A biography of climber Ron Fawcett has won this year’s prestigious mountain literature award, the Boardman Tasker Prize. Ron Fawcett – Rock Athlete, written by by Ron Fawcett with Ed Douglas was described by the judges as, “a frank and engaging portrait of an unassuming yet remarkable climber; an inspirational subject and a story shot through with honesty and integrity.
The award was announced on Friday 19 November at the Kendal Mountain Festival from a shortlist of five including a novel from New Zealand, works of philosophy, autobiography and mountain history as well as recent drama.
Chair of the judging panel, Ian Smith made the following remarks about the winning book: “Beginning in the small Yorkshire village of Embsay the book catalogues how Fawcett’s talent and drive took him all over the world, repeating the hardest routes wherever he went and pioneering exceptional climbs at home and abroad. As well as climbing Fawcett was also a pioneer in dealing with the commercial pressures and opportunities that were coming into climbing in the 70s and his experiences are honestly explored. Also, Fawcett is not shy of dealing with issues in his personal life and his candour is to be commended. Praise must also be given to Ed Douglas who, presumably, while shaping and forming this book allowed Fawcett’s own voice and mannerisms to still shine through. At the conclusion of this book Fawcett emerges as a shy, unassuming and thoroughly likeable person as well as an undoubted climbing legend.”
The Boardman Tasker Trust was established to promote literature by providing an annual award to authors of literary works, the central theme of which is concerned with mountains. The annual £3000 prize commemorates the lives of Peter Boardman and Joe Tasker and is given to the author or co-authors of an original work which has made an outstanding contribution to mountain literature.
On 17 May 1982 Peter Boardman and Joe Tasker were last seen on Mount Everest attempting to traverse The Pinnacles on the unclimbed North East Ridge at around 8250 metres. Their deaths marked the end of a remarkable era in British mountaineering.
Peter and Joe left two legacies. One was their great endeavour, their climbs on high peaks with bold, lightweight innovative methods which included Dunagiri, Changabang, Kongur, Everest and Kangchenjunga. The second and more lasting achievement were the books they wrote and left behind. This literary legacy lives on through the Boardman Tasker Prize for mountain literature set up by family and friends in 1983.
Ron Fawcett – Rock Athlete is available for sale here on Walkhighlands by clicking the photo of the book above.