Dead and Alive

Capricious, mischievous, curious . . . she is a vivid and rigorous thinker, her best pieces here radiant with curiosity, and a serious but not self-serious grappling with the terror and anxiety of modern life

Megan Nolan, Observer

Dead and Alive showcases a writer whose curiosity remained undimmed. She effortlessly transitions from art critique to musings on politics, grief and pop culture

The Mirror, 'Five of the Best New Books'

Smith gives a masterclass in the modern essay. In Dead and Alive, Zadie Smith once again confirms that she is among the most expert essayists of her generation . . . Even when she writs about death, disillusionment, or the absurdity of fame, "protect your consciousness," she advises, and this book feels like an act of protection in itself – an argument for stillness, attention, and moral imagination in a distracted world. Smith has written a generous, fiercely intelligence collection that reminds us why essays matter. They keep us awake, alive, and, in Smith’s words, "just human enough to hope"

Oliver Poole, Evening Standard

Acute and entertaining . . . Fascinated to Presume: In Defence of Fiction is a nuanced take on the thorny issue of representation in fiction . . . These essays sketch out the ideas and critiques that inform Smith’s novels. They are a delicious peek behind the scenes of a great writer at work – or at play

Laura Hackett, The Times

The Queen of Brit Lit returns with a collection of essays . . . always thought-provoking and brilliant, this is your go-to book for gifting

Stylist