Catalogue of the Himalayan Literature. Second Edition. Yoshimi Yakushi. Hakusuisha Publishing Co., Tokyo, 1984. 759 pages. ¥19,000.

In 1972 Yoshimi Yakushi, compiler and editor of the present catalogue, encouraged by his mentor Mr. Kyuya Fukata (Vice President of the Japanese Alpine Club during the last years of his life), privately published his Catalogue of the Himalayan Literature in a limited 500-copy edition that quickly sold out. That catalogue was a bold first attempt to assemble a comprehensive bibliography of the many varied books published over the years in different countries of the world.

This new catalogue is a revised, corrected and enlarged version of its predecessor, yet of broadly similar content. It now lists more than 4600 books and some 100 maps and is divided into two main parts: the first, in English, dealing with books in European languages; the second, in Japanese. The first part has 3752 titles in all, each provided with full bibliographical details, not just of the original editions, but also of those translated into foreign languages. Of great value is the brief explanation of the contents of almost every book. Whereas books emanating from Eastern Europe are well represented, those in Russian or Chinese are not included because of the difficulties in obtaining enough accurate information about them.

The map section—which excludes those of the Survey of India and similar series—deals only with maps of this century. These maps are arranged in geographical sequence from east to west, a logical order that may, however, test the inconstant memory of some. The pity is there is no overall map to help situate the remoter mountain ranges or the principal peaks.

What gives the second, Japanese, part a very special interest is that the bibliographical information is also given in English. Alas, it is not easy for those in the West to ascertain, let alone to read, what has been published in Japan—the country that sends more expeditions to the Himalaya and China than any other. Extremely few Japanese mountaineering books appear in any European language. The few books and journals that do contain English summaries that all too often do no more than whet one’s appetite.

Although this catalogue is aimed at the mountaineer and traveler, its interests go beyond the sheer logistics of expedition organization or the calibration of peaks and embrace the very fabric and life of the Himalaya and its people. Whether one wishes to read about Khotan carpets or K2, about Tibetan tankas or Trisul, all are represented within these pages.

Both Yoshimi Yakushi and his publisher, Hakusuisha, are deserving of our gratitude. The former for his proficiency and perseverence over many years in assembling and presenting this wealth of information with such clarity and accuracy, and the latter for having produced a tome that is well laid out, clearly printed, strongly bound and a pleasure to consult.

Louis Baume