Product Description

"Touching the Void" is the heart-stopping account of Joe Simpson's terrifying adventure in the Peruvian Andes. He and his climbing partner, Simon, reached the summit of the remote Siula Grande in June 1995. A few days later, Simon staggered into Base Camp, exhausted and frost-bitten, with news that Joe was dead. What happened to Joe, and how the pair dealt with the psychological traumas that resulted when Simon was forced into the appalling decision to cut the rope, makes not only an epic of survival but a compelling testament of friendship.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1783 in Books
• Published on: 1998-01-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

Review
'A truly astonishing account of suffering and fortitude...the narrative acquires an irresistible force, carrying all before it' Peter Gillman, Sunday Times 'A quite extraordinary and moving book...touches the Great Questions in an understated yet utterly compelling way' David Rose, Guardian 'An outstanding literary achievement' Jim Perrin, Independent 'A brilliant, vivid, gripping, heart-stopping account of their terrifying adventure...superbly written' Graham Lord, Sunday Express

Synopsis
An account of the ascent of the 21,000ft Siula Grande peak in the Peruvian Andes. Joe Simpson and his climbing partner, Simon Yates, had achieved the summit before the first disaster struck. What happened and how they dealt with the psychological traumas that resulted is the subject of this book.

About the Author
Joe Simpson won the Boardman Tasker Award and the prestigious NCR Award for his first book Touching the Void, which received universal applause and was published in thirteen languages. Touching the Void was Joe's fourth book. Earlier titles include The Water People and This Game of Ghosts.

Customer Reviews

A Masterpiece
Putting aside the storyline of `Touching the Void' my reason for submitting this review is to pay homage to a masterpiece of writing. If I had to select a single volume as the very best from my collection of over 1,000 climbing and mountaineering books it would be Joe Simpson's `Touching the Void'. It is unrivalled; so with almost 100 mainly 5-star reviews already placed for this Amazon offering there appears little need to add another. However I concentrate on manner of writing. I have just submitted a review of Mick Fowler's second autobiographical book `On Thin Ice' in which, though I saluted his imaginative and courageous approach to extreme and exacting expeditions around the world, I was critical of his writing style. I suggested Mick Fowler's modesty led to understatements by shunning drama and making too light of tensions - and therefore resulted in dryness of writing.

Not so for Joe Simpson. With the `Touching the Void' account of his ascent and accident in the Peruvian Andes he avoids these traits and he excels in his appeal to general readers as well as climbers - and he makes it possible to have faith in miracles! Readers are skilfully manoeuvred into facing his challenges, sharing his emotions and living his nightmare survival. In addition to evocative and captivating descriptions of both physical and mental aspects, writings seem able to inspire readers and may even motivate them to meet hardships. It is difficult to credit the story is non-fiction, and this highlights qualities of Joe Simpson as a writer. `Touching the Void' has all the intrigue and suspense of a great novel as it grips and thrills readers, who must realise Joe lives to tell the tale, but cannot be convinced until the very end.

As a mountaineering author Joe Simpson reigns supreme - `Touching the Void' is a masterpiece.

A very special book
Reading `Touching the Void` for the first time, now in 2008, it is so good to be reminded that human beings can have much more to them than the base forms of entertainment currently becoming ever more popular.

Joe Simpson manages to take the reader with him on an incredible journey, from experiences many of us would recognise to ones we hope we never will, all of these are conveyed so very, very well.

a page turner
I caught half the documentary on the BBC, and was captivated, until I finally got hold of the book. I could not put it down until the last page was read at 2 in the morning.
There is not much which has not been said most eloquently in some of the other reviews, so I wont try it. But for me the fascinating thing was the nature of the voice which kept on pushing him to continue against all odds. Where do these phenomena come from, when we go beyond convention and conception? He never questions it, but in a matter of fact tells the story of a most extraordinary defiance of death. He was truly touched by grace and I love to buy him a pint if ever I get up to Sheffield....
Truly inspirational, I recomend this as imperative reading for anybody who is dealing with a life threatening disease or other circumstances. Such a fountain of inspiration to not give up...whatever