The Playground of Europe

Published in 1894, this collection of articles by author and mountaineer Sir Leslie Stephen (1832–1904) is a revised edition of pieces written for the general public and previously published in various periodicals. In this charming work, Stephen shares his passion for the Alps and his experiences of ascending Alpine peaks.

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Author and mountaineer Sir Leslie Stephen (1832–1904) developed a passion for the Alps following his first trip to the Bavarian Tyrol in 1855. He went on to achieve several first ascents of Alpine peaks, earning him a reputation as one of the foremost alpinists in Britain. An intrepid climber and gifted writer, Stephen embodied a new trend of mountaineering, of a more athletic nature, and his vivid and lyrical descriptions of his experiences in these mountains have an almost poetic quality to them, testifying to the heights of his enthusiasm. First published in 1871 to commemorate his first ascents, this collection of articles quickly became a classic of mountaineering literature. The present work is a reissue of the 1894 edition, which was substantially revised by the author. It remains a charming and informative group of essays which will appeal to readers interested in the history of alpinism.