Snowlines

‘A fascinating and elegantly written book about a very specific alpine sport that, however, broadens out to encompass moments and observations that are universal and profound’
William Boyd
‘A whole century of the Alps – war, ambition, exploration – found inside a single race. Akam has written in this book the truest account of ski mountaineering I have read’
Kilian Jornet, mountain athlete
PRAISE FOR SIMON AKAM’S THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD
‘Simon Akam has written a perceptive, challenging and passionate book that looks at modern soldiering. In doing so, Akam provides an invaluable look at how the British Army works ― and how the changing world in the 21st century is asking new and complex questions for soldiers and military strategy alike.’
Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads
‘The truth about the British Army’
Jason Burke, The Guardian
‘A blockbuster critique … with heaps of evidence.’
Matthew Paris, The Times
‘A passionate book.’
Max Hastings, Sunday Times
‘It’s compellingly written ― I got through all 500-plus pages in two sittings ― and it is certainly worth the effort.’
Adrian Weale, Mail on Sunday
‘Detailed and well structured.’
Anthony Loyd, New Statesman
‘Impassioned … It is a valuable addition to analysing the past, present and future of a venerated institution.’
Kim Sengupta, The Independent

Simon Akam is a British writer. Born in Cambridge, England, he held a Gap Year Commission in the British Army before studying English Literature at Oxford University. He later won a Fulbright scholarship to attend Columbia Journalism School in New York. Simon has worked for The New York Times, Reuters and Newsweek and is currently a contributing writer for The Economist’s 1843 magazine, where his coverage of the coronavirus pandemic was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize.

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