W E Bowman

Vintage Voyages: A world of journeys, from the tallest mountains to the depths of the mind Led by the reliably under-insightful Binder, a team of seven British men including Dr Prone (constantly ill); Jungle the route finder (constantly lost), Constant the diplomat (constantly arguing) and 3,000 Yogistani porters, set out to conquer the highest peak in the Himalayas. An outrageously funny spoof about the ascent of a 40,000-and-a-half-foot peak, The Ascent of Rum Doodle has been a cult favourite since its publication in 1956.

Led by the reliably under-insightful Binder, a team of seven British men - including Dr. Prone (constantly ill), Jungle the route-finder (constantly lost), Constant the diplomat (constantly arguing), and 3,000 Yogistani porters - set out to conquer the highest peak in the Himalayas. Though a 'hilarious spoof and perfect parody' (The Times), The Ascent of Rum Doodle has become one of the most celebrated cult classics of mountaineering.