Against The Wall
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Product Description
Book Description
'Elegiac, immensely readable, full of the real excitement of climbing' M. John Harrison, TLS
Product Description
Simon Yates is 'the one who cut the rope' in Joe Simpson's award-winning account of their epic struggle for survival in TOUCHING THE VOID. Afterwards, Yates continued mountaineering on the hardest routes. Perhaps the most testing of all was one of the world's largest vertical rock-faces, the 4, 000-foot Central Tower of Paine in Chile. Battered by fercious storms, Yates and his three companions should have turned back. Instead they struggle on, living in hammocks suspended over the yawning chasm below. Their greatest difficulties, however, come not from the elements but from within themselves. Almost crippled with fear just below the summit, the disillusioned team is forced into a nightmare retreat. After resting in a nearby town, they return to complete the climb, but Yates knows he still has to face one of life's greatest challenges.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
48 of 49 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I wasn't too sure about this book in the beginning as I began to suspect that Simon had been on some sort of writing course before it. He writes in quite short sentences. Almost keeping it simple and manageable. Being careful not to drift from the point. Once I got into the story, however, I forgot about the style and in the end I felt I had more of an idea into how these types of vertical wall climbs are conducted. Simon is quite frank about his own vulnerability, describing how he retches with fear over some of the dangerous moves he has to commit to on the climb. This vulnerability increases as the expedition extends, and I enjoyed his introspection and conclusion that his addiction has to be kept in balance before it kills him. There's no romance in it - like anything else out of balance, it can seriously detract from your life as you lose friends, roots, family and eventually identity. The writing becomes tinged with disappointment and depression in this search for understanding, but he comes through it and is uplifted in the end.
This is not a typical climbing book, but I found it to be a more balanced account of the climber, what he does and why he has chosen to do it than many others.
This is not a typical climbing book, but I found it to be a more balanced account of the climber, what he does and why he has chosen to do it than many others.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I really enjoyed this book, I am a non-climber and could not put the book down, so much so I have since visited a seminar which proved that Simon is as good at public speaking as he is at writing. Simon knows you do not need to make a vertical assent to climb a mountain. I am looking forward to picking up the Flame of Adventure Simon's second book, and I can not wait.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Simon's description of his attempt to summit the Central Tower of Paine in Patagonia was slightly disappointing to me in its lack of emotional description. He does describe the technical difficulties of climbing a vertical rock face very well, enabling readers to envisage just what an enormous undertaking this is. As I read the book through, I felt I was always waiting for something more from Simon, but it never really happened. He writes well how he comes to realise that climbing the summit is not worth risking his life for, but this also makes the book ending slightly flat. I have read far better written mountaineering / adventure books.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Against the wall
Well written by a climber who knows his stuff , enough detail without being boring , a great read that gives amateur climbers like myself an insight into climbing abroad
Published 20 days ago by Steph
Brilliant!
Very fast delivery! Happy with the product and will be looking at more products from this seller in the future.***** 5 stars *****
Published 19 months ago by johno
Mountaineering in the Mind
Simon Yates is likely never to escape from his role in the "Touching the Void" saga, being the "one who cut the rope". Read more
Published on 7 Sep 2009 by SCM
First class adventure writing!
Remember when you read this that it is Yates's first book. And it is an absolute cracker - unputdownable! Read more
Published on 15 Mar 2009 by Daniel Oakman
Climbing ok, but could do without the self-analysis
Having recently seen Into The Void, I snapped this book up during a recent visit to the charity shop. Read more
Published on 17 Mar 2008 by paulzwo
Gripping Well written a must read!
I really enjoyed this book, I am a non-climber and could not put the book down, so much so I have since visited a seminar which proved that Simon is as good at public speaking as... Read more
Published on 31 Jan 2005 by "mstruck2"
A very easy to read book, a captivating story.
I am a poor reader and usually find it difficult to get into a book but from start to finish 'Against the wall' by Simon Yates was believable, easy to relate to and exiting story... Read more
Published on 27 Jun 2000
This book should be on any would be mountaineers list
Simon Yates, The man who cut the rope, Knows better than anyone the difficult decisions one must be prepared to make in order to survive on the remotest of mountain ranges. Read more
Published on 22 May 2000 by andysmudge@t-online.de
Excellent narrative - a rollercoaster of emotions!
Very well written book that really brings the emotions of this sport vividly to life. A great read for climbers and non-climbers alike.
Published on 29 Jan 2000
Excellent on the climb itself; introspection can be trying
This is a great book if you've ever been the vaguest bit interested in the outdoors. The climbing sequences are superb. It falls down on two points. Read more
Published on 2 Sep 1999
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