About the Author

Bernadette McDonald is the author of eight books on mountaineering and mountain culture. She has received numerous mountain writing awards, including Italy's ITAS Prize (2010), and is a two-time winner of India's Kekoo Naoroji Award for mountain literature (2008 and 2009). In 2011 Bernadette's book Freedom Climbers won the Grand Prize at the Banff Mountain Book Festival (Canada), the Boardman Tasker Prize (UK) and the American Alpine Club's H. Adams Carter Literary Award.

Reviews

. . . much more than an admirable biography of an intriguing woman. While throwing open the curtains on the enigmatic life of Elizabeth Hawley, Bernadette McDonald provides a crash course in the history of Himalayan mountaineering, crammed with engaging renderings of the numerous characters whose lives intersected with Hawley's over the past 45 years in Kathmandu--a quirky cast ranging from Sir Edmund Hillary to Hillary Clinton, Boris Lissanevitch to Babu Chiri, Reinhold Messner to Jimmy Carter. --Jon Krakauer-- (10/15/2012)

Congratulations to Bernadette McDonald for her meticulously researched biography of an indomitable woman. Elizabeth Hawley's life and work defined the scope of Himalayan climbing during the last four decades. The engaging writing and deft details . . . vividly bring to life Elizabeth, her extraordinary life in the magical kingdom of Nepal, and the world's best mountaineers.--Arlene Blum, author of Annapurna: A Woman's Place and Breaking Trail: A Climbing Life-- (10/15/2012)

I could not put this book down . . . Well written . . . Amazing stories . . . I certainly learned a great deal about Miss Hawley . . . This book must be read by all Himalayan climbers as it shows what an incredible lady she is.--Tashi Tenzing-- (10/15/2012)

No one has a wider knowledge of Himalayan mountaineering [than Elizabeth Hawley]. She is respected and admired by all the famous climbers . . . I am particularly pleased that her unique and eventful life has finally been documented, as she has lived through interesting times, in fascinating places, with some remarkable people. May she long remain her very special, formidable self.--Sir Edmund Hillary-- (10/15/2012)

There is just one person who knows all about the history of Himalayan climbing, from the first ascent of Mount Everest by Hillary and Tenzing to our days: Elizabeth Hawley. Meeting with all the famous climbers, she has built a mountain of information. Finally, we have a glimpse of those fascinating stories, and of the enigmatic Hawley herself.--Reinhold Messner-- (10/15/2012)