The Brief History of the Dead

The Brief History of the Dead

2011 • 300 pages

Ratings5

Average rating3.2

15

'A prodigy of imagination, insight and overwhelming tenderness' Independent 'Remember me when I'm gone' just took on a whole new meaning . . . Laura Byrd is in trouble. Three weeks ago she and her friends found themselves alone in one of the coldest, most remote places on earth. Her friends set out in search of help, and now Laura realises that they are not coming back. So she gathers her remaining supplies and sets out on an extraordinary journey. Meanwhile in another city, more and more people arrive every day. Each has a different story to tell, but their accounts have one thing in common - it was their final journey. For this is the city of the dead. And the link between this city and Laura's journey lies at the heart of this remarkable novel. The Brief History of the Dead tells a magical story about our lives - about our place in the world, our connections with each other, and what happens to us all after our deaths. It is a story of spellbinding power and imagination, which resonates long after the final page.

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I really enjoyed this book until Laura Byrd starts realizing she's the only person left and all the people in the “after” start disappearing, then it all gets a little too predictable. Like many said, it's an amazing short story that just went on way too long.

December 1, 2013
December 24, 2011