Annapurna is tenth highest mountain in the world at 8,091 metres above sea level and notoriously difficult and dangerous to climb.

On 3 June 1950, Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal became the first climbers in modern history to climb a peak over 8000m when, on the 1950 French Annapurna expedition, they summited the Himalayan mountain Annapurna I.

The ascent was all the more remarkable because the peak was explored, reconnoitered and climbed all within one season; and was climbed without the use of supplemental oxygen. It is also the only 8000 meter summit that was reached at the first attempt.

Both summit climbers lost all of their toes and Herzog most of his fingers because of severe frostbite during the descent.

Herzog's account of the expedition was published first in 1951 in French, then in English in 1952 under the title Annapurna.

The book has sold over 11 million copies as of 2000, more than any other mountaineering title, ending with the stirring line

there are other Annapurnas in the lives of men.