This best-selling, fascinating biography is a fitting and revealing tribute to Sir Edmund Hillary: family man; climber; explorer; humanitarian; and, legend of the twentieth century. Biographer and family friend, Alexa Johnston, follows Hillary's intrepid footsteps around the world, from his childhood in New Zealand to his humanitarian work with the Himalayan Sherpa people, from climbing to the summit of Everest, to his tractor expedition to the South Pole, and jet boat adventures on the Ganga. Drawing on Hillary's personal archives and including a selection of photographs, it is an intimate and inspiring portrait of a revered yet modest man who lived every second of his life to the full.

About the Author

Alexa Johnston was curator of the Sir Edmund Hillary: Everest and Beyond exhibition for the Auckland Museum, the Explorers Hall at the National Geographic Museum, Washington DC and Otago Museum, Dunedin. She was principal curator at Auckland Art Gallery from 1990-97 and now works as a freelance curator. Alexa had a close bond of friendship and trust with Sir Edmund.