Camps and Climbs in Arctic Norway, by Thomas Weir. 85 pages, 58 photographs, 4 maps. London: Cassell and Co., Ltd., 1953. Price, 15/—.

Mr. Weir has written a charming account of a mountaineering holiday in Arctic Norway. He describes the climbs he made with his two companions, Douglas Scott and Adam Watson, and includes welcome glimpses of the people and the delightful informality of travel along the coast.

Most American mountaineers have heard of the jagged, glacier-hung peaks of northern Norway but know comparatively little about them. This book is good introductory reading and reveals their rugged character and beauty in text and picture. What may prove surprising to many is the extreme wildness of the area, the pioneering nature of many of the climbs, and the opportunity still extant for first ascents and new routes. Here the mountains rise directly from the shore; all is crag and precipice as though sea level were at timberline. It is good to know that such places are relatively accessible in all their unspoiled grandeur.

This is a small volume of only 85 text pages, with maps and beautiful illustrations by the author-photographer. It is essentially a simple story, well-told, informative, and an excellent example of good mountaineering literature. To all who love the mountain scene and would enjoy a glimpse of a spectacular land, it is most heartily recommended.

William O. Field