Story of a Heart

“Blends the history of medical innovations behind transplant surgery with the moving true story of two children, one whom desperately needs a new heart.” –The New York Times“Clarke braids a rigorous scientific and cultural history of transplant medicine with the story of two children…The narrative about Keira and Max’s families, and the team of professionals caring for them all, is very touching. Clarke never strips Keira of her humanity; the story of her heart, and her life, continues to help others in this informative, important book.” –BookPage“This book is FASCINATING. Rachel Clarke is the ideal writer to bring us this story, thanks to her medical knowledge but more importantly her curiosity and sensitivity. Even hearing a sliver of this makes you hunger to learn more. Rare is the writer who could thoroughly understand and synthesize the details and put it all together so beautifully for the reader. Profoundly moving and wildly inspiring, Clarke maps new frontiers.” –Rob Delaney, author of A Heart That Works

“The best narrative nonfiction I’ve read in years. Rachel Clarke has written a profound piece of investigative journalism and wrapped it up in poetry. A story of death, and life, and how one incredible family gifted a miracle to another.” –Christie Watson, author of The Language of Kindness

“Rachel Clarke’s narrative forces us to confront the highs and lows of the human condition, blissfully joyous and mercilessly painful. As a former transplant physician turned ICU doctor, I can attest to the searing accuracy of her scalpel. Clarke’s storytelling sings, and leaves me awash in gratitude and awareness of my own beating heart.” –Wes Ely, MD, author of Every Deep-Drawn Breath

“With exquisite sensitivity, Clarke describes how the two families collided in grief and hope, helped by the miracle of science. I read this through a veil of tears.” –Anjana Ahuja in The New Statesman

Dr. Rachel Clarke is a palliative care doctor and author of three Sunday Times (London) bestselling books: Breathtaking, Your Life in My Hands, and Dear Life, which was shortlisted for the Costa Biography Award, longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize, and chosen as a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week. Prior to medical school, Clarke worked as a broadcast journalist. She writes for many publications, including The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Sunday Times (London), and she makes regular television and radio appearances on outlets including the BBC, among others. She lives in Oxfordshire with her husband and two children.