And Finally - by Henry Marsh (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

From the bestselling neurosurgeon and author of Do No Harm, comes Henry Marsh's And Finally, an unflinching and deeply personal exploration of death, life and neuroscience.

As a retired brain surgeon, Henry Marsh thought he understood illness, but he was unprepared for the impact of his diagnosis of advanced cancer. And Finally explores what happens when someone who has spent a lifetime on the frontline of life and death finds himself contemplating what might be his own death sentence.

As he navigates the bewildering transition from doctor to patient, he is haunted by past failures and projects yet to be completed, and frustrated by the inconveniences of illness and old age. But he is also more entranced than ever by the mysteries of science and the brain, the beauty of the natural world and his love for his family. Elegiac, candid, luminous and poignant, And Finally is ultimately not so much a book about death, but a book about life and what matters in the end.

Review Quotes

Praise for And Finally:

"Marsh's exploration is intimate, insightful, witty and deeply moving. . . Marsh's writing style is such that one has the feeling of trailing behind him as an acolyte in the operating room, or in his woodworking shop, or at his dining table; in doing so, one overhears the musings of a savant, a neuroscientist, a neurosurgeon, and the inner dialogue of a patient feeling his vulnerability." -- Abraham Verghese, Washington Post, author of Cutting for Stone

"[T]here's prose that breaks in gentle waves, its undercurrents deep, the surface of an ocean vast enough to put our lives in moral perspective. The narrative takes detours through DIY and dollhouses, hospital décor and Himalayan hikes. Marsh is seated, storytelling, and he is in no hurry." -- Kieran Setiya, New York Times, author of Life is Hard: How Philosophy Can Help Us Find Our Way

"In the contemplation of death Marsh illuminates the gift of life, rendering it even more precious. And
Finally has all the candour, elegance and revelation we've come to expect from Marsh. I read it
straight through carried along by the force of its prose and the beauty of its ideas. It's a book to
treasure and reread; I'm very grateful for it." -- Gavin Francis, author of Adventures in Human Being and Shapeshifters

"In this superb meditation on life and death, Henry Marsh tackles the matter of mortality with all his
trademark wit, wisdom, grace and humility. He turns his formidable intellect and scalpel-sharp prose
on himself as well as the medical profession - with marvellous results. Unflinching, profound and
deeply humane, And Finally is magnificent." -- Rachel Clarke, author of Dear Life

"And Finally is a close and courageous look at the prospect of death by someone who has seen it more
clearly and more often than most of us, and who writes with great fluency and grace. Henry Marsh is
a great neurosurgeon: he is also a very fine writer. I admire this book enormously." -- Philip Pullman,
author of His Dark Materials

"[H]e's deeply reflective, the result is a bit like sitting in the pub with the smartest person you know." -- Leyla Sanai, The Spectator

"It is an important message from a wise and warm narrator, and his book will bring comfort to many
-- and educate doctors (should any have time to read it)." -- Melanie Reid, The Times

"In a beautifully written memoir, the surgeon reflects on his cancer diagnosis - and explains why you
should exaggerate your pain to doctors. [...] The NHS might presently be in crisis, but that is an
example of the great phlegmatic British spirit we can all be proud of." -- Steven Poole, The Telegraph

"By sharing his findings, And Finally will no doubt prompt others to contemplate their own existence
and, more importantly, recognise what is truly worth living for." -- Financial Times

Praise for Do No Harm:

"Like the work of his fellow physicians Jerome Groopman and Atul Gawande, Do No Harm offers insight into the life of doctors and the quandaries they face as we throw our outsize hopes into their fallible hands." --The Washington Post

"Riveting. ... [Marsh] gives us an extraordinarily intimate, compassionate and sometimes frightening understanding of his vocation." --The New York Times

"The Knausgaard of neurosurgery... Marsh writes like a novelist." --The New Yorker

"There's no denying the vicarious thrill of peeking over a neurosurgeon's shoulder in the operating theater, and Dr. Marsh delivers plenty of hospital drama. Yet what sticks with you are the moments when the lens flips and the field of view widens, and you realize that, in learning about the minutiae of neurosurgery, you're gaining insight into life itself." --The Wall Street Journal

"One of the best books ever about a life in medicine, Do No Harm boldly and gracefully exposes the vulnerability and painful privilege of being a physician." --Booklist (starred review)

About the Author