Life, Death and Biscuits: The inspiring diaries of a Critical Care nurse on the Covid front line

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER ‘A heart-breaking story of courage and compassion from the front line of the toughest battle our nurses have had to fight. Anthea Allen’s writing is raw, honest and full of love for those she cares for.’ Susanna Reid An extraordinarily powerful memoir based on the diaries of intensive care nurse Anthea Allen, who worked on the front line of one of the largest hospitals in Europe during the Covid crisis. A nurse for 25 years, Anthea thought she had seen it all. But with Covid came the greatest trial, personally and professionally, of her life. Thrust into hourly challenges – many a matter of life and death – while on the Critical Care units of St George’s in south London, Anthea processed her shocking experiences through writing. It started with an email to request biscuits. But her appeal to help boost the morale of her fellow nurses soon turned into a series of astonishingly moving stories detailing the realities of being a front line worker. It wasn’t long before Anthea’s accounts were circulating far and wide, capturing the attention of the nation and being feted by the likes of Richard Branson and Good Morning Britain’s Susanna Reid. In Life, Death and Biscuits, Anthea reveals the human story behind Covid, sharing tales of hope, fear and laughter from both her ‘family’ of nurses and the patients she encountered. Forged in a crisis, this deeply affecting memoir offers a unique and inspiring perspective on the pandemic that simultaneously tore the world apart and brought us together. Both heart-wrenching and uplifting, it serves as a testimony to love, resilience and the human spirit. Anthea Allen, the Sunday Times bestselling author, provides an intimate look into the world of healthcare during a pandemic in her memoirs. Her autobiography, a bestselling book, explores the themes of grief, bereavement, and the psychological impact of contagious diseases on both patients and healthcare workers. For fans of Christie Watson (The Language of Kindness), Linda Watson-Brown (Don't Say A Word), Aoife Abbey (Seven Signs of Life), Maggie Hartley (Battered, Broken, Healed), and Amir Khan (The Doctor Will See You Now). HarperCollins 2022