There is some book in french: Sausure, Balmat who climb mt blanc in France. first women team in nepal in the fifty and all the other ascent like the eiger. In that story, you will have the distinction about fontainebleau and alps which is the difference between trad and sport. How climbing was brought to us and it's development on the influence of the alpine technology. After I think it is yosemite valley in the 70 who was the most important even in climbing. and the story most go on.
Some climber said that today, most of the big chalenge was done and only few very train professional still can improve the climbing level.