
Before the Leaves Fall
Clare O'Dea(Author)
Fairlight Books (Publisher)
Published on 23. October 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
192 pages
978-1-914148-82-8 (ISBN)
Description
'Profoundly moving; I loved this book.' -Liz Nugent
Seeking a new purpose in life, Swiss widower Ruedi signs up to work with Depart, an assisted dying organisation. His role is to spend time with those who have sought out Depart's services, acting as a guide and companion in their final weeks.
Margrit, his crotchety first client, wants only to get on with things. Marking time in a care home, with poor health weighing down on her, she has decided it's time to go. Her family are upset by her choice, but she is determined. By the end of the summer, she'll have left the world behind - and on her own terms.
Yet when she and Ruedi realise their paths have crossed once before, an unexpected bond forms. One that will illuminate both their lives.
Seeking a new purpose in life, Swiss widower Ruedi signs up to work with Depart, an assisted dying organisation. His role is to spend time with those who have sought out Depart's services, acting as a guide and companion in their final weeks.
Margrit, his crotchety first client, wants only to get on with things. Marking time in a care home, with poor health weighing down on her, she has decided it's time to go. Her family are upset by her choice, but she is determined. By the end of the summer, she'll have left the world behind - and on her own terms.
Yet when she and Ruedi realise their paths have crossed once before, an unexpected bond forms. One that will illuminate both their lives.
Reviews / Votes
'This is a beautifully written study of Ruedi and Margrit, loosely connected by their past, bonding over a life changing decision causing both parties to reflect on their lives and relationships without sentimentality. The short length of the novel lends itself perfectly to the life expectancy of Margrit. Profoundly moving, I loved this book.' -Liz Nugent, author of Strange Sally Diamond'Before The Leaves Fall once again shows O'Dea as a competent writer, unafraid to examine the relevant and vital issues of ordinary lives in Switzerland. The power of self-determination shines through in this touching read.' -Anne Griffin, author of The Island of Longing
'A beautifully written story of unlikely friendship and the choices we face as we reach the end of our lives. Profound, poignant and refreshingly honest, this is very much a novel for our times.' -Annie Lyons, author of The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett
'A poignant account of the lost boy trapped inside an old man, and his chance reconnection with a woman who touched his life when hers is almost played out. Told with compassion, wisdom and insight, it considers how death can offer a new perspective on life. It stayed with me long after I reached the end.' -Martina Devlin
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 11 mm
Weight
211 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-914148-82-8 (9781914148828)
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
Person
Originally
from Dublin, Clare O'Dea has lived in Switzerland since 2003. After studying
French and Russian at Trinity College Dublin, she had a varied media career in
Ireland, with a freelance stint in Russia. Clare worked for the state
broadcaster (RTE), the Irish Times, Today FM and the Guna Nua Theatre
Company. In Switzerland, she worked for ten years for the international news
service of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation.
Her first
non-fiction book, The Naked Swiss: A Nation Behind 10 Myths, was
published in 2016 by Bergli Books. A second updated edition followed in 2018.
Clare turned to Ireland as a subject for her second book, The Naked Irish:
Portrait of a Nation Beyond the Cliches, published in 2019 by Red Stag
Books. She has published several short stories; her story 'The Favour' was
shortlisted for the 2018 Hennessy New Irish Writing Awards and another story,
'The Obituary', was highly commended in the 2019 Irish Book Awards.
Clare grew
up in a bilingual home speaking English and Irish. She now speaks five
languages. She lives in the bilingual (French/German) town of Fribourg with her
husband and three daughters.
from Dublin, Clare O'Dea has lived in Switzerland since 2003. After studying
French and Russian at Trinity College Dublin, she had a varied media career in
Ireland, with a freelance stint in Russia. Clare worked for the state
broadcaster (RTE), the Irish Times, Today FM and the Guna Nua Theatre
Company. In Switzerland, she worked for ten years for the international news
service of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation.
Her first
non-fiction book, The Naked Swiss: A Nation Behind 10 Myths, was
published in 2016 by Bergli Books. A second updated edition followed in 2018.
Clare turned to Ireland as a subject for her second book, The Naked Irish:
Portrait of a Nation Beyond the Cliches, published in 2019 by Red Stag
Books. She has published several short stories; her story 'The Favour' was
shortlisted for the 2018 Hennessy New Irish Writing Awards and another story,
'The Obituary', was highly commended in the 2019 Irish Book Awards.
Clare grew
up in a bilingual home speaking English and Irish. She now speaks five
languages. She lives in the bilingual (French/German) town of Fribourg with her
husband and three daughters.