In English at last, Rock Queen, the autobiography from world famous award winning French climber Catherine Destivelle is full of Gallic charm - the drama and wit of her writing show why she took the climbing and media worlds by storm.
In 1992 she became the first woman to make a solo ascent of the Eiger's North Face, which she completed in winter in only 17 hours. Her other notable climbs include the Bonatti Route on the North Face of the Matterhorn and the South-West Pillar of the Aiguille du Dru (the Bonatti Pillar).
The book was first published in Paris by Flammarion with the title 'Ascensions'. This is the first translation of Catherine's story into English and includes a foreword by Doug Scott, CBE, and an introduction by cameraman, writer and climber Jim Curran.
With a few colour photos.
By Catherine Destivelle.
Card cover, 22cm x 13.5cm, 228 pages.
First published in French 2012, this English edition 2015.
ISBN: 978-1-910237-07-6
"This is one of the best climbing books that I have ever read; quite different from the endless gripping stories of other great tales. It deals openly with those small personal feelings we have all experienced with the dangers of climbing such as fear, insecurity and sometimes the thrilling anticipation of reaching the top. She is without doubt the most accomplished female climber of all time and her list of achievements is the envy of most male climbers." Geoff Birtles
"'La Belle Catherine', has deservedly become one of the world's most famous climbers. The following pages tell you why. She tells her story with becoming modesty and I encourage you to read this book." Jim Curran
"Catherine Destivelle has become one of the most famous women climbers in the world. It's not just that she is a female climber; she has done things that no-one has done before and, in her own right she is a brilliant climber. Certainly I'll remember 1992 and the solo of the Eiger's north face in seventeen hours - it was just amazing..." Doug Scott, CBE