tribute to one of Everest's forgotten heroes and is sure to captivate readers with its thrilling and captivating narrative. The Times praised it as "a bonkers, ripping yarn of derring-don't," while The Sunday Times described it as a "small classic of the biographer's art."


In conclusion, The Moth and the Mountain is a must-read for anyone interested in mountaineering, history, or the human spirit. It is a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the lengths that people will go to achieve their dreams. Dan Jones's writing is exceptional, and Ed Caesar's masterful storytelling brings this forgotten hero to life in a way that is both inspiring and unforgettable.

Weight: 204g
Dimension: 128 x 199 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780241977255