MADNESS OF GRIEF

An instant Sunday Times Bestseller, this is a disarmingly witty, beautifully written and gut-wrenching tragi-comedy of bereavement. Whether it is pastoral care for the bereaved, discussions about the afterlife, or being called out to perform the last rites, death is part of the Reverend Richard Coles's life and work. But when his partner the Reverend David Coles died, shortly before Christmas in 2019, much about death took Richard by surprise. For one thing, David's death at the early age of 43 was unexpected. Now Richard sets out to examine life's moral questions for himself and began to look to others to steer him through his grief. The flock was leading the shepherd. Much about grief surprised him - the amount of 'sadmin' you have to do when someone dies, how much harder it is travelling for work alone, even the pain of typing a text message to your partner then realising you are alone and remembering that they are gone. This deeply personal account of life after grief will resonate unforgettably long after the final page has been turned. 178 page paperback.