
It Tolls For Thee
A guide to celebrating and reclaiming the end of life
Tom Morton(Author)
Watkins Publishing
Published on 9. February 2021
Book
Paperback/Softback
272 pages
978-1-78678-478-0 (ISBN)
Description
After a close encounter with death, Tom Morton realised he needed
a change of pace and perspective. He decided to become the only independent
funeral celebrant on the remote Shetland Islands, an unusual new profession that
would lead him on an extraordinary journey into the world of the dead.
In a vivid narrative that reveals the fascinating realm of
the unspoken - from extraordinary undertakers and death cafes, to pilgrimages
and taboos - Tom quickly learns that death and speaking for the dead requires
you to think on your feet and often take a magpie approach to faith and
philosophy. From Humanism to hymns, Theravada Buddhism to Star Wars
theology, he discovers the importance of ritual, humour, and the empowering act
of trying to find words for something beyond language itself.
This is an accessible and thought-provoking
guide to celebrating mortality. When grief must be an inevitable part of life, Tom
shows how we can mourn together in a way that feels appropriate to the life of
the one who has passed on, and ultimately cultivate a healthy attitude to our
own eventual demise.
a change of pace and perspective. He decided to become the only independent
funeral celebrant on the remote Shetland Islands, an unusual new profession that
would lead him on an extraordinary journey into the world of the dead.
In a vivid narrative that reveals the fascinating realm of
the unspoken - from extraordinary undertakers and death cafes, to pilgrimages
and taboos - Tom quickly learns that death and speaking for the dead requires
you to think on your feet and often take a magpie approach to faith and
philosophy. From Humanism to hymns, Theravada Buddhism to Star Wars
theology, he discovers the importance of ritual, humour, and the empowering act
of trying to find words for something beyond language itself.
This is an accessible and thought-provoking
guide to celebrating mortality. When grief must be an inevitable part of life, Tom
shows how we can mourn together in a way that feels appropriate to the life of
the one who has passed on, and ultimately cultivate a healthy attitude to our
own eventual demise.
Reviews / Votes
"This is an extraordinary and important book, both vitally topical and essentially timeless." - Stuart Maconie"At the beginning, I'm happy to be drawn gently in, by about half way through, I'm starting to realise that, not only is this entertaining, but it's important, and by the end I know it's vital." - Tim Hayward
More details
Edition
New edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Watkins Media Limited
Edition type
New edition
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 213 mm
Width: 135 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
277 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78678-478-0 (9781786784780)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
02/2021
Watkins Publishing
€16.49
Available for download
Person
Thomas Morton is a Scottish writer, broadcaster, journalist, musician and funeral celebrant. He lives and works mainly in the Shetland Islands. Tom has written several books. His most recent publication was the book he wrote jointly with his son James, Shetland: Cooking on the Edge of the World. He is currently hosting a weekly internet radio show called The Beatcroft Social. He blogs regularly about food, island life and music.