The Archaeology of Loss: Life, love and the art of dying

The Archaeology of Loss is a memoir by Sarah Tarlow that explores the aftermath of her husband's death from an undiagnosed illness. It is an extraordinary, unflinching, wonderful, and moving book that offers profound consolation and a tender and big-hearted embrace of loss, grief, and ritual.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 20 April 2023
Publisher: Pan Macmillan

When you discover the lifeless body of your husband, the memories of that moment become etched in your mind forever. As an archaeologist, I strive to gather accurate information, but five years have passed since that fateful day in 2016, and my memory is now unreliable. I cannot go back and verify my facts.

This memoir has been likened to The Salt Path by Raynor Winn, and I can understand why. In the end, there is so much love in this book. Through the meticulous honesty with which she has written it, Sarah Tarlow has memorised her husband in the most beautiful way possible. I believe he would be proud of her too.

Sarah Tarlow's husband, Mark, began to suffer from an undiagnosed illness, rendering him incapable of caring for himself. One day, approximately six years after his initial symptoms began to manifest, Mark waited for Sarah and their children to leave their home before taking his own life.

Although Sarah had dedicated her professional life to studying death and the grieving process, nothing could have prepared her for the realities of illness and the profound devastation of loss. Fiercely vulnerable, deeply intimate, and yet authoritative, The Archaeology of Loss offers a universal exploration of grief with an unflinching and singular perspective. With humour, intelligence, and urgency, it provides profound consolation through its unwavering honesty.

This book serves as a companion for anyone navigating the challenges of loss and uncertainty. Octavia Bright, the author of This Ragged Grace, describes it as a tender and compassionate embrace of a book. Graham Caveney, author of The Boy with the Perpetual Nervousness, praises it as a poetic excavation of loss, grief, and ritual.

In conclusion, The Archaeology of Loss is a remarkable memoir that captures the essence of loss and grief with honesty, tenderness, and insight. Sarah Tarlow's unwavering commitment to truth and her ability to convey the depth of her emotions make this book a must-read for anyone seeking solace and understanding in the face of adversity.

Weight: 394g
Dimension: 373 x 223 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529099539