Sarah is the internationally best-selling author of novels including The Essex Serpent, Melmoth and Enlightenment – the latter of which was longlisted for the Booker Prize 2024. Her first full length nonfiction book, Death of an Ordinary Man, tells of how she cared for her father in law during his final days, reflecting on how death can be met and understood as part of life. It is the winner of the Nero Book Award for non-fiction and has been longlisted for the Women's Prize for Non-Fiction. Sarah is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and was appointed Chancellor of the University of Essex in 2023. She lives in Norwich.

In this episode, Sarah talks about the seemingly innate ability to care for someone at the end of life, loving someone by preparing 'sadmin' and reducing the fear of death by talking about it.

You can also watch a subtitled version of the conversation on YouTube.

On the Marie Curie Couch aims to open up conversations about death, break down the taboo and encourage people to share their end of life plans.

This podcast is made by Marie Curie – the UK’s leading end of life charity. For more information about the vital work we do, head to mariecurie.org.uk

On the Marie Curie Couch is produced and edited by Marie Curie, with support from Ultimate Content. The music featured is Time Lapse by PanOceanic.

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