Life, Death and Biscuits
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- Create Date：2022-02-13 00:51:31
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Anthea Allen
- ISBN：0008506450
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Summary
‘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 – St。 George’s in South London – during the peak of the Covid crisis。
Her gripping and incredibly moving recollections have been feted by a great range of people， from Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid on Good Morning Britain to Richard Branson and the Queen’s apothecary， as well as being excerpted in the Daily Mail。
What started as a weekend email to friends and family to process the reality of life during Covid quickly won her a growing army of support。 Anthea has a rare gift of communicating the unique camaraderie of the NHS， the private tragedies of families， and the struggles which she has faced holding her personal and professional life together。 Beyond politics， charts and statistics， Anthea – a natural and truly eloquent diarist – tells the stories of real people， real lives and real hopes and fears in an extraordinary time none of us will ever forget。
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 – St。 George’s in South London – during the peak of the Covid crisis。
Her gripping and incredibly moving recollections have been feted by a great range of people， from Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid on Good Morning Britain to Richard Branson and the Queen’s apothecary， as well as being excerpted in the Daily Mail。
What started as a weekend email to friends and family to process the reality of life during Covid quickly won her a growing army of support。 Anthea has a rare gift of communicating the unique camaraderie of the NHS， the private tragedies of families， and the struggles which she has faced holding her personal and professional life together。 Beyond politics， charts and statistics， Anthea – a natural and truly eloquent diarist – tells the stories of real people， real lives and real hopes and fears in an extraordinary time none of us will ever forget。
Reviews
Fran
，
Blue is for Covid。 It seems appropriate that was the colour chosen to designate those hospitalised with the virus that affected us all。 The author encapsulates the progress of the pandemic and its effects on those in hospital and families。 She is a real team player， who clearly is an outstanding nurse。 Her experiences echoed those I heard from a friend who was a nurse in ICU。 The book made me laugh and cry， described this awful time， and how some survived due to the dedication of hospital staff。 Blue is for Covid。 It seems appropriate that was the colour chosen to designate those hospitalised with the virus that affected us all。 The author encapsulates the progress of the pandemic and its effects on those in hospital and families。 She is a real team player， who clearly is an outstanding nurse。 Her experiences echoed those I heard from a friend who was a nurse in ICU。 The book made me laugh and cry， described this awful time， and how some survived due to the dedication of hospital staff。 。。。more
Michelle Ward
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An honest account of how it was for a critical care nurse during the Covid pandemic。 Heartbreaking at times。
Joy Lenton
，
This is more than a medical memoir。 Anthea Allen， an experienced Critical Care Sister， narrates a harrowing personal history of the extreme challenges she and her team face when working during the fatal fallout of the global Covid pandemic which upturns lives and livelihoods。Working and surviving in a Critical Care unit appears to be a matter of determined teamwork， excellence under great duress， life， death， compassion， love， and needful sustenance: such as chocolates， cakes and biscuits from g This is more than a medical memoir。 Anthea Allen， an experienced Critical Care Sister， narrates a harrowing personal history of the extreme challenges she and her team face when working during the fatal fallout of the global Covid pandemic which upturns lives and livelihoods。Working and surviving in a Critical Care unit appears to be a matter of determined teamwork， excellence under great duress， life， death， compassion， love， and needful sustenance: such as chocolates， cakes and biscuits from grateful former patients and their relatives。 Imagine how important the usual supportive measures are when clinical staff are pressured beyond belief and can barely squeeze in a rest break， drink or meal。 The traumatic working day is like being stuck in a recurring nightmare where you can’t wake up or forget what’s happening。A heart-breaking， insightful， riveting read， it depicts Covid-19 beginning to have a huge impact on the already badly managed， depleted and poorly equipped NHS， existing as it does on the critical knife edge between providing adequate health provision and chaos。 It covers from March 2020 to the summer of 2021， with all the PPE shortages， rush， hurry， panic， pause， recalibrate， then reboard the “Covid Express” to do it all over again， often with changed locations， equipment and staff members as wards are utilised into emergency care bays。 Yet the brilliant and amazing critical care nurses in particular do their utmost to provide the best， kindest and safest care possible， crisis or no crisis。 They are deeply committed to their patients， trying to help people survive in life threatening circumstances。 As an ex-nurse I loved revisiting the hospital environment， ached with sympathy for their plight and felt upset at the way they are treated sometimes。 It’s an enlightening read that will make you laugh and cry and applaud them all for their ability to keep going and extreme courage under fire。 Grateful thanks to NetGalley and HarperElement for the eRAC。 。。。more
Alison Bradbury
，
This is an interesting description of the fight against Covid from the frontline， told by a nurse who worked in ICU， and the many make shift ICU wards the hospital needed to create。 We are told at the start that we are reading emails that were sent to friends and family as she detailed the pandemic from the inside - all in the quest for biscuits to take to work to feed the army of nurses and hospital staff who were working under extreme conditions。 The first half of the book is interesting and， This is an interesting description of the fight against Covid from the frontline， told by a nurse who worked in ICU， and the many make shift ICU wards the hospital needed to create。 We are told at the start that we are reading emails that were sent to friends and family as she detailed the pandemic from the inside - all in the quest for biscuits to take to work to feed the army of nurses and hospital staff who were working under extreme conditions。 The first half of the book is interesting and， at time frightening。 However， the second half of the book is more of the same with the second wave of the illness surging。 To be honest， I found myself craving a bit more detail and a bit more emotion。On the whole， a good read about something very current and this book will serve as a record for years to come。 Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review。 。。。more
Deirdre Roberts
，
I loved the first few chapters of Life， Death and Biscuits。 At times， Anthea's depiction of what nurses faced whilst working in critical care units during Covid-19 was heartbreaking to read。 I don't think that I would have the strength to do what they did。 She beautifully portrayed how important her colleagues were to each other。 It was heartbreaking to read how many young nurses didn't want to tell their parents how bad working conditions were。The first few chapters deserve a five-star rating。 I loved the first few chapters of Life， Death and Biscuits。 At times， Anthea's depiction of what nurses faced whilst working in critical care units during Covid-19 was heartbreaking to read。 I don't think that I would have the strength to do what they did。 She beautifully portrayed how important her colleagues were to each other。 It was heartbreaking to read how many young nurses didn't want to tell their parents how bad working conditions were。The first few chapters deserve a five-star rating。 Unfortunately， after a while， the chapters seemed to get a bit repetitive and didn't hold my interest throughout。 。。。more
Jen James
，
Life， Death and Biscuits by Anthea Allen is very different from my usual reading genre。 I wanted to give a quick trigger warning， for anyone who has been deeply affected by Covid， and I do know that there are so many。 Not just bereaved families， but also those who may have been nursed on ICU， and also those who are currently suffering from Long Covid。 There are many details of Covid's affects， and some people may be upset by this， reminded of very bad times。 The book， quite literally， tells of Life， Death and Biscuits by Anthea Allen is very different from my usual reading genre。 I wanted to give a quick trigger warning， for anyone who has been deeply affected by Covid， and I do know that there are so many。 Not just bereaved families， but also those who may have been nursed on ICU， and also those who are currently suffering from Long Covid。 There are many details of Covid's affects， and some people may be upset by this， reminded of very bad times。 The book， quite literally， tells of the week by week experience of Anthea Allen， who is a Senior Critical Care Nurse at St George’s。 At the start of the pandemic， nearly two years ago， she started writing a weekly e-mail， to her friends。 Initially for people to be aware of the current situation， and not to underestimate the danger of Covid， but I think it quickly turned into therapy for Anthea as well。 The backbone of the book， are the e-mails themselves。 This gives us a very honest view of how it felt at that time， not looking back with hindsight。 I think this is an important book， that really should be read by anyone responsible for funding the NHS。 Those who look after the pennies， but don’t understand the reality of how that money works or doesn’t work， when dealing with real life situations。 For me， as a reader， I did find it a little repetitive。 Which in a way makes sense， as the feeling on a daily basis must have been a “Groundhog Day” existence。 A never ending stream of patients， presently similarly， seemingly without end。 The letter at the very end， which had been sent from an ex-patient called Ray， to Anthea， was incredibly moving and poignant。 4⭐️ from me。 。。。more
Sarah MacIntyre
，
A truly honest and moving account of the nurses flung into the Covid crisis。 The story highlights their trauma with respectful encounters of the patients。 An experience no-one signed up for the staff of St。 George's fight the daily battle。 Then for the second wave to overwhelm again was bringing staff to breaking point。 Some wonderful insights to how Brexit， vaccines and the care from the community affected the Critical Care team。 Educating， heartbreaking and heartwarming。 A truly honest and moving account of the nurses flung into the Covid crisis。 The story highlights their trauma with respectful encounters of the patients。 An experience no-one signed up for the staff of St。 George's fight the daily battle。 Then for the second wave to overwhelm again was bringing staff to breaking point。 Some wonderful insights to how Brexit， vaccines and the care from the community affected the Critical Care team。 Educating， heartbreaking and heartwarming。 。。。more
Helen
，
We have experienced a unique period of time over the last 2 years but the critical care teams have been on the front line。 This is no woe are we memoir but a reflective look at the unique challenges and team work that helped save so many lives。 It is written with admiration， laughter and awe of her colleagues and the wider NHS。This period of time will go down in history and this book should be essential reading in years to come as we look back。
Mabel
，
Anthea has written a captivating， detailed account of nursing through Covid-19 pandemic。 Despite working non-stop Anthea has managed to write a diary that is informative and well observed - I don’t know how she found time to do so！ Everyone on the frontline has and continues to do a remarkable job of looking after all who require their help。 Having nursed in cardiac and intensive units myself during The Troubles in N。 Ireland， I can empathise with her and all concerned-Nursing is a wonderful voc Anthea has written a captivating， detailed account of nursing through Covid-19 pandemic。 Despite working non-stop Anthea has managed to write a diary that is informative and well observed - I don’t know how she found time to do so！ Everyone on the frontline has and continues to do a remarkable job of looking after all who require their help。 Having nursed in cardiac and intensive units myself during The Troubles in N。 Ireland， I can empathise with her and all concerned-Nursing is a wonderful vocation that is rewarding， but can be- as in the pandemic- very stressful and emotional。 Well done to everyone on the frontline！ 。。。more
Catherine
，
The world needs this book and hopefully it will tell the generations to come what the real impact of Covid was。 I felt every page and was quite emotionally whilst reading it。 Please believe that everything Anthea Allen has written about is a true reflection of events。I am not a nurse but I was asked to help out on an ITU where I work。 I spent a couple of night shifts working alongside qualified staff。 They didn't have enough staff to cover the patients。 Recording observations and running errands The world needs this book and hopefully it will tell the generations to come what the real impact of Covid was。 I felt every page and was quite emotionally whilst reading it。 Please believe that everything Anthea Allen has written about is a true reflection of events。I am not a nurse but I was asked to help out on an ITU where I work。 I spent a couple of night shifts working alongside qualified staff。 They didn't have enough staff to cover the patients。 Recording observations and running errands。 All in the dreaded PPE。 I came home emotionally drained。 The people that work in critical care and ITU are doing this day in and out。 These are the people that need to be recognized for their efforts in helping to combat Covid-19。 They are the ones that need our awards in the Queens honors list。Please read this book。 It shows all that is good about human nature。 The people that go above and beyond。 Thank you Anthea Allen for bringing forward your memories that need to be recorded for prosperity 。Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC 。。。more
Kate Southey
，
I have mixed feelings about this book。 It is a fascinating look at the life of a critical care nurse and a peek into the horror that was pandemic nursing but it was in my opinion far too long and far too repetitious。 Originally written as regular emails it makes sense that the same things are oft repeated ‘nurses are a family’ ‘I love being Mama Anthea to these young nurses’ if you are hearing them at monthly or even weekly intervals。 Once put together in one volume it becomes so obvious how oft I have mixed feelings about this book。 It is a fascinating look at the life of a critical care nurse and a peek into the horror that was pandemic nursing but it was in my opinion far too long and far too repetitious。 Originally written as regular emails it makes sense that the same things are oft repeated ‘nurses are a family’ ‘I love being Mama Anthea to these young nurses’ if you are hearing them at monthly or even weekly intervals。 Once put together in one volume it becomes so obvious how often Anthea muses on the camaraderie of her team。 I think the book could have been far better if edited to remove the bulk of these musings and was a shorter book。 I really struggled to finish it。 。。。more
Misfits farm
，
Oh wow！ （ I write this and am not sure that should have the exclamation mark- it should and it shouldn't-reading on may explain this）。 This is a book about the very front line during the pandemic in a small corner of London， England。 Many know about people requiring ventilators during this period- what many don’t know is that it takes the experience of a critical care nurse to operate them- few nurses were trained in this and even less doctors。 Anthea is a one of these highly skilled nurses and Oh wow！ （ I write this and am not sure that should have the exclamation mark- it should and it shouldn't-reading on may explain this）。 This is a book about the very front line during the pandemic in a small corner of London， England。 Many know about people requiring ventilators during this period- what many don’t know is that it takes the experience of a critical care nurse to operate them- few nurses were trained in this and even less doctors。 Anthea is a one of these highly skilled nurses and tells of her days through emails to friends which by putting words on paper kept her sane。 She asked for some biscuits as many of the staff being kitted up in PPE couldn't leave the ward （if they did it was a full clothes and ppe change for which they didn't have time or energy） and the hospital shops refused to serve them， knowing they were dealing with such critically ill covid patients。 The response she got was overwhelming。 Thank you doesn't seem enough to these dedicated， caring staff。 To the nurses and doctors through to those many don't even know about- the lab technicians who do all the tests on which medicine depends， the pharmaceutical staff working day and night to find vaccines and test medicines on which many lives depend。 The porters， the cleaners， the administration staff the list goes on。 Everyone of them made and every day makes the NHS （and private care） what it is in this country- a truly brilliant organisation。 For anyone who complains- try being ill abroad or even in Ireland where I understand that a GP trip may cost you 50E or more each and every time。 This is brilliantly written。 The clarity of what was happening through to the smiles when a doughnut appeared makes this a very real read。 A truly inspiring memorable read and several messages for us all to look after ourselves- stay fit and healthy and don’t take unnecessary risks。 As I understand Steve Jobs once said “ let food be your medicine otherwise medicine will be your food”。 We can all help the NHS by doing this。 One life- live it well。 。。。more
Tracy
，
Wow， what a book that was to read for how nurses cope（d） during the [main] wave（s） of Coronavirus in 2020 and 2021。 Most of the stuff we see in the press is about the doctors/hospitals in general， not the nurses so it was enjoyable from that perspective。 Sadly Anthea I can't give you the pay rise or more nurses but I can give you 5 stars and recommendation for folks to buy your book！ Wow， what a book that was to read for how nurses cope（d） during the [main] wave（s） of Coronavirus in 2020 and 2021。 Most of the stuff we see in the press is about the doctors/hospitals in general， not the nurses so it was enjoyable from that perspective。 Sadly Anthea I can't give you the pay rise or more nurses but I can give you 5 stars and recommendation for folks to buy your book！ 。。。more
Claire Turkington
，
Wow what can I say， I loved this， It’s real， raw and honest。 It’s well written and I loved the email style of writing， the author writes with such passion and clarity。 It triggers every emotion， it had me crying & laughing throughout。 A very informative worthwhile and poignant read。 I’ll definitely be recommending this as a great medical memoir。
Shirley
，
An interesting and heartbreaking read， what an amazing， inspiring job the health care profession did and still do during the pandemic。
Mrs Karen Bull
，
Fascinating book， very interesting and worth reading Very well written and had me in tears in some places We owe so much to the nurses etc
Sally Tyrer
，
Life death and biscuits was a particularly poignant read for me as like the author I worked as a registered nurse in covid positive wards， I also unfortunately ended up as a patient in intensive care so saw the reality from both sides！ What shone through for me was the team spirit and sense of camaraderie amongst the team， the sense of despair， the not knowing and the steep learning curve particularly in the first wave is something that will always stay with me！Loved the email idea and reference Life death and biscuits was a particularly poignant read for me as like the author I worked as a registered nurse in covid positive wards， I also unfortunately ended up as a patient in intensive care so saw the reality from both sides！ What shone through for me was the team spirit and sense of camaraderie amongst the team， the sense of despair， the not knowing and the steep learning curve particularly in the first wave is something that will always stay with me！Loved the email idea and references to real patients in their many varied forms and the support that Anthea offered so freely and willingly to her team as I feel the repercussion’s of this will be felt for a very long time by those who were working frontline throughout the pandemic！An informative enlightening read。Thank you netgalley for this early read。 。。。more
Denise Mcghie
，
This is a harrowing read in parts and rightly so！ We all know that the nursing profession do so much and especially how hard they worked during the pandemic but reading this book it really hits home how much they actually really do and how much they went through。 They should all have a lifetime supply of biscuits （and a substantial pay rise！）Anthea is a critical care nurse at St Georges， London and this book came about from weekly emails she sent to friends and family at the start of the pandemi This is a harrowing read in parts and rightly so！ We all know that the nursing profession do so much and especially how hard they worked during the pandemic but reading this book it really hits home how much they actually really do and how much they went through。 They should all have a lifetime supply of biscuits （and a substantial pay rise！）Anthea is a critical care nurse at St Georges， London and this book came about from weekly emails she sent to friends and family at the start of the pandemic。 It's a diary of her feelings and thoughts through this time， the bond with her colleagues and the stories of patients in her care。 It's well written with just the right level of humour， it's raw and real and triggers every emotion。 A worthwhile and poignant read。Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the ARC 。。。more
Clare Moore
，
Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book。This book appealed to me as a nurse working through the coronavirus pandemic and being redeployed。 It made me realise the impact it has had on both myself， colleagues and family。 A brilliant memoir of one nurses experience。
Grace
，
Wow， was a great book。 I love a medical memoir and this whilst being about covid almost feels so long ago！ The author is a hero， not least because they are a critical care nurse but mostly because they write with such passion and clarity！ Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the incredible opportunity to read this early！ I will be recommending this to people when they ask for this style of book！
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Life, Death and Biscuits
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Life, Death and Biscuits&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft