George Leigh Mallory was both the first modern climber and the last towering figure of the Great Age of Exploration. His death in 1924 on Mount Everest continues to fascinate climbers, journalists and film makers as he may have been first man to reach the highest point on earth-ahead of Sir Edmund Hillary. For Mallory-as for preceding explorers-earth was still a heroic place with hidden parts promising unique experiences in the eyes of history. All his writings have a rare freshness-they started as daily letters he wrote to his wife Ruth from the European mountains and Everest.