• Paths of Glory

  • A Novel
  • By: Jeffrey Archer
  • Narrated by: Roger Allam
  • Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (648 ratings)

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Paths of Glory  By  cover art

Paths of Glory

By: Jeffrey Archer
Narrated by: Roger Allam
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Publisher's summary

Some people have dreams that are so magnificent that if they were to achieve them, their place in history would be guaranteed. People like Christopher Columbus, Isaac Newton, Florence Nightingale, Thomas Edison, Nancy Astor, Charles Lindbergh, Amy Johnson, Edmund Hilary and Neil Armstrong - their unparalleled success has made their stories into legend.But what if one man had such a dream, and once he'd achieved it, there was no proof that he had fulfilled his ambition?

Jeffrey Archer's new novel, Paths of Glory, is the story of such a man - George Mallory. Born in 1886, he was a brilliant student who became part of the Bloomsbury Group at Cambridge in the early twentieth century and served in the Royal Garrison Artillery during World War I. After the war, he married, had three children, and would have spent the rest of his life as a schoolteacher, but for his love of mountain climbing.

Mallory once told a reporter that he wanted to climb Mt. Everest, "because it is there." On his third try in 1924, at age 37, he was last seen 400 feet from the top. His body was found in 1999, and it remains a mystery whether he and his climbing partner, Andrew Irvine, ever reached the summit.

In fact, not until you've heard the last words of Archer's extraordinary novel will you be able to decide if George Mallory should be added to that list of legends, while another name would have to be removed. Paths of Glory is truly a triumph.

©2009 Jeffrety Archer (P)2009 Macmillan Audio

What listeners say about Paths of Glory

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Archer Does it Again!

The first Archer book I read was The Prisoner of Birth, and I was instantly drawn into what for me is one of the best mysteries of all time. So of course when I heard Archer came out with another novel, I bought it on release day, and once again it doesn't disappoint.

Archer has this amazing way of telling a story, he slowly ramps your interest into the characters until you get to the point where your thinking about the book even when your not listening to it. I had never had much interest in climbing but after reading this book I have a whole new appreciation for their art form.

The book as a whole is brilliant, its part love story, part adventure, and a whole lot of twists and turns up until the last words. Although maybe not as earth shattering as The Prisoner of Birth, this book really deserves a look.

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28 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

One Star? No way Jose.

I always wonder when I see a One Star rating against a bunch of Four-Five Stars what that person saw that the others did not. In this case it must have been the whole book because this story is terrific.

I'm a big Archer fan and count this among his best. It is a great story with classic characters and larger than life motives. It does have a bit of a 'Goodbye Mr. Chips' feel, but it is consistant with the period and settings.

In the end, I wonder if he made it.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

WONDERFUL

I wasn't sure if I would like this or not. It really isn't my genre. But it was very interesting. I had a hard time shutting it off! My only regret was that it wasn't longer. I strongly suggest you give this one a listen. -Mrs. Yancey F.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Great story

Very interesting tale of great determination. One of Archer's best. Easily held my attention.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Fascinating story

Jeffrey Archer's fictional interpretation of George Mallory's life and his heroic assault of Mt. Everest is a fascinating story and the narrator does a great job. The novel's strength is in the historical tale and in its description of the times. It is less successful at bringing Mallory to life but it the plot and history make it a compelling tale.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A thoroughly enjoyable story

I confess that I did not know the story of George Mallory prior to picking up this book. Mr. Archer does a wonderful job of bringing the person to life through this well crafted story. I had not read anything from him for many years - this has renewed my interest.

A great read.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Very Disappointing

I am a Jeffery Archer fan. In, fact the reason I bought this book was because of him. However, I truly labored though listening to the prose. His accounts of mountain climbing were informative, but the book as a whole seemed very laborious and unnecessarily drawn out to me. In my opinion, this is Mr. Archer's worst novel.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great historical novel.

Well written, well read and a tear jerker near the end. Highly recommended even for non- mountaineers such as myself. Total joy to know of the struggle to climb Everest. Courageous men. Highly recommend!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Never seems to get off the ground.

I felt the biographical information was interesting and therefore the 3 stars but otherwise it was dry and at times boring. Narration was good. Would probably pass on this one if I know now that the book was a biography of Mallory's life. If you climb mountains you would probably would give this book an extra star. If you get this book, do not read anything about the topic until after the book. That way there is at least a little suspense.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Not Archer's best

This is surely not up to Archer's standards. I should have rated it higher, but didn't because I expected more from the author. I'm a fan. Don't expect to be "WOWed".

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1 person found this helpful