Touching from a Distance: Ian Curtis and Joy Division
by Deborah Curtis
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Book Summary Information
Author: Deborah CurtisEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-10-04
ISBN: 0571239560
Number of pages: 240
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Book Reviews of Touching from a Distance: Ian Curtis and Joy Division
Book Review: "It was almost as if it was unfashionable to be happy"---Deborah Curtis
Summary: 4 Stars
As another reviewer noted, "Touching From A Distance" is the perfect title to this book. The further one reads, the greater the distance grows between Ian Curtis (legendary singer/songwriter for Joy Division) and his wife Deborah. The five years of their marriage (at the age of 19) moved quickly to ruin. The most detailed accounts of Ian were their teen years and the early part of their marriage. By the end of book, it seems like Deborah and Ian hardly knew or understood each other at all. Probably no one truly understood Ian Curtis. He is painted in this book as a self-destructive young man full of contradictions. He could be extremely caring and generous giving away possessions to friends or empathizing with those he helped as Assistant Disablement Resettlement Officer, and he could be possessive and controlling choosing his wife's friends or rejecting a band member's girlfriend. Those who know Joy Division's music see the dark side of Curtis through his lyrics but he was known to his band mates as a fun-loving guy who liked to play pranks.
Deborah interviewed the band members and others connected to Joy Division (i.e. Tony Wilson, Rob Gretton, Paul Morely) to fill in gaps in her book which help especially when the band and touring created a gulf between Ian and his family. Although "Touching" is over 200 pages, the story is only 139 pages long. It is beefed up with a detailed Joy Division discography, gig list, and 57 pages of song lyrics including "unseen lyrics." I had not read much about Curtis and Joy Division, so I learned a lot. I had just assumed Curtis was born with epilepsy and did not know he acquired it as an adult and after studying it for his job in the civil service. He actually performed his curious dancing style that seemed to mimic epileptic fits at his wedding reception, years before he was diagnosed with epilepsy.
Deborah's account seems very honest. I think she was fair in her treatment of her husband's mistress Annik Honore. She relays stories of how Annik was demanding and bossed Ian around and was not supportive during Ian's fits, but I did not sense a mean spirited tone that one would understand from a jilted wife. She admits that they were rivals and, when Ian wrote that he hated Annik in his final letter, Deborah admits that he probably "wrote that to try to please me" (132). She included in her book that he wrote "give my love to Annik" in the letter written before his earlier failed suicide attempt (115). There is also no anger towards Ian. One issue I don't think is addressed much is that he killed himself in their home where it would most likely be his wife who would find his body. What if she had daughter Natalie with her? How traumatic for a child to see her father hanged. Fortunately that did not happen, but there was no regard to how the way he killed himself would affect his family much less committing suicide in and of itself. Whatever the illness, medication, stress, and demons were doing to Ian's mind, the effect his death had on his family and friends probably did not factor into his ultimate decision and action. As incomplete as it is, I am glad Deborah told her story as it gives some insight into a legend who will remain a mystery. It was made into an award-winning biopic called "Control" in 2007. The book offers eight pages of photos including the last photo Deborah took of her husband with their daughter taken 5 days before he took his life.
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