Looking After

A beautiful, bracing gem of a book, quite unlike any other family memoir I’ve ever read. Candid and tender in equal measure, incredibly moving but also lucid and life affirming, this is such an important book about familial love, about where and how it meets the imperfect world outside. Gripping too. Even though technically one knows from the outset what is going to happen, I found it hard to put down. By the closing pages, I felt I had grown to love Lionel too and that I would never forget him. Looking After is a triumph. – Polly Morland, author of A FORTUNATE WOMANBeautifully written, erudite and important, Dr Caroline Elton writes as a psychologist second, sister first - which is exactly right. Looking After is a love letter to an autistic brother and to family itself, and a reminder of the power of empathy to save lives. – Christie Watson, author of MORAL INJURIESA sister’s loving tribute and a powerful call for compassionate change – Leah Hazard, author of HARD PUSHEDA book that deserves a wide readership. Lionel’s story sucked me in straight away, and held me captive to the very last page. Wise, compassionate and compellingly told – Monica AliA powerful and unusual book that pays tribute to her brother – Glenda Cooper * The Daily Mail *This book shows just how profoundly challenging our world still is for autistic people and their families … Elton explores [Lionel’s life] with warmth and the lightest of touches. Looking After is never dry — Lionel’s glorious, messy, infuriating humanity comes first. – Alice O’Keeffe * The TImes *A vitally important addition to the tiny corpus of literature about autistic adults, and a tender, often moving portrait of a beloved sibling. * Times Literary Supplement *

Caroline Elton was born in north London, the youngest child after her sister Liz and their older brother, Lionel, who was autistic. Originally trained as a teacher, she changed career direction and for the past 25 years has worked as a psychologist who specialises in supporting medical students and doctors.

The author of Also Human—The Inner Lives of Doctors, Caroline was appointed as Associate Professor/Senior Adviser at Norwich Medical School in 2022. She is married, with three children, and still lives in north London.

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