“ [A] brilliant, tender book… An extraordinary work of love and art, which left me choked with tears. ”
Maggie Gee, Observer
“ A moving memoir as well as a historical study of epilepsy… With verve and sensitivity, Grant tells the stories of individual sufferers. ”
James McConnachie, Sunday Times, Book of the Year
“ Grant’s exploration of the literary, political, medical and scientific history of epilepsy is hugely compelling; his telling of the story of two brothers transcends the book’s twin genres and leaves us with a wry, gentle masterpiece. ”
Seamus Sweeney, Times Literary Supplement
“ A fascinating personal and historical account. ***** ”
Helen Brown, Sunday Telegraph
“ A flawless amalgam of personal memoir, mind science and medical history. ”
Ian Thomson, Spectator
“ In writing A Smell of Burning… Grant may yet save more lives as a writer than he did as a doctor. ”
Helen Brown, Daily Telegraph
“ As a memoir of Christopher’s trajectory of illness it is tenderly expressed, and the book is a poignant evocation of grief and regret. ”
Gavin Francis, Guardian
“ He brings a core of expert knowledge and skill as a communicator to the story… [An] absorbing and sometimes horrifying tale. ”
John Gribbon, Literary Review
“ At its best is like the works of other medics-turned-authors Atul Gawande and Henry Marsh. ”
Tom Whipple, The Times
“ [Grant] helps us gain an eminently accessible insight into a world that…is still shrouded in mystery. It is a touching tale of brotherly love. ”
Helen Davies, Sunday Times
“ [A] moving memoir. ”
Sarah Stacey, Daily Mail
“ An enthralling and eclectic account. ”
Caroline Sanderson, Bookseller
“ A readable and informative book that should help to lay to rest some of the many misconceptions about the condition. ”
Kate Whiting, Scotsman
“ A brilliant evocation of a young man’s difficult relationship with a stigmatized disease. ”
Suzanne O'Sullivan, Lancet
“ A scholarly yet highly readable account of the history of – as well as current thinking on – epilepsy. ”
Tony Gould, Oldie
“ Thanks to A Smell of Burning we are encouraged to put into question our own perceptions of what constitutes balance and harmony, in our brains, our minds, and the world around us. ”
Dr Maria Vaccarella, British Medical Journal
“ An informative book that will hopefully encourage readers to show more empathy. ”
Natalie Bowen, Northern Echo
“ Fascinating, moving and deeply personal. ”
Bookseller
“ Written by a former medic whose younger brother was an epileptic, this is a superb personal and historical account of the effect the condition has on the lives of sufferers and those around them ”
Daily Telegraph
“ This is a sharply poignant and sad memoir. It’s also a brilliant historical and medical analysis. ”
William Leith, Evening Standard
Paperback
9780099597872
August 15, 2017
Vintage
256 pages
Hardback
9780224101820
September 15, 2016
Jonathan Cape
256 pages
EBook
9781473511552
August 25, 2016
Vintage Digital
256 pages
