For centuries the Alps have been witness to the march of armies, the flow of pilgrims, the feats of mountaineers, and the dreams of engineers. In The Alps the author takes readers up and down these majestic mountains. Journeying through their 500-mile arc across France, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria, and Slovenia, he explores the reality behind historic events and reveals how the Alps have profoundly influenced culture and society. A human history from Hannibal to Heidi and beyond.