The Moth and the Mountain

A True Story of Love, War, and Everest

By: Ed Caesar

Narrated by: James Langton

“An outstanding book.” —The Wall Street Journal * “Gripping at every turn.” —Outside * “A hell of a ride.” —The Times (London)

An extraordinary true story about one man’s attempt to salve the wounds of war and save his own soul through an audacious adventure.

In the 1930s, as official government expeditions set their sights on conquering Mount Everest, a little-known World War I veteran named Maurice Wilson conceives his own crazy, beautiful plan: he will fly a plane from England to Everest, crash-land on its lower slopes, then become the first person to reach its summit—completely alone. Wilson doesn’t know how to climb. He barely knows how to fly. But he has the right plane, the right equipment, and a deep yearning to achieve his goal. In 1933, he takes off from London in a Gipsy Moth biplane with his course set for the highest mountain on earth. Wilson’s eleven-month journey to Everest is wild: full of twists, turns, and daring. Eventually, in disguise, he sneaks into Tibet. His icy ordeal is just beginning.

Wilson is one of the Great War’s heroes, but also one of its victims. His hometown of Bradford in northern England is ripped apart by the fighting. So is his family. He barely survives the war himself. Wilson returns from the conflict unable to cope with the sadness that engulfs him. He begins a years-long trek around the world, burning through marriages and relationships, leaving damaged lives in his wake. When he finally returns to England, nearly a decade after he first left, he finds himself falling in love once more—this time with his best friend’s wife—before depression overcomes him again. He emerges from his funk with a crystalline ambition. He wants to be the first man to stand on top of the world. Wilson believes that Everest can redeem him.

This is the “rollicking” (The Economist) tale of an adventurer unlike any you have ever encountered: complex, driven, wry, haunted, and fully alive. He is a man written out of the history books—dismissed as an eccentric and gossiped about because of rumors of his transvestism. The Moth and the Mountain restores Maurice Wilson to his rightful place in the annals of Everest and tells an unforgettable story about the power of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Critic reviews

"This audiobook chronicles the life of adventurer Maurice Wilson, who returns from WWI with a dream of conquering Mt. Everest. Narrator James Langton skillfully introduces listeners to the fascinating and utterly outrageous Wilson, his mistresses, and his wives as he hunts down sources of money to fund his quest. He makes several attempts to climb and one attempt to fly and land on Everest—all unsuccessful. Finally, Wilson decides to walk up the mountain by himself with no food, no equipment, and no heavy clothing. Langton uses humor and angst in equal parts to uncover what drives Wilson to persist. He succeeds where Wilson could not, giving listeners a revealing performance of this Don Quixote of Everest."

Great topic but limited facts

Unfortunately, we will never know the whole story of this man. The Crux of the story is based solely on personal diaries of Wilson who by the authors own admission tended to embellish his feats on occasion.

Great story of an adventurist.

I enjoyed the thoroughness of the author. seemingly no stone left unturned in researching Wilson's story.

Unneeded DEI Details

They had to include cross dressing details that were totally unnecessary for the telling of the story. These details don’t matter to me, but I believe it was only included to meet woke expectations.

Compelling and amazing

What a good book! In addition to bringing this interesting man to life, the author brings to the reader poignant insights into what was endured in WW1 by the ordinary soldiers. Highly recommend.

Great read!

Great story and well developed with details and background information. The author captures the spirit of the times and the factors that drove many toward great adventures.