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Dawn French Uses New Novel to Probe Suicide, Grief and Ageing

Her father’s suicide and her age gave her permission to explore an end-of-life choice in a book she intends to make life-affirming through humour.

Overview

  • French discussed her novel Enough during recent TV interviews while promoting the book to wider audiences.
  • The story follows Etta, a 68-year-old who tells her family at the beach that she plans to be gone by sunset, and the novel focuses on the family's attempts to respond.
  • French said her father’s suicide when she was 19 gave her personal permission to tackle the subject and that she refuses to let shame silence discussion of suicide.
  • She wrote the book without a fixed ending and used characters’ arguments to test whether the writer or readers might be persuaded away from Etta’s decision.
  • Reporting noted historical stigma around suicide and included Samaritans contact details as French said she hopes the novel opens conversation and waits to see how readers respond.