The book I have read and chosen to review is Banner in the Sky by James Ramsey Ullman. Born in New York City in 1907, James Ramsey Ullman’s most acclaimed work is Banner in the Sky, and four of his books, including this one, have been adapted into major motion pictures.
The story centers around Rudi Matt, the son of famous Alps mountain guide Josef Matt. With a natural talent for mountain climbing inherited from his father, Rudi is destined to follow in his footsteps and become a guide. Rudi is the primary protagonist in this tale, alongside other significant characters such as Franz Lerner, Frau Matt, John Winter, and Emil Saxo.
Franz Lerner, who is Rudis uncle, accompanied Josef Matt before his fatal attempt at climbing the Citadel. Now, Franz is taking care of Rudi. Frau Matt, Rudis mother, is concerned about Rudi following in his father’s footsteps and becoming a guide because she worries he will meet the same fate. John Winter, a renowned guide in Switzerland, owes his life to Rudi and now wants Rudi to join him in climbing the Citadel. Winter enlists the help of Emil Saxo, a famous Swiss guide from the village of Broli, to guide them on their expedition up the Citadel.
Rudi Matt is offered the opportunity to seek revenge for his father’s death by joining Capt. John Winter in climbing the unconquered peak in the Alps, known as the Citadel. Despite his eagerness, Rudi faces difficulty obtaining his mother’s permission to go. In order to proceed, he lies to Winter claiming he has consent. The ascent of the Citadel begins with the company of renowned guide Emil Saxo, who proves to be both arrogant and self-centered. Upon discovering Rudi’s deception, his uncle also makes his way to the Citadel.
Rudi needed to return to Kurtal for supplies, but he chose to stay at the Citadel and climb it instead, as he knew his village would try to keep him there. Meanwhile, Saxo and Winter went back to Broli for the same reason. Rudi’s uncle had already reached the cabin at the mountain’s base, and Saxo and Winter also arrived shortly after. Franz demanded that they return his nephew, but they believed Rudi had returned to Kurtal.
A little later, Rudi entered through the door and informed them about discovering the passage leading to the top of the Citadel. This sparked a significant disagreement as they concluded they must all make the climb together. However, Rudi and Franz held unfavorable opinions about Saxo. The following day, they embarked on the mountain ascent. Throughout the journey, there was constant tension, but with mutual assistance, they managed to reach near the summit. Unfortunately, during the night, Saxo departed when they were only 3 hours away from reaching the top.
Rudi woke up and noticed Saxo’s absence, so he decided to chase after him. The next morning, Franz and Winter woke up only to realize that both Rudi and Saxo were gone. Thinking that Rudi was with Saxo, they followed his trail. Eventually, Rudi caught up with Saxo, who told him to turn back. However, Rudi refused and when Saxo attempted to strike him, he accidentally stumbled and fell off a ledge. He landed on a ledge approximately 20 feet below. While Rudi descended to rescue him, Franz and Winter overtook them and reached the summit. A celebration was held, with Franz and Winter still acknowledging Rudi’s efforts.
The author’s intention in this story seems to be to convey a moral message about good character. Despite the opportunity to prioritize his own success by leaving Saxo behind, Rudi chooses to rescue him, despite their enmity. Personally, I found the book enjoyable due to its high level of suspense. However, I was disappointed by the ending as I had hoped Rudi would achieve his goal of reaching the top. Ultimately, the story taught me that valuing someone’s life holds greater significance than pursuing personal glory.
