Alexandra Stewart and Joe Todd-Stanton

In the late morning of May 29th 1953, the sun was shining brightly on the roof of the world, a gentle breeze was blowing, and two men were there to witness it for the first time ever. Their names were Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, and the roof of the world was Everest.

This is the breathtaking story of how two very different yet equally determined men battled frost-biting temperatures, tumbling ice rocks, powerful winds and death-defying ridges to climb the world's highest mountain. Join these two unlikely heroes on the most amazing of adventures and discover the impact of hundreds of men and women who helped Hillary and Tenzing achieve their goal. But triumphs can be marred with tragedy, as not everyone who climbs Everest survives...

 

On 24th November 1859, Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species was first published. Describing the now well-known theory that humans evolved through a process called natural selection, it cemented Darwin as one of the greatest biologists of all time. However, he couldn't have done it without the support, encouragement and advice from his friend, confidant and fellow collector, Joseph Hooker.

Hooker, too, had his own adventures and made his own discoveries - many of which not only aided Darwin, but went on to change what the world knew about plants. Becoming head of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, he came to be one the world's most influential botanists. Across many years, countless adventures and numerous letters, this captivating book tells the story of one of greatest friendships to happen to science.