À la Verticale de soi

Stéphanie Bodet reinvigorates Alpine literature with a sense of freshness and intensity that we thought it had lost.

This is the tale of an asthmatic child who would tightly clutch a stone during gym class. It's the story of a sensitive young girl who found solace in wandering off the beaten path. For as long as she can remember, Stephanie has chosen to view life from an elevated perspective, both literally and figuratively. This inclination was instilled in her by a little sister who departed too soon and who, in her absence, left behind a legacy: "To live. To live intensely," she writes. Though she was initially lost to sports, Stéphanie Bodet ultimately discovered her true calling in climbing. She recounts her intensive training, her moments atop competition podiums, and then her years of vertical explorations on walls hidden deep within jungles, and within icy bivouacs under the stars. Her narrative also delves into the profound love that binds her to Arnaud Petit.

At the crossroads of self-discovery, she tells her story with unwavering sincerity, listening to the inner turmoil of her soul and her body. For Stéphanie, the climbing walls are more than just a playground; they are a realm of knowledge and recognition. Merging with nature, becoming one with the swallows and pine trees, she embarks on a journey to explore her true self. The climber perceives climbing as a poetic endeavor, a path that leads to fearlessness and wisdom. It is a journey to embrace life unconditionally, and perhaps, in every sense of the word, to rise.

Author: Stéphanie Bodet, 2016
Preface: Sylvain Tesson
Language: French
Number of pages: 304
Size: 15 cm x 21 cm