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Joe Simpson

ジョー・シンプソン

Joe Simpson

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1960-08-13 （Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia）
Nationality
British
Languages
English
Residence History
Various locations in Britain and countries where his father was stationed

Career

Occupations
Mountaineer, Author, Motivational speaker
Active Years
1978-
Influenced By
Heinrich Harrer (author of The White Spider)

Education

Ampleforth College
Period: 〜1978
Year of Graduation: 1978
Country: United Kingdom
Attended as a secondary school student. Introduced to climbing by a teacher.

Awards

National Outdoor Book Award (Outdoor Literature)
2003
Work: The Beckoning Silence
Category: Outdoor Literature
Organization: National Outdoor Book Award
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Touching the Void

1988 Non-fiction (mountaineering memoir)

A memoir recounting Simpson's 1985 Siula Grande expedition, his severe injuries, being cut loose by his climbing partner, and his subsequent struggle to crawl back to base camp and survive.

SurvivalMountaineeringHuman enduranceFriendship and moral choices
Adaptations
  • [Documentary film / Docudrama] Touching the Void / Kevin Macdonald (2003)
  • [Stage play] Touching the Void (play) (2018)

The Water People

1992 Fiction

A work of fiction, one of Simpson's novels distinct from his mountaineering non-fiction.

FictionHuman relationships

This Game of Ghosts

1993 Non-fiction

Describes experiences and feelings following the Siula Grande expedition and Simpson's changing attitude toward extreme mountaineering.

MemoirIntrospection

Storms of Silence

1996 Non-fiction

A book dealing with expeditions and the harshness of nature, presented in essayistic form.

NatureAdventure

Dark Shadows Falling

1996 Non-fiction

Contains short pieces and recollections related to expeditions and climbing.

RecollectionsMountaineering

The Beckoning Silence

2001 Non-fiction

Explores the dangers and history of mountaineering, interweaving personal experience and reflection; adapted as a television documentary.

Mountaineering historyRiskReflection
Adaptations
  • [Television documentary] The Beckoning Silence (2007)

The Sound of Gravity

2011 Fiction

A fiction novel addressing themes beyond mountaineering.

Fiction

Walking the Wrong Side of the Grass

2018 Fiction

A more recent work of fiction; detailed information is limited.

Fiction

Bibliography

  • Touching the Void (1988)
  • The Water People (1992)
  • This Game of Ghosts (1993)
  • Storms of Silence (1996)
  • Dark Shadows Falling (1996)
  • The Beckoning Silence (2001)
  • The Sound of Gravity (2011)
  • Walking the Wrong Side of the Grass (2018)

Adaptations

  • Touching the Void (2003 film, docudrama)
  • Touching the Void (2018 stage play)
  • The Beckoning Silence (2007 television documentary)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Memoir-style narrationFact-based non-fictionConcise, field-oriented description
Recurring Motifs
SurvivalHarshness of mountains and naturePersonal ethics and decision-makingFriendship and potential betrayal

Health

  • Broken right leg and multiple surgeries
    1985–1987
    Sustained serious leg injuries on Siula Grande requiring several operations; doctors warned he might not climb again or might have long-term walking difficulties, yet he eventually returned to climbing.

Legacy

Best known for Touching the Void and other works. His survival memoir became a landmark of mountaineering literature, adapted into film and stage, and influenced public discussion about mountaineering and human endurance.

Museums

  • National Portrait Gallery (holds portraits) London, United Kingdom

Archives

  • Official website (archived) and related materials held by the National Portrait Gallery and other archives

In Popular Culture

  • Brought to wide public attention by the 2003 film adaptation
  • Stage adaptation in 2018, earning recognition in theatre

Trivia

  • His book Touching the Void, recounting the Siula Grande ordeal, has been translated into 23 languages and is reported to have sold nearly two million copies worldwide.
  • He broke his right leg on Siula Grande, underwent multiple surgeries and nevertheless returned to climbing.