Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #60625 in Books
• Published on: 2005-02-17
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Synopsis
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.

Customer Reviews

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

Negative
This is an interesting book and well worth a read as who should know Curtis better than his wife? Unfortunately it seems she didn't really know him very well and it's clear from the numberous band quotes that they didn't understand him either. He was a different person with different people and had his relationship quite compartmentalised, it seems.

What is also interesting is how negative she is about him. Obviosuly she is entitled to feel bitter - suicide is a horribly selfish act, especially in her home, where only she coukd be the one to find him. however, given that the book is dedicated to his daughter it seems starnge she should dwell so much on his faults: mysogeny, selfishness, even cruelty and not discuss his apparent virtues: kindness, a desire not to be a burden, a love of animals, just for example. That said she doesnt doubt his sheer ability as a lyricist.

Finally its distinctly odd to see how oblivious the band seemed to be to his deep emotional turmoil - as if the lyrics weren't enough!