Sherpa Himalaya Nepal, by Mario Fantin. Bologna: Tamari Editori, 1971. 145 pages, 118 color photographs, 9 maps and sketches. Price L6000.

Although obviously a picture book, this work also fulfills other purposes. It contains a general description of Nepal, its mountain ranges, its peoples (specially the Sherpas of the Everest district) and surveys briefly the history of mountaineering in the country. Chapter V, “La lunga via che porta all' Everest”, is particularly useful; it describes in detail what both tourist parties and expeditions might expect to find in every one of the nineteen places or stages along the “long way that leads to Everest”. There are 118 excellent color photographs of the peoples and places of Kathmandu and of the higher country of Nepal, particularly of the Everest route. All 118 were taken by the author himself. A useful, and interesting, glossary of Sherpa and Tibetan mountain terms is added at the end of the text. On the whole, here is a book with pictures and words which are pleasant to look at and to read.

Hitherto Signor Fantin has published all his mountain books, numbering fifteen, in his native Italian language. This is the first to be partly bilingual (descriptive captions of pictures are in English). Given the high quality of his books and the international appeal of their subject themes, one hopes that he will continue to offer such a service to non-Italian readers.

EVELIO ECHEVARRÍA