Product Description

Revered by his peers and idolised by his fans, Ian Curtis left behind a legacy rich in artistic genius. Mesmerising on stage but introverted and prone to desperate mood swings in his private life, Curtis died by his own hand on 18 May 1980. Touching from a Distance documents how, with a wife, child and impending international fame, Curtis was seduced by the glory of an early grave. Regarded as the essential icon of the post-punk era, Touching from a Distance includes a full set of Curtis' lyrics, discography and gig list.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #55415 in Books
• Published on: 2005-02-17
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Review
'An extraordinary book, a steely-eyed look at the pitfalls of fame and a fascinating insight into one man's heart and soul, written by the only person qualified for the job. Most books about rock and roll cling greedily to the myths of the subject; this one tears them apart.' Ian Rankin

Customer Reviews

Dissapointing
Very dissapointing read-in my opinion far too subjective and bitter. I got the impression that his wife, and the other band members never really understood Curtis, which I think only compounds to his tragedy. The book was far too descriptive. Alot is made about Curtis's jealousy to the point where it becomes rather repetative. Meanwhile, she skips more interesting aspects of her husbands behaviour. For example why was he fascinated with Nazism? Why did he vote Tory! When I found out that Curtis was a Tory voter I was rather amused, particualry when you hear alot of psudo-intellectual crap about Joy Divsion representing alienated, post industrial youth.

All in all this is a very poor book-Curtis is worthy of a serious, intelligent study-sadly this was not it.

Not the full story?
On the positive side - comprehensive discography and gig list as well as full lyrics and previously unseen lyrics and writings.

On the negative side, Deborah Curtis's story is only 139 pages long and that is not nearly enough to give the full picture of this tale.

This book is interesting only because it seems to be Deborah Curtis's attempt to portray herself as the long suffering housewife (which may or may not be true), frozen out by the band and CUrtis himself, struggling to raise their child while Curtis is having an affair with Annik Horore ('the other woman').

She touches on what seems to be bitterness towards her by Curtis in the lyrics, behaviour, coldness etc but does not go into much explanation.

Deborah Curtis points the reader in the direction of constant touring, eplilepsy medication, drugs etc as the cause for Ian Curtis's suicide. It seems to me the way that Curtis killed himself, in the kitchen, knowing she would find him, showed some really deep desire to hurt her personally.

The band and Tony Wilson are not exactly covered with glory and Rob Gretton especially comes in for some stick. Apart from understandable resentment towards her, there is little mentioned explaining why Curtis was so enamored with Annik Horore.

For me though, you read those lyrics, and you look at some of his strange behaviour and obsessions, and this book goes nowhere near explaining what was really going on in his mind, and for me, that was a big let down with this book.

Great Book
I think this book is great piece of writing i've read it six times now. & Deborah Curtis captures everything in a heartfelt & poininot way