Books about death probably don’t sound like a great read and yet, Sue Black’s book is a great book about death.
When a leading forensic anthropologist writes a book, there is a danger that it might be too inaccessible in terms of specialised vocabulary and an assumption of already known terms and subjects but that is not what you have here.
Dame Black is a clear and succinct communicator who touches on topics that are sensitive and taboo to a lot of the more sensitive among us and she discusses death in all its many varied forms with tact and professionalism but also, and this may come as a surprise, warmth.
Yes, warmth, which may seem misaligned when talking about a subject which prompts powerful emotions, which are mainly negative: grief, anger, disbelief, pain, vengeance.
But Sue Black’s presentation of death as a fundamental part of our existence, which, if not to be welcomed, should be accepted, its inevitability one thing about life of which we can be certain, is full of humour and anecdotes and most of all, humanity.
The chapters of the book are wide-ranging: from personal experience of death and how she became an anatomist; to the application of her knowledge in the field, doing important, critical work for governments and world-wide organisations and all of the attention that that engenders; to teaching the next generation of forensic anthropologists; to ethical questions about leaving our bodies to science and the importance of anatomy and the dissection of cadavers; to approaching death and how that looks for us; to solving murders and seeking the truth.
Throughout the book, Sue Black guides you through her views and experiences and does this with a humanity which is generous. I found myself feeling like I was just listening to a friend talking, albeit an authoritative friend in a niche profession. There was a quietness about her narrative that was comforting – there was no sensationalism in the things that she described, which she had seen. In fact, there was a respectful restraint throughout which told of an acknowledgement of the enormity of what she does and the responsibility that she has to others in what she is being asked to do.
I don’t know how I would feel about dealing in death every day but I am not sure that I would be such a well-rounded individual as Sue Black.
Scuffed Granny 