Revered by his peers and idolised by his fans, Ian Curtis left behind a legacy rich in artistic genius. Mesmerising on stage but introverted and prone to desperate mood swings in his private life, Curtis died by his own hand on 18 May 1980. Touching from a Distance documents how, with a wife, child and impending international fame, Curtis was seduced by the glory of an early grave. Regarded as the essential icon of the post-punk era, Touching from a Distance includes a full set of Curtis' lyrics, discography and gig list.

Deborah Woodruff Curtis (born Liverpool, England, 13 December 1956), is the widow of Joy Division vocalist and lyricist Ian Curtis, who committed suicide in 1980. She has one child, Natalie (born 16 April 1979), with her late husband.

In 1996, she published a biography, titled Touching From a Distance, which dealt with the private life she shared with her late husband. Since 1994 she has been working on a film project based on Curtis, titled Control.