About Joe Simpson
Internationally renowned mountaineering writer and OUTDOORSmagic
contributor Joe Simpson lives in Sheffield and is the award-winning
author of five books including international best seller Touching The
Void which also won the Boardman Tasker award for mountain
literature. The film rights to the book have been bought by Tom
Cruise's production company.
Joe describes himself as 'survival prone' and is a self-confessed
argumentative git: 'I am quite stroppy, quite obdurate when I want to
be. I'll argue black is white if necessary,' he says.
The cumulative damage to Joe's body, mainly the legs, means that
he no longer climbs as often as he'd like, but he still travels
widely and indulges his passions for paragliding and fishing. He also
gives presentations based on his books and is available for
motivational speaking (see below).
Motivational Speaking
Joe is available for motivational speaking engagements. For more
information please click
here
Joe Simpson's Books
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Touching The Void
The relentlessly gripping account of
Simpson's survival after falling into a Peruvian crevasse
when partner Simon Yates was forced to cut the rope
connecting them. One of the greats of mountain literature
and a 'must read' whether you climb or not. Has sold over a
quarter of a million worldwide.
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The Water People
Simpson's first and, so far, only novel
is set mainly in Pakistan and revolves around a
mountaineering backdrop. Very different from Touching The
Void, it contains some vivid descriptive writing and
interesting ideas.
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This Game Of Ghosts
Massively readable autobiographical work
that should be required reading for anyone trying to
understand what makes mountaineers tick. By turns moving,
gripping and, at times, darkly funny.
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Storms of Silence
Simpson's 'travel' book takes a
thoughtful look at the realities underlying the luxury of
the travel that we increasingly see a 'right', and in
particular the ethical issues of visiting Chinese-occupied
Tibet.
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Dark Shadows Falling
An examination of modern mountaineering
ethics and, in particular the increasing number of guided
climbs on major mountains and observations on the Everest
circus intercut with Simpson's account of his own attempt on
Pumori.
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Links
Joe Simpson is published in the UK by Vintage,
part of Random
House
Information on his motivational speaking services can be found
here
Common Questions Answered:
I read somewhere that Tom Cruise is making a film of Touching
The Void, what's happened to that then?
Cruise's production company bought the rights to Touching The Void
and, at the time of writing, still owns them. An initial, now
ditched, screenplay featured walkie-talkies as a device to get around
the lack of dialoge in the book and it's hard to see how Hollywood
can capture the internalised, intense quality of the story, the
essence of which takes place within Simpson's head. Without his
thoughts it's just a man crawling very slowly down a glacier. Watch
this space.
What's Joe writing now?
Joe has two 'works in progress' one is a second novel, the other
is factual
Did I really see Joe on the telly with Ruby Wax, Brigitte
Nielsen and Rhona Cameron?
Yes, a strange and mystifying piece of television. Asked if he had
ever masturbated on a mountain he replied that it would be a waste of
fluids...
Does Joe still climb?
Joe climbs, but less often than he'd like due to the cumulative
impact of the injuries he's suffered to his right knee (Peru) and
left ankle (Pachermo) which he describes as 'a bag of sugar'. Medics
predicted that he would barely be able to walk let alone climb.
Has the route from Touching The Void been repeated?
The SW Face of Siula Grande in the Cordillera Huayhuash has still
had only one repeat from talented American alpinist Carlos Buhler who
reportedly found it respectably hard and had trouble with the
double-corniced descent ridge, which is the normal route on the
mountain.
Can I write to Joe via the site?
No, but if you have any questions, please e-mail
us and we'll try to find the answer for you.
