Matterhorn is a visceral and spellbinding novel about what it is like to be a young man at war. Sep 12, 2015 matterhorn is a visceral and spellbinding novel about what it is like to be a young man at war. A great read, whether you are preparing for a trip, reminiscing about a memorable stay. Intense, powerful, and compelling, matterhorn is an epic war novel in the. Librarian cathy stetson gives her take on whats new in the literary world by giving a synopsis of interesting books she has read. Jornet took more than 20 minutes off the previous speed record, set back in 1995 by italian runner bruno brunod. Standing in their way are not merely the north vietnamese but also monsoon rain and mud, leeches and tigers, disease and malnutrition. It is the timeless story of a young marine lieutenant, waino mellas, and his comrades in bravo company, who are dropped into the mountain jungle of vietnam as boys and forced to fight their way into manhood.
A july 30 2011 file picture shows the famous matterhorn mountain near zermatt, switzerland. Pierre imhalsy 14 november 1939 17 june 2017 was a swiss novelist and poet imhasly was born in visp, switzerland. Matterhorn author karl marlantes, august 20, 2010 the times london. Als verhalenverteller brengt marlantes effectief het gevoel over wat oorlog is. Mar 31, 2016 821 the catalan mountain runner kilian jornet has run up and down the matterhorn, starting and finishing in the town of breuilcervinia, italy, in an astonishing 2 hours, 52 minutes roundtrip. Honour is among fellow soldiers is surely the greatest motivator of men in dire circumstances. Together you travel typically swissstyle by train to visp 2 hours and from there by the coghwheel railway to zermatt. Pierre imhalsy 14 november 1939 17 june 2017 was a swiss novelist and poet. Meridian rare books po box 51650 london se8 4xw united kingdom. A big, powerful saga of men in combat, written over the course of thirty. Matterhorn is a marvela living, breathing book with lieutenant waino mellas and the men of bravo company at its raw and battered heart. Seven surprising facts about the matterhorn travel.
It is an unforgettable novel that transforms the tragedy of vietnam into a powerful and universal story of courage, camaraderie, and sacrifice. A young marine lieutenant, waino mellas, and his comrades in bravo company, are dropped into the mountain jungle of vietnam as boys and forced to fight their way into manhood. The novel matterhorn opens at fire support base matterhorn, the fictional fortified hill in the middle of the jungle for which the novel is named, and begins shortly after the arrival of the protagonist, second lieutenant waino mellas. Karl marlantes doesnt introduce you to vietnam in his brilliant war epiche unceremoniously drops you into the jungle, disoriented and dripping with leeches, with only the newbie lieutenant as your guide. Karl marlantess 35year struggle to write a true novel of the vietnam war has finally paid off, says robert mccrum matterhorn is a bestseller. Kilian jornet shatters matterhorn speed record climbing. We are pleased to offer a final selection of books from the library of alan lyall. Sy poem widerpart oder fuga mit orgelpunkt vom schnee isch. May 01, 2011 matterhorn should be a great book and is a great book.
He shows due respect to the nva that were often demeaned in other books. Author on the roadmatterhornkarl marlantes youtube. Matterhorn by karl marlantes a stark, brutal vietnam war epic karl marlantes debut novel, 30 years in the making, follows waino mellas, a young ivy league student sent to. A novel of the vietnam war is a novel by american author and decorated marine karl marlantes. From the ultrapatriotic retelling of battle victories to the cerebral searching for meaning in the midst of death, most readers can find any number of books to fit their preconceived notion of war. During the next four years his seven attempts on the matterhorn were unsuccessful and so, from the italian side, he crossed to zermatt joining forces with the young lord francis douglas and his guide old peter taugwalder. Swiss authorities near the famed matterhorn peak on tuesday jan. A novel of the vietnam war by marlantes, karl and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Jul 10, 2010 karl marlantess 35year struggle to write a true novel of the vietnam war has finally paid off, says robert mccrum matterhorn is a bestseller. Karl marlantes doesnt introduce you to vietnam in his brilliant war epiche unceremoniously drops you into the jungle, disoriented and dripping with leeches, with.
With little or no climbing experience made the first british ascent of the pelvoux in 1861. Aug 08, 2010 matterhorn is less a story of conflict, more one of conflicts. Matterhorn is an epic war novel in the tradition of norman mailers the naked and the dead and james jones the thin red line. A great read, whether you are preparing for a trip, reminiscing about a memorable stay, looking for entertainment or gathering knowledge. Karl marlantes speaks at the savannah book festival feb 18, 2011 about his debut novel, matterhorn. Matterhorn is a riveting but emotionally grueling read. Schriftsteller pierre imhasly hat in seinem langgedicht maithunamatterhorn. Karl mariantes has hit the nail on the head about the feel and sense of any war. Matterhorn mountain facts and information, switzerland. A novel of the vietnam war as a young man, returned from a tour of duty in vietnam, he began writing an epic novel about the war he experienced and the way that combat changes people. We have named our clothingline after this mountain. Maithuna matterhorn by imhasly, pierre and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Mar 09, 2016 seven surprising facts about the matterhorn the towering peak that straddles switzerland and italy is full of secrets the matterhorn is perhaps the most recognizable of the peaks that make up the. Intense, powerful, and compelling, matterhorn is an epic war novel in the tradition of norman mailers the naked and the dead and james joness the thin red line.
Karl marlantes speaks at the savannah book festival feb 18, 2011 about his debut novel, matterhorn duration. It is the timeless story of a young marine lieutenant, waino mellas, and his comrades in. The four faces of the matterhorn face the four cardinal directions north, east, south, and west. Matterhorn is less a story of conflict, more one of conflicts. Matterhorn is a marvela living, breathing book with lieutenant waino mellas and the men of bravo company at its raw. Matterhorn is that rare modern novel destined to become a classic. His major work is the rhone saga an epic poem about the rhone river. Matterhorn, a mountain famous for its unique silouette and sheer faces, nestles between the borders of switzerland to the north and italy to the south, just next door to the popular skiresort of zermatt. The matterhorn, which stands over the town of zermatt, is nearly steeplelike in both structure and magnetism. The matterhorn is the 12th highest peak in western europe. Sep 22, 2012 librarian cathy stetson gives her take on whats new in the literary world by giving a synopsis of interesting books she has read. The combination of scenic beauty, superb lodging, and the ability to challenge oneself by day and live in luxury by night, makes climbing in switzerland a rather. Its one of the worlds most famous and iconic mountains, despite being neither the highest, nor the most difficult to climb. About 3000 climbers summit the matterhorn per year.
Seven surprising facts about the matterhorn the towering peak that straddles switzerland and italy is full of secrets the matterhorn is perhaps the. Experience the unique day tour within a small group to the matterhorn area, the glacier world and allyearplace of snow in the alps. Vince flynn, author of pursuit of honor matterhorn is one of the most powerful and moving novels about combat, the vietnam war, and war in general that i have ever read. Jul 30, 2010 matterhorn is a story of men without women. He was the principal translator of maurice chappazs works imhasly died from cancer on 17 june 2017 at the age of 77. Matterhorn by karl marlantes a stark, brutal vietnam war epic karl marlantes debut novel, 30 years in the making, follows waino mellas, a. Matterhorn draws from karl marlantes experience as. The german name matterhorn is named for mattertal and zermatt historically matt alpine meadow, the prefix zeris a preposition in the schalbetter map, printed by sebastian munster in 1545, the valley is labelled mattertal, but the mountain has the latin name mons silvius and the german name augstalberg, augstal being the german name of aosta valley from augusta praetoria salassorum. As a young man, returned from a tour of duty in vietnam, he began writing an epic novel about the war he experienced and the way that combat changes people. The region nearby is comprised of lush meadows and pristine landscapes.
It is the tenth highest mountain in switzerland, and one of 48 swiss peaks above 4000 m in height. You meet your tour guide in zurich at the train station. Some of the books are available from zermatt tourism, others from zermatts book shops. Jornet took more than 20 minutes off the previous speed. When mellas thinks of the girl he left behind in virginia, marlantess prose becomes fluttery, as it does when mellas, suffering an eye injury, is cared. Three expeditions in the 1920s provide a fine record of the courage of early everest attempts. It is an unforgettable story that transforms the tragedy of vietnam into a powerful and universal story of courage, camaraderie, and sacrificea parable not only of the war in vietnam but of all war, and a testament to the redemptive power of. Over 500 people have died climbing the mountain since 1865, many on the descent. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Why not browse through some books about the matterhorn. A big, powerful saga of men in combat, written over the course of thirtyfive years by a highly decorated vietnam veteran. Matterhorn by karl marlantes overdrive rakuten overdrive. Find all the books, read about the author, and more.
Pierre imhasly 14 november 1939 17 june 2017 was a swiss novelist and poet. At 4,478 metres, the majestic matterhorn certainly the most famous mountain in europe looms over the breathtaking alpine panorama. He studied german literature in fribourg and zurich. A novel of the vietnam war launched onto the bestseller lists in 2010, when united states was entrenched in two first of all, you cant fall into hating the people you are killing.
Zermatt and the matterhorn by meridian rare books issuu. Karl marlantes has written a riveting and harrowing portrait of young men at war. There is a lot to know about zermatt and numerous facts, anecdotes and stories exist about the matterhorn. The matterhorn is a pyramidalshaped colossus, standing at a skylinedominating elevation of 4478 metres 14,690 feet tall which makes it the sixth highest mountain. This week she talks about matterhorn by karl marlantes. Based on the book, matterhorn is an intense, powerful, and epic vietnam war story.
This switzerland landmark is at the border of the western swiss canton of valais between zermatt and the italian resort of breuilcervinia, and offers a paradise for. Cervin is a mountain of the alps, straddling the main watershed and border between switzerland and italy. Imhasly was the principal translator of maurice chappazs works. It is a large, nearsymmetric pyramidal peak in the extended monte rosa area of the pennine alps, whose summit is 4,478 metres 14,692 ft high, making it one of the highest. Sep 23, 2015 author on the road, matterhorn, karl marlantes. Zermatt and the matterhorn books and other items from the library of a. Apr 26, 2011 from the ultrapatriotic retelling of battle victories to the cerebral searching for meaning in the midst of death, most readers can find any number of books to fit their preconceived notion of war. Whats the story set in 1969, a young marine lieutenant and his comrades in bravo company are dropped into the mountain jungle of vietnam.