Vernon Rand is a charismatic figure whose great love-whose life, in fact-is climbing. He lives alone in California, where he combats the drudgery of a roofing job with the thrill of climbing in the nearby mountain ranges. Sure of only his talent and nerve, Rand decides to test himself in the French Alps, with their true mountaineering and famed, fearsome peaks. He soon learns that the most perilous moments are, for him, the moments when he feels truly alive. One of the great novels of the outdoors, Solo Faces is as thrilling, beautiful, and immediate as the Alpine peaks that have enthralled climbers for centuries. This ebook features an illustrated biography of James Salter including rare photos from the author's personal collection.
"One of the few novels I have read that captures the genuine feel of climbing. Complex and sophisticated."
A. Alvarez, author of Feeding the Rat
"A terrific novel. Compelling, sad, wise, and kindhearted. Mr. Salter's prose is rare and stunning . . ."
John Irving
"Solo Faces contrasts a devotion to mountain climbing with the earthbound tugs of love and ordinary life . . . A beautifully composed book that will remind readers of Camus and Saint-Exupéry. It exemplifies the purity it describes."
