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見證無數無情真相的記者之眼，也無法在突來的切身悲劇前保持清晰。一本令人屏息的回憶錄，訴說哀悼是改變，是重新允許自己把心擺到最重要的位置……

炎熱的夏日早晨，寧靜的牙買加海灘，本該是一趟愜意的家庭旅行，《衛報》名記者黛卡．愛肯荷（Decca Aitkenhead）的一生卻就此變了調。

當時，黛卡四歲的兒子在灘邊開心戲水，突如其來一個大浪將他捲進海裡，黛卡的伴侶東尼立刻拼命往外游，雖然成功救回兒子的性命，自己卻不幸在她眼前溺斃。

十年前，黛卡與東尼相遇，墜入愛河，成為倫敦最出乎意料的一對。黛卡是《衛報》獲獎記者，以其對第一線政治人物的精湛訪問著稱。東尼則頂著一頭雷鬼編髮，有販毒與暴力前科，曾入獄十四年。沒有任何人看好這段感情，但他們攜手越走越長，育有二個兒子，東尼證明自己可以成為模範丈夫、父親，直到那道大浪，讓黛卡墜入悲痛深淵。

回憶錄《All at Sea》優美而動人地訴說一對改變彼此生命的愛侶的故事，愛肯荷揪心描述東尼的猝逝為她與兩個兒子帶來的劇烈痛苦，同時她也叩問自己的內心，檢視與東尼的關係中浮現的衝突，在愛與失落之間難能可貴地探索了種族、救贖、優勢與偏見等主題。至愛驟逝後生者失去了停泊的港灣，然而本書勇敢提醒我們，哀悼是改變，是允許自己重新把心擺到最重要的位置，作者誠摯、睿智的生命凝望，在讀者心中投下難以忘懷的力量。

 

Decca Aitkenhead is an award-winning journalist (Catherine Pakenham Award 1996, Interviewer of the Year in 2009) for The Guardian newspaper, where she interviews leading figures in public life. She was born in Wiltshire in 1971, and studied politics and modern history at Manchester University, where she began her career in journalism at the Manchester Evening News. She has been a columnist and features writer for most national newspapers and magazines, and a regular contributor to BBC radio and television. She lives in rural Kent with her two young sons. In 2000 she wrote a travel book, The Promised Land, about going around the world in search of perfect Ecstasy.

 

‘If I read a sadder, truer, wiser chapter in a book this year I will count myself fortunate … Aitkenhead’s loss was our gain’ The Times

‘An exemplary memoir … However magnificent and powerful the book, you know it pales in comparison with the loss’ Sunday Times
‘This book is impossible to forget … It reminds one that grief is about transformation, the loss of old moorings, a new permission to put the heart first- a sea change’ Observer

‘Astonishing…. Aitkenhead has produced a work of art’ Evening Standard

‘An extraordinary memoir, a beautifully written account of life, love and what is left of both after tragedy …Utterly heart-breaking but it’s also a brave and honest account of grief and its aftermath that will stay with you long after you finish the last page’ Daily Express

‘Finely observed, emotionally truthful and beautifully written, her memoir is testament to the extraordinary power of love that doesn’t vanish when life of the beloved ends, but endures as long as memory itself’ Mail on Sunday

‘A story of absolute heartbreak, but also a story of unbelievable courage’ Davina McCall

‘An entrancing love story; a horrifying death story; a book about class, family, growing up, taking risks and learning how to be strong. Read it once, and it will be inside your head forever’ Andrew Marr

‘A beautiful and painful guidebook through the taboo subject of death. Decca made me miss someone I've never met and, for today at least, savour those I love’ Russell Brand

‘A remarkable story of sudden tragedy and grief, of love and resilience’ Arianna Huffington