The Adventurer’s Son is a gripping memoir of one man’s journey to find his father, the famed mountain climber and adventurer Les Brown. Roman Dial embarks on his own adventure, following in his father’s footsteps around the world as he searches for answers about the mysterious disappearance of Les during an ill-fated climb up Mt. Erebus in Antarctica. This vividly written narrative takes readers from the Rocky Mountains to Patagonia, from Alaska to Tibet – and ultimately into the heart of one man’s complex emotional history.
For who is this book for ?
The Adventurer’s Son is a gripping memoir of one man’s journey to find his father, the famed mountain climber and adventurer Les Brown. Roman Dial embarks on his own adventure, following in his father’s footsteps around the world as he searches for answers about the mysterious disappearance of Les during an ill-fated climb up Mt. Erebus in Antarctica. This vividly written narrative takes readers from the Rocky Mountains to Patagonia, from Alaska to Tibet – and ultimately into the heart of one man’s complex emotional history. This book would appeal to anyone who is interested in travel or outdoor adventures, or who wants to learn more about what drives someone to take risks like these. It provides insights not just into Dial’s search for his father but also into how risk taking can shape a person’s life and relationships 5.
Pros :
- The Adventurer’s Son is a beautifully written memoir that takes the reader on an emotional journey alongside the author as he searches for his father.
- Dial’s writing paints vivid pictures of the many locations around the world he visits in his search, providing a rich and descriptive backdrop to this compelling tale.
- This book is not just another travelogue
- it is a deeply personal exploration of one man’s complicated relationship with his father.
Cons :
- The Adventurer’s Son is a dense, 406-page book that may be too long for some readers.
- Dial spends the majority of the novel recounting his own mountain climbing adventures, which could bore certain individuals.
- His prose is lyrical and often beautiful, but at times it can also be difficult to follow.”
Learn more about the author
Roman Dial is the author of two books, both published by Mountaineers Books: The Adventurer’s Son and A Life on the Line. He has also written for Outside magazine, Backpacker, SKIing magazine, Alpinist, and other publications. Hooked on climbing at an early age, he began his professional career as a mountain guide in 1991. From 1992 to 2000 he lived in Patagonia guiding climbs and treks throughout South America. In 2001 he moved to Alaska with his wife and young son to become Denali National Park’s first full-time mountaineering ranger where he patrolled the slopes of North America’s tallest peak for four seasons before transferring to Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve as backcountry patrol supervisor..
Reader Reviews
“This is a beautifully written, charged book about fathers and sons, the attraction of adventure, and the power of story. Dial has crafted an absolutely compelling tale that sucks you in from page one.”
“The Adventurer’s Son is a beautifully written and emotionally charged account of one man’s search for his father – an adventurer and mountain climber who disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Dial deftly captures the excitement and danger of extreme mountaineering, while also exploring the personal toll that such a quest takes on him emotionally. This is an absorbing read about fathers and sons, loss and redemption.”
“Dial has woven a compelling adventure story with an underlying mystery and also provides insights into the psychology of fathers and sons…This is an absorbing book that I could not put down.”
“The Adventurer’s Son is a beautifully written and emotionally charged journey of self-discovery. Dial eloquently captures the universal desire to find our place in the world, as well as the challenge of reconciling our past with who we want to be. This affecting memoirleft me breathless – I could not put it down.”
