The White Death

by McKay Jenkins
The White Death cover
Good Books rating 4.25
History
Technical
  • ID: 1962
  • Added: 2025-10-11
  • Updated: 2025-10-11
  • Publisher: Random House Digital, Inc.
  • Published: 2000-01-01
  • Reviews: 3

The White Death recounts the chilling story of five young men who perished while attempting to climb the treacherous north face of Mount Cleveland in winter. Their tragic fate, uncovered through a recovered camera, serves as a backdrop to an exploration of avalanches' devastating power throughout history. From Hannibal's losses in the Alps to modern-day skiing safety, the book delves into the science and history of avalanches, highlighting humanity's ongoing struggle to understand and mitigate their dangers. The narrative blends personal tragedy with a broader examination of natural forces, offering a cautionary tale about the limits of human invincibility in the face of nature's raw power.

Reviews
Libro.fm · 2022-01-25
engaging 4.25

The audiobook is lauded for its rich character development and historical context. The narrator's performance enhances the suspenseful nature of the story.

The reviewer praises the audiobook for its rich character development and the historical context it provides. They find the narrator's performance to be exceptional, noting how it enhances the suspenseful nature of the story. The combination of sharp characters and strong historical background makes the audiobook a standout. The reviewer also appreciates how the audiobook combines the best of a study of history and causes for avalanche disasters, making it both informative and engaging.

Quick quotes

    The White Death is rich with sharp characters and strong history.

    Combines the best of a study of history and causes for avalanche disasters.

    The narrator is easy to listen to and calming despite the suspenseful nature of the story.

Ryan Travels and Eats · 2020-03-30
compelling 4.50

The book is praised for its detailed account of the avalanche and the heroic rescue efforts that followed. It stands out as a compelling narrative within the genre of mountaineering literature.

The reviewer commends the book for its thorough exploration of the avalanche and the subsequent rescue operations. They find it to be a standout in the genre, highlighting the author's ability to weave a gripping narrative around a tragic event. The focus on the human stories and the heroic efforts of the rescuers makes the book particularly engaging. The reviewer also appreciates the historical context provided, which adds layers to the story and makes it more than just a recounting of a disaster.

Quick quotes

    While the book is about an avalanche that killed a group of climbers on Mount Cleveland in Glacier, it is much more than just a recounting of a disaster.

    The focus on the human stories and the heroic efforts of the rescuers makes the book particularly engaging.

    The author's ability to weave a gripping narrative around a tragic event is commendable.

The New York Times · 2000-02-27
harrowing 4.00

The book explores the intense, almost voyeuristic fascination with the horror of being in an avalanche. It effectively captures the emotional and physical toll of such a disaster.

The reviewer highlights how the book draws readers in with its vivid descriptions of the avalanche and the subsequent rescue efforts. They appreciate the way it delves into the human experience of such a traumatic event, making it both harrowing and compelling. The narrative is gripping, and the focus on the emotional and physical challenges faced by the climbers and rescuers adds depth to the story. However, the reviewer notes that the book's strength lies in its ability to make the reader feel the immediacy of the situation, rather than just recounting the facts.

Quick quotes

    Our voyeuristic wondering is the central seduction of 'The White Death,' by McKay Jenkins. What is it like to be in an avalanche: the sheer terror, the disorientation, the struggle for survival?

    Jenkins captures the emotional and physical toll of such a disaster, making it both harrowing and compelling.

    The narrative is gripping, and the focus on the emotional and physical challenges faced by the climbers and rescuers adds depth to the story.

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