2008-10-10 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.