A Passion for Mountains presents a compilation of stories written by members of the British Mountain Guides. Documenting both personal climbing and mountaineering adventures as well as those shared with clients, the stories in this book represent the diversity of the mountain activities these professionals thrive on: from first ascents on British winter cliffs to thought-provoking ascents of north faces in the European Alps, and from the big walls of Yosemite and Patagonia to endurance when facing the challenges of the high Himalaya. This fascinating account of mountaineering gives an insight into the climbing adventures that contribute to every Guide's experience, and explores the difficulties that even some of the world's most experienced mountaineers encounter when making decisions in the mountains. It gives us a unique perspective into what motivates and drives climbers; where they find fulfilment and reward and at the same time how they deal with failure.

This handbook addresses the methodological problems and theoretical challenges that arise in attempting to understand and represent humour in specific historical contexts across cultural history. It explores problems involved in applying modern theories of humour to historically-distant contexts of humour and points to the importance of recognising the divergent assumptions made by different academic disciplines when approaching the topic. It explores problems of terminology, identification, classification, subjectivity of viewpoint, and the coherence of the object of study. It addresses specific theories, together with the needs of specific historical case-studies, as well as some of the challenges of presenting historical humour to contemporary audiences through translation and curation. In this way, the handbook aims to encourage a fresh exploration of methodological problems involved in studying the various significances both of the history of humour and of humour in history.

This handbook addresses the methodological problems and theoretical challenges that arise in attempting to understand and represent humour in specific historical contexts across cultural history. It explores problems involved in applying modern theories of humour to historically-distant contexts of humour and points to the importance of recognising the divergent assumptions made by different academic disciplines when approaching the topic. It explores problems of terminology, identification, classification, subjectivity of viewpoint, and the coherence of the object of study. It addresses specific theories, together with the needs of specific historical case-studies, as well as some of the challenges of presenting historical humour to contemporary audiences through translation and curation. In this way, the handbook aims to encourage a fresh exploration of methodological problems involved in studying the various significances both of the history of humour and of humour in history.