ANTHONY KING is Professor of War Studies at Exeter University, but also a sports sociologist. Initially a specialist in football, his first two books were in that area - The End of the Terraces (1998), and The European Ritual, (2003). With Ascent, he draws extensively on his knowledge of the history of British sport and society. As an enthusiastic climber since the 1980s, Anthony’s own experiences add a personal element to the narrative, giving it a sense of depth and vital colour.

‘The climbing community needs this sort of thing like oxygen at the moment. Everyone's so tired of short snippets online and much of this important historical information will be forgotten. Anthony has done a real service to British climbing with this wonderfully detailed, expansive and inspiring book.’

ANTHONY KING is Professor of War Studies at Exeter University, but also a sports sociologist. Initially a specialist in football, his first two books were in that area - The End of the Terraces (1998), and The European Ritual, (2003). With Ascent, he draws extensively on his knowledge of the history of British sport and society. As an enthusiastic climber since the 1980s, Anthony’s own experiences add a personal element to the narrative, giving it a sense of depth and vital colour.

‘The climbing community needs this sort of thing like oxygen at the moment. Everyone's so tired of short snippets online and much of this important historical information will be forgotten. Anthony has done a real service to British climbing with this wonderfully detailed, expansive and inspiring book.’

ANTHONY KING is Professor of War Studies at Exeter University, but also a sports sociologist. Initially a specialist in football, his first two books were in that area - The End of the Terraces (1998), and The European Ritual, (2003). With Ascent, he draws extensively on his knowledge of the history of British sport and society. As an enthusiastic climber since the 1980s, Anthony’s own experiences add a personal element to the narrative, giving it a sense of depth and vital colour.

‘The climbing community needs this sort of thing like oxygen at the moment. Everyone's so tired of short snippets online and much of this important historical information will be forgotten. Anthony has done a real service to British climbing with this wonderfully detailed, expansive and inspiring book.’