All at Sea

Shortlisted for the 2017 PEN Ackerley Prize
‘The thing to remember about this story is that every word is true. If I never told it to a soul, and this book did not exist, it would not cease to be true. I don’t mind at all if you forget this.
The important thing is that I don’t.’

Reviews

‘If I read a sadder, truer, wiser chapter in a book this year I will count myself fortunate … Aitkenhead’s loss was our gain’ The Times
‘An exemplary memoir … However magnificent and powerful the book, you know it pales in comparison with the loss’ Sunday Times
‘This book is impossible to forget … It reminds one that grief is about transformation, the loss of old moorings, a new permission to put the heart first- a sea change’ Observer
‘Astonishing…. Aitkenhead has produced a work of art’ Evening Standard
‘An extraordinary memoir, a beautifully written account of life, love and what is left of both after tragedy …Utterly heart-breaking but it’s also a brave and honest account of grief and its aftermath that will stay with you long after you finish the last page’ Daily Express
‘Finely observed, emotionally truthful and beautifully written, her memoir is testament to the extraordinary power of love that doesn’t vanish when life of the beloved ends, but endures as long as memory itself’ Mail on Sunday
‘A story of absolute heartbreak, but also a story of unbelievable courage’ Davina McCall
‘An entrancing love story; a horrifying death story; a book about class, family, growing up, taking risks and learning how to be strong. Read it once, and it will be inside your head forever’ Andrew Marr
‘If you buy just one book this year, make it this one. I have never read anything like it and wished it would never end’ Jennifer Saunders
‘A brave book about emotional truth. It brought a tear to my eye, and will be deeply empowering for those who read it’ Tanya Byron
‘Anyone who has loved, lost or grieved – that's all of us – should read it.’ Alastair Campbell
‘A remarkable story of sudden tragedy and grief, of love and resilience’ Arianna Huffington
‘Beautiful’ Sunday Times