Wednesday, June 18, 2025

June 18th, 1886 is the birthday of English mountaineer George Mallory. His disappearance on that mountain in 1924 became one of the most celebrated mysteries of the 20th century. Mallory's body was discovered in 1999, though it is unknown if he reached the summit of Everest before dying. Thanks to tar-mairo1986 for posting these on the ClassicMale subreddit.









All photos taken by Vanessa Bell circa 1912 when Mallory would have been be 26. This is how he was described by Lytton Strachey (George had a relationship with his brother James, but seems Lytton had the hots too!):  '' Mon Dieu! George Mallory! My hand trembles, my heart palpitates... he is six feet high, with a body of an athlete like Praxiteles, and the face – oh, incredible – the mystery of Botticelli, the refinement and delicacy of a Chinese print, the youth and piquancy of a young English boy. ''




 

5 comments:

  1. What a brave man!

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  2. What an outstanding group of photos and story!

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  3. He certainly did have a nice body!

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  4. In the ardour of the Bloomsbury set.
    Mallory looks like a typical young English bloke to me, his mountaineering companion to bloody Everest was the even handsomer Andrew Irvine. A great tragedy befell them both, though I picture them rejoicing at standing on the very summit of the formidable Himalayas.
    “Ascenciones incorde suo disposuit”.
    Mallory and Irvine, the best of Britain 🇬🇧

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    Replies
    1. Some links:
      https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Mallory-2109
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Mallory
      https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/271401400/george-herbert_leigh-mallory
      https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5477/george-mallory
      https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/details/L717-KNM

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