Touching the Void

The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival

| 4.41 | 49,556 ratings and reviews

Recommended by Simon Cole, Penny Smith, and 2 others. See all reviews

Ranked #2 in Mountaineering, Ranked #20 in Hiking — see more rankings.

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 1985. A few days later, Simon staggered into Base Camp, exhausted and frost-bitten, with news that 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. less
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Reviews and Recommendations

We've comprehensively compiled reviews of Touching the Void from the world's leading experts.

Simon Cole Decide to turn a night in London into a chance to see @TheVoidPlay #TouchingTheVoid is a magnificent book, a good film and a fabulous, stage show Brilliant and bold staging, great soundtrack, evocative and moving @dukeofyorksLDN @NikolaiFoster https://t.co/6F455nVVgN (Source)

Penny Smith Why does anyone climb a mountain? Because it’s there, apparently ... the tremendous story of Joe Simpson is told in the play of his brilliant book Touching the Void at the Duke of York’s Theatre. Thrilling and moving. (Source)

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