-9% £8.15£8.15
Dispatches from: Amazon Sold by: Amazon
£3.09£3.09
FREE delivery 30 December - 2 January
Dispatches from: orbitingbooks Sold by: orbitingbooks
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Audible sample
Follow the author
OK
ALL AT SEA Paperback – 12 Jan. 2017
Purchase options and add-ons
Shortlisted for the 2017 PEN Ackerley Prize
The thing to remember about this story is that every word is true. If I never told it to a soul, and this book did not exist, it would not cease to be true. I don t mind at all if you forget this.
The important thing is that I don t.
On a hot still morning on a beautiful beach in Jamaica, Decca Aitkenhead s life changed for ever.
Her four-year-old boy was paddling peacefully at the water s edge when a wave pulled him out to sea. Her partner, Tony, swam out and saved their son s life then drowned before her eyes.
When Decca and Tony first met a decade earlier, they became the most improbable couple in London. She was an award-winning Guardian journalist, famous for interviewing leading politicians. He was a dreadlocked criminal with a history of drug-dealing and violence. No one thought the romance would last, but it did. Until the tide swept Tony away, plunging Decca into the dark chasm of random tragedy.
Exploring race and redemption, privilege and prejudice, ALL AT SEA is a remarkable story of love and loss, of how one couple changed each other s lives and of what a sudden death can do to the people who survive.
- Print length240 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherFourth Estate
- Publication date12 Jan. 2017
- Dimensions19.8 x 1.8 x 12.9 cm
- ISBN-100008142157
- ISBN-13978-0008142155
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
From the Publisher
Product description
Review
‘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
‘If you buy just one book this year, make it this one. I have never read anything like it and wished it would never end’ Jennifer Saunders
‘A brave book about emotional truth. It brought a tear to my eye, and will be deeply empowering for those who read it’ Tanya Byron
‘Anyone who has loved, lost or grieved – that's all of us – should read it.’ Alastair Campbell
‘A remarkable story of sudden tragedy and grief, of love and resilience’ Arianna Huffington
‘Beautiful’ Sunday Times
About the Author
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.
Product details
- Publisher : Fourth Estate (12 Jan. 2017)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 240 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0008142157
- ISBN-13 : 978-0008142155
- Dimensions : 19.8 x 1.8 x 12.9 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: 433,376 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer reviews:
About the author
Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings, help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyses reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book heartwarming and moving. They describe it as an excellent, compelling read that they can't put down. The story is honest and real, touching on personal experiences. Readers praise the engaging pacing and beautiful writing style. Opinions are mixed on whether the story is heartbreaking or heartwarming.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book's emotional content engaging and well-written. They appreciate the author's ability to describe their feelings in a way that is relatable. The story provides an insightful look into the process of grief and its many facets. Readers find the book inspirational and vivid, depicting Tony with great clarity.
"This is a beautifully written and brutally honest account of one woman’s experience of the sudden death (drowning whilst on Holiday in Jamaica) of..." Read more
"A very good read about a families sad story .I read every word which can be unusual for me for various reasons ." Read more
"...I found it so vivid in depicting Tony and brutally honest from Decca about her own thoughts at all stages...." Read more
"...One could totally understand the process of grief and the different, often irrational ways it affects different people...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it compelling, emotional, and beautifully written. Many describe it as a wonderful, moving, and unforgettable read about love, loss, and grief.
"A very good read about a families sad story .I read every word which can be unusual for me for various reasons ." Read more
"...in 2 days (despite knowing the “ending” from before page 1) and loved every second...." Read more
"Amazing, gripping book telling the story of Decca Aitkenhead's unlikely relationship with Tony a married drug dealing crack addict...." Read more
"A beautifully written book about love, loss and grief. I really couldn't put this book down it was so compelling...." Read more
Customers appreciate the author's honesty. They find the book moving, honest, and real. The story is told with great courage and honesty, making it life-affirming.
"This is a beautifully written and brutally honest account of one woman’s experience of the sudden death (drowning whilst on Holiday in Jamaica) of..." Read more
"...I found it so vivid in depicting Tony and brutally honest from Decca about her own thoughts at all stages...." Read more
"The outstanding feature of this book is its honesty...." Read more
"...A character who turns out to be loving and protective, genuine and honest, funny and charismatic...." Read more
Customers find the story engaging and personal. They describe it as a brave true story that draws them in. The narrative is described as compelling, exciting, and informative, with emotional moments and detailed aftereffects.
"...said that was the story otherwise particularly interesting, exciting or informative?..." Read more
"...The aftermath is described in detail and must affect everyone who reads it. Very good writing and insights." Read more
"...This is beautiful story telling that immediately draws you in. You enter Aitkenhead's world and don't want to leave it...." Read more
"...But this is a brave true story and I feel for her." Read more
Customers find the book engaging and moving. They say it's well-written and draws them in.
"...This is beautiful story telling that immediately draws you in. You enter Aitkenhead's world and don't want to leave it...." Read more
"Beautifully written, very moving...." Read more
"Very moving, incredibly honest and often surprisingly funny when elucidating on the social and emotional complexities of death...." Read more
"A wonderful book- intensely painful, moving and honest...." Read more
Customers find the book insightful, meaningful, and life-changing. They describe it as beautifully written, wise, and brave.
"...of grief is visceral, but it’s probably also the most eloquent and brave book on the subject that’s ever been published." Read more
"...Very good writing and insights." Read more
"...One thing I will say is that there are some great insights and the observations are clever and honest. I suppose I just wanted more..." Read more
"Heart beaking and insightful, a book of love, loss and bravery which taps into human nature in an incredible way that we can all relate to." Read more
Customers have different views on the book. Some find it heartwarming, sad, moving, and unforgettable. Others describe it as tragic and self-pitying.
"...A character who turns out to be loving and protective, genuine and honest, funny and charismatic...." Read more
"Heart beaking and insightful, a book of love, loss and bravery which taps into human nature in an incredible way that we can all relate to." Read more
"...book it IS very personal and could be said to be self indulgent and self pitying...." Read more
"...This book will make you laugh out loud and cry at the same time. A totally sad heart breaking story...." Read more
Top reviews from United Kingdom
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 March 2017This is a beautifully written and brutally honest account of one woman’s experience of the sudden death (drowning whilst on Holiday in Jamaica) of her partner. She describes in heart-stopping detail the near-derangement that gripped her following Tony’s death. As she put it, “I may as well have had all my skin ripped off.” Half-way through the book, I started to fret about Tony and Decca’s relationship. They’d both been married to other people when they met. Had they divorced? If not, I could see legal problems looming – and so it proved to be. Decca, it turns out, had divorced, but Tony hadn’t. Although he hadn’t lived with his wife during the ten years he and Decca had been together, Tony was still legally married to another woman and his will had been made out in her favour. I’m not moralising here – far from it, having been in a not dissimilar situation myself – but (as those situations do), it meant, legally, that Decca and her two little boys counted for nothing. Finally, I was shocked to read a review that suggested Decca’s book was “self-indulgent and self-pitying.” Yes, her description of the process of grief is visceral, but it’s probably also the most eloquent and brave book on the subject that’s ever been published.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 May 2016A very good read about a families sad story .I read every word which can be unusual for me for various reasons .
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 November 2024This is a story about a clever successful white liberal middle-class woman who falls in in love with a black violent adopted working-class crack head and coke dealer. They’re both married too. After she helps him pack the crack in she gets him a job at Kids Company, the excellent charity run by the lively lady in the bright clothes. So if you are looking for a white saviour narrative this is the one for you. Tony dies just when everything is on the up, and Decca is heartbroken. The problem for me was that I wasn’t heartbroken. I was relieved. He was a liar and a creep. There people I most detest in life are crack-heads and do-gooders, and as Tony apparently went from the first to the second he was never going get a break from me. But he’s violent too, and call me old fashioned that’s a bit of a red flag for me. Decca (while working as a Guardian journalist) watched Tony beat up a man on a London street and did not report him. Yuk. I had to hold the book at arm’s length for an hour. Anyway, Tony croaks, and Decca is plunged into a hundred pages of grief. I quite liked this bit. She was admirably honest about some of the stupid things she did, like ask David Furnish for cash. A lesser writer would have left that out. She describes Treasure Beach in Jamaica, where they frequented, with charm, but either she doesn’t know or fails to mention it’s an upmarket mainly white neighbourhood, miles away, in every sense, from 99% of Jamaica. The place nevertheless works its magic, and soon she’s surrounded by more flirting rastas, which always raises the spirits.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 September 2019Read this in 2 days (despite knowing the “ending” from before page 1) and loved every second. I found it so vivid in depicting Tony and brutally honest from Decca about her own thoughts at all stages. It made me think hugely about race, class, love, divorce, family, death, life. Amazing to think her sons will have this account of their father and the love which brought them into the world even though they lost him so unfairly. Thank you for the insights and honesty Decca, loves your interviews for years and this was devastatingly powerful.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 March 2017The outstanding feature of this book is its honesty. One could totally understand the process of grief and the different, often irrational ways it affects different people. Having said that was the story otherwise particularly interesting, exciting or informative? While no one is forced to read this book it IS very personal and could be said to be self indulgent and self pitying. As one goes through life and experiences grief oneself, do you need to read a book about it. This is the readers decision.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 May 2017Amazing, gripping book telling the story of Decca Aitkenhead's unlikely relationship with Tony a married drug dealing crack addict. But that is just a small part of the man she falls in love with. And, as you read this book, you realise that Tony is a far more complex character than you would think from that description. A character who turns out to be loving and protective, genuine and honest, funny and charismatic. Decca's description of him deciding to give up crack and change his life, and the strength of will he employs to do so, has you cheering him on. You really feel as if you know Tony, and it's a measure of how well this book draws you into their life that you feel so devastated when you read what happened. Because Tony died rescuing his and Decca's eldest son from drowning and this book is Decca's account of that and the immediate aftermath. It is a measure of how good this book is that I read it, then immediately read it again and have just finished reading it a third time. And each time I wish it had a different ending. Read it!
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 July 2017This is a very poignant story about love and loss. Decca illustrates with great clarity how a simple holiday can change into a life-changing event in an instant. The aftermath is described in detail and must affect everyone who reads it. Very good writing and insights.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 April 2016All at Sea is a beautifully written and powerful account of Decca Aitkenhead's relationship with her partner Tony Wilkinson, his tragic death whilst on a family holiday in Jamaica and her and her two sons' struggle to come to terms with their loss. This is beautiful story telling that immediately draws you in. You enter Aitkenhead's world and don't want to leave it. This is powerful, heart wrenching stuff that makes you feel all that it is to be human and how fragile life is.
Top reviews from other countries
-
FrankaReviewed in Germany on 6 December 2017
2.0 out of 5 stars Unfortunately not a fan...
Maybe a person having suffered a similar kind of loss can better relate to this story/book but I, unfortunately, found it depressing rather than moving (when other books easily have me in tears) and long-winded rather than engaging. Some parts I liked more than others but overall I found it hard to complete the book. Just my very personal opinion, of course. I'm sure other readers enjoyed this book more.
- ElizabethReviewed in Canada on 23 December 2016
5.0 out of 5 stars Intense and beautiful
This breath-taking account is as vivid as it is astonishing. The author shares memories and reflections of her relationship and the loss of her partner and its impact on her and their two young sons.
- BookywookyReviewed in Australia on 3 June 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars I think the author has done a terrific job of collecting her memories and putting together this ...
Such a moving tale,I obsessed about the book for days after it was finished. I think the author has done a terrific job of collecting her memories and putting together this very moving story.
I shall not retell the story but strongly encourage the reader to pickup this book and reflect on how quickly a life can take a turn into utmost tragedy in an instant.
- carilynpReviewed in the United States on 24 August 2016
5.0 out of 5 stars A renowned journalist finds unexpected love with a man who most would think would be ...
What a remarkable story. Honesty, bravery and resilience. This memoir has it all. Decca Aitkenhead’s ALL AT SEA. A renowned journalist finds unexpected love with a man who most would think would be her polar opposite. She leaves her husband for him and her world is in bloom. Together they travel to her favorite beach in Jamaica with their two young sons. Out in the water, one of their sons gets caught up in the undertow and the love of her life swims out to rescue him, which he does, but he loses his own life in doing so. Needless to say, she unravels after that. The book so beautifully describes this man who came into her life, how he turned himself around, was her rock, and so caring. How was she to go on when half of her was gone. Aitkenhead’s ability to portray another is so eloquent and to take such a painful subject and tell it in a way that you not only feel her pain but feel the depth of their love. I am stunned by her writing and how she survived.
- J. HoughReviewed in the United States on 5 February 2017
4.0 out of 5 stars Memoir of love and sadness
The writing of this memoir is very good. It is the story of a woman's few years of joy and tragedy.