How the Dead Live

In How the Dead Live, acclaimed author Will Self presents the surreal journey of Lily Bloom, an American woman facing her final moments in a London hospital after losing her battle with cancer. As she drifts between memories spanning six tumultuous decades, her story unfolds through the lens of her two daughters and the morphine-fueled haze of her last days. Upon her death, Lily encounters the peculiar world of the afterlife, guided by the enigmatic Phar Lap Jones and reflecting on her existence in a realm filled with both familiar and bizarre elements. This masterful novel explores themes of life, death, and the complexities of the human experience, showcasing Self’s extraordinary literary prowess.