Altitude... Written
by Jean-Marc Rochette and Olivier Bocquet: Published by SelfMadeHero
There was a discussion
recently in a climbing writing forum about where we are it with
regard to the market these days for climbing and mountaineering
biographies? I hazarded a guess that most people buying a traditional
climbers (auto) biography will probably over 60. As mountain culture
has changed dramatically over the last 30 years, there has been a
steady decline in the readership of traditional paper publications.
Not just books but magazines and journals. In the UK, magazines like
On the Edge, High and Climb have been and gone and these days, more
younger climbers will probably prefer watching a Youtube bouldering
video than lashing out twenty quid for a biography of a long dead
mountaineer they've never heard of. Can a book like
Altitude reverse that trend, for here is a book which is frankly
miles away from those heavy tomes which have traditionally graced the
climbers bookshelf. A mountaineer artist's memoirs presented in a
comic strip format. Beautifully produced and illustrated and perhaps
more importantly...what a tale!
Altitude tells the
story of French artist and mountaineer Jean-Marc Rochette's early
years as a passionate tyro who develops a life long love affair with
the Alps. Aided and abetted by a small but equally enthusiastic band
of friends, his development follows the traditional path taken by
most climbers whose enthusiasm is ignited in their teens. The risky
gambits, the dodgy gear, the hero worship etc. As Jean-Marc expands
his mountaineering orbit he must still observe the educational
demands of the state. In this instance a period of stultifying water
treading in a boarding school, presided over by tyrannical head.
Despite this setback to his mountain career, the author manages to
find some escape through art while still managing the odd 'prison'
break' to head off to the local crags with his great friend Phillipe
Sempre.
As their mountaineering
development continues apace, the routes they embark upon are
described using guidebook terminology...i.e: " Aiguille
Dibona,10,269 feet, West Face, Direct Ascent M Laloue, A Madier, 9th
August 1939.' 'Magnificent but short climb,very steep,very
sustained. Height 330 feet. Very Difficult. Recommended'.
With each
route beautifully illustrated through the cartoon strip format, we
follow Rochette's career development from gauche teen to a self
confident young mountaineer. Perfectly in tune with his environment
and confident in his ability. As the author moves into young
adulthood and independence, his skill as a graphic artist brings him
some small reward through the publication of some of his cartoons in
the underground press and like most young people in that era, the
sex, drugs and rock and roll lifestyle that permeated youth culture in the 70's
was a powerful draw to a young man whose difficult home life and
troubled relationship with his single parent mother, saw him looking
to develop new relationships and interests far removed from his darker past.
Despite his growing
desire to develop his art into a possible career, Jean-Marc is
still frequenting the mountains although by now his climbing
partnerships have grown. New faces appear on the scene as former
partners like Sempre drift away. It's a measure of the toll bourn by
Alpine mountaineers who maintain a lifelong commitment and who
develop their technical skills, the number of climbing partners who
'buy the farm' as they say in the States. For the average UK weekend
climber who may go through his/her climbing career unscathed and
suffering no loss of friends or partners, it is certainly sobering to
see the heavy price paid by many Alpine mountaineers.
I won't go into detail describing what fate befalls whom. Suffice it to say, a book about an Alpine mountaineer operating quite often at the limits of risk is unlikely to come out the other side unscathed.
With regard to the
style and format. Caricatures and cartoon strips have featured in
climbing zines and magazines in the past. Particularly in the 70's
and 80's, but these days you just rarely see it. Either in paper or in the
digital climbing media. Personally I've always enjoyed the
graphic/cartoon format. Perhaps it was a childhood spent devouring
comics and later appreciating the works of creators as diverse as
Raymond Briggs, Ralph Steadman and Alan Moore, so, although the
format might be seen as somehow a inferior form by the
mountain literature snobs, it works for me and I'm sure plenty of
others reading Altitude will agree.Here's hoping this exciting format will attract a new and younger readership to the world of mountain literature.
Jean-Marc Rochette is a
French comic book artist and writer. Among his many credits is
Snowpiercer, a graphic novel, film, and major soon-to-be released
series from Netflix. Olivier Bocquet is the author of many graphic
novels, including the acclaimed prehistoric adventure series FRNCK,
and has collaborated with artists including Julie Rocheleau, Gabriel
Germain and Léonie Bischoff.
From the
Publisher...”SelfMadeHero aims to publish ground-breaking and
beautiful work by authors and artists from across the globe, from the
quirky and humorous to the political and profound. We are proud to
bring readers graphic novels and visual narratives that provoke,
entertain, inspire and inform. '
John Appleby: 2020
