It's not easy to describe the impact of this book. On the surface, the focus of the story is the ascent of a mountain. We see the ascent through the eyes of Ernst, one of the climbers - the other is his childhood friend Hansi.

Hansi was involved in a mountain rescue after a climb went wrong. It shook him so much he determined to take on the hardest challenge he knew - to be the first to conquer the sheer north face of the Versücherin, a mountain whose name means 'Temptress'. Ernst agrees to join him - but when he tells his lover Jean he is leaving, she in turn resolves to leave her husband and go with him. She hasn't realised, however, just how dangerous the climb is; especially as Hansi, obsessed with the idea that there are other climbers getting ready to try the ascent, won't be put off by forecasts of bad weather.

The description of the climb takes up almost half the book, interleaved with flashbacks to the events which brought Ernst there. It is gripping and vivid. But as well as the story of adventure, there is so much to think about here - the nature of courage and heroism, betrayal and trust, and why people can be attracted to risk and danger. Ernst and Hansi aren't just racing against the next group of climbers - there is also a sense of a race against time with the shadow of Naziism overtaking Europe, represented here by Max, a photographer who creates heroic imagery from climbers to inspire others to determined struggle. Ernst is deeply suspicious of Max and the approaches he makes to both Jean and Hansi. But he worms himself into their group, and after the climb there he is, taking photographs that Ernst can never bring himself to look at again.

In addition to this, the writing is excellent - very simple and unflashy, but almost a masterclass in how to create an emotional mood through simple description of the environment. ( )