The Last Ocean

“A tender, inquisitive tour of a subject that can be raw and painful.” —John Williams, The New York Times“A beautifully written, thoughtful look at dementia, it explores what might be the best, most humane way to treat people as their dementia advances—a crucial question in an era when about 1 out of 6 people over 80 get the condition … Gerrard, a British journalist and novelist whose father had dementia, offers particular empathy for family caregivers, who often find themselves with a deep sense of loss as their loved one’s selfhood seems to slip away.” —AARP   “[A] vivid combination of memoir and investigative journalism…With dementia now afflicting one in six people over 80, Gerrard’s informative and thought-provoking book is pertinent to all.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)“Revelatory and moving… carr[ies] both an emotional and a philosophical charge… A beacon of a book amid a sea of darkness.”—Kirkus, starred review“[Gerrard’s] powerful and beautifully written book takes the reader on a poignant voyage.”—The Guardian “Immensely powerful … an incisive and compelling read … [Gerrard] has an elegant yet devastating turn of phrase.”—The Sunday Times“Essential reading about love, life, and care”—Kate Mosse, author of Labyrinth “Nicci Gerrard exudes understanding of the breadth, scale and complexity of the dementias and the challenges they pose for society. Yet she communicates simply, personally and practically as if speaking individually to each of us”—Sebastian Crutch Professor of Neuropsychology, Dementia Research Centre, University College London “Nicci Gerrard writes with power, insight, empathy and extraordinary beauty about the world of dementia … and demonstrates how we can address the fear, despair and ignorance that has accompanied its spread”—Paul Webster, editor of the Observer “Gerrard ranges widely and wisely, raising questions about what it is to be human and facing truths too deep for tears”—Blake Morrison, author of And When Did You Last See Your Father?   “Evocative and powerful, shining a light on a world which is often hidden and misunderstood”—Jane Cummings, Chief Nursing Officer for England “Gerrard writes beautifully, encyclopedically, and with humanity”—Nicholas Timmins, honorary fellow of Royal College of Physicians   “Nobody has written on dementia as well as Nicci Gerrard in this new book. Kind, knowing and infinitely useful”—Andrew Marr “This is a tender, lyrical, profound, urgent book … Gerrard has penned a treatise on what it is to be human”—Yasmin Alibhai-Brown

As well as being a novelist, Nicci Gerrard is a journalist, a campaigner and a humanist celebrant. Nicci Gerrard writes for The Observer and is the co-author, with Sean French, of the UK bestselling Nicci French thrillers. In 2016 she won the Orwell Prize for Journalism, for a piece exploring dementia. Following her father’s death in 2014, she co-founded John’s Campaign which seeks to make care for those who are vulnerable and powerless more compassionate, and is now a national movement in the UK.