F/F. 8vo. original black boards gilt in dustwrapper (spine a trifle sunned, as is common, negligible); pp. 174 (last blank), with 21 illustrations, a text map & endpaper maps. A lovely copy of the collectible true first edition of this Boardman-Tasker Award winner, fine. Flatsigned on title page 'Chris Bonington', who contributed the foreword. Winner of the 1988 Boardman-Tasker Prize for Mountain Literature. Seller Inventory # 021770

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Bibliographic Details

Title: Touching the Void . Foreword by Chris ...

Publisher: Jonathan Cape, London

Publication Date: 1988

Binding: Hard Cover

Dust Jacket Condition: Dust Jacket Included

Signed: Association Copy

Edition: First Edition.

About this title

Synopsis:

This book is an illustrated account of the ascent of the west face of the 21,000ft peak, Siula Grande, in the Peruvian Andes. The author and his climbing partner, Simon Yates, achieved the summit in June 1985 before disaster struck. A few days later, Yates staggered into base camp, exhausted and frostbitten, to tell their non-climbing companion that Joe was dead. For three days Simon Yates, believing that he had caused his friend's death, suffered torment and guilt. However, a cry in the night led them to Joe, badly injured and delirious, crawling through the snow. Far from causing his friend's death, Simon had paradoxically saved his life when he cut the rope. What happened and how they dealt with the resulting psychological trauma is the subject of this book.

Review:

"On every level it is an outstanding literary achievement"--The Independent

"A quite extraordinary and moving book... Touching the Void touches the Great Questions in an understated yet utterly compelling way"--The Guardian

"A truly astonishing account of suffering and fortitude... the narrative acquires an irresistible force, carrying all before it."--Sunday Times

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

Established in 2001, Arapiles Mountain Books is the only specialist mountaineering bookseller in Australia. We carry a large stock of fine, rare and out of print mountaineering and adventurous travel books, with a particular emphasis on British, Australian, New Zealand and Himalayan climbing narratives and guides. We have an especially wide selection of early - mid 20th travel books in dustwrapper, signed books and expedition memorabilia. On-line catalogues can be browsed on this website. The proprietor, Andrew Long, has climbed the world over since 1980, and has spent much of his time over the (last few) years, collecting and reading climbing and travel narratives by more intrepid writers. He will be happy to answer any queries or provide advice on condition, approximate value, rarity or just plain readability free of charge. A booksearch service is available. Although we are a mail order store, visitors are most welcome to browse our stock by making an appointment. I have a bricks and mortar bookshop in Central Victoria ('Mount of Alex', 273 Barker Street, Castlemaine), which is currently pen by appointment only. Appointments to view the stock may be made by calling Andrew on +61 410 650 923 or by email to araps@alassoc.com.au.

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Arapiles Mountain Books - Mount of Alex
VIC, Australia

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Payment may be made freely by cash, bank deposit, Mastercard, Visa, cheques in Australian dollars or UK sterling. Books may be returned within 7 days if incorrectly described, though please notify us first before mailing the book back to Australia.

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