On May 29, 1953, Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary became the first people to reach the summit of Mt. Everest, a feat that 50 years later remains the defining moment of 20th century exploration. Catapulted into the full glare of the world's spotlight, Tenzing received many honors and was feted by heads of state and captains of industry. Yet, he was never comfortable with his celebrity, and chose to champion the cause of the Sherpa people, live simply, and work to improve their conditions.

Here is a highly visual and intimate look at a proud and enigmatic man and the mountain that shaped him. Authored by Tenzing Norgay's grandson, Tashi Tenzing, it tells his story as it has never been told before. It is also a fascinating account of the Sherpa culture and how their lives were forever changed by the Western obsession with the world's highest mountain. In writing it, Tashi Tenzing draws upon his unprecedented access to family members and to historic and personal photographs, many of which are reproduced here for the first time.