num_pages: 384
description: A fascinating, thought-provoking biography of a climbing legend.Don Whillans has been an icon for generations of climbers. His first ascent of Annapurna’s South Face with Dougal Haston in 1970, remains one of the most impressive climbs ever made – a standard to which all contemporary Himalayan climbers aspire. But Perrin examines the tough reality behind Whillans’ formidable achievements – the character of the man himself. Despite his skill and daring, Whillans was a savage-tongued, hell-raising scrapper – turned down for a Queen’s Birthday honour, because of a violent fracas with the police. Coming out of a world miles away from the environment of the upper class climbers who dominated the sport, Whillans’ forceful, uncompromising personality gave him superstar status – the flawed heroism of a Best, a McEnroe, or an Ali.From the Hardcover edition.
language: English
title: The Villain: The Life of Don Whillans
titlecomplete: The Villain: The Life of Don Whillans
genres: Mountaineering, Climbing, Nonfiction, Adventure, Biography
ratings_count: 170
awards: awardedAt: 1104566400000
name: Boardman Tasker Prize
category: Mountain Literature
publisher: Arrow