After a Funeral

After a Funeral is a memoir by Diana Athill that chronicles her relationship with an Egyptian writer she calls Didi, whom she met in London in the 1960s. The narrative follows their complex friendship over several years, during which Athill provided support and shelter to the troubled author. Athill writes with precision about her role as both friend and observer, examining her own motives and behaviors alongside those of Didi. The memoir focuses on the dynamics between them as Didi's personal struggles intensify, creating an increasingly difficult situation for all involved. This account grapples with themes of responsibility, self-deception, and the limits of what one person can do for another. Through her clear-eyed examination of this pivotal relationship, Athill explores broader questions about trust, cultural differences, and the nature of truth in how we present ourselves to others.

Readers appreciate Athill's raw honesty in examining grief, guilt, and her complex relationship with a troubled friend. Many note her precise, unflinching prose and ability to analyze her own motivations and failings. Positive reviews highlight: - Clear-eyed self-reflection without self-pity - Insights into supporting someone with mental illness - Quality of writing and emotional depth Common criticisms: - Some find the tone cold or detached - Narrative can feel scattered - Story takes time to build momentum Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (400+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (50+ ratings) From readers: "She manages to be both ruthlessly honest and compassionate" - Goodreads reviewer "Beautiful but painful examination of friendship and responsibility" - Amazon reviewer "Sometimes too clinical in its analysis" - LibraryThing reviewer The memoir resonates particularly with readers who have experienced similar relationships with troubled individuals.

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🔸 Diana Athill wrote "After a Funeral" in 1986 about her relationship with an Egyptian writer named Didi, who committed suicide in her London home - but she kept the manuscript hidden in a drawer for nearly 20 years before publishing it. 🔸 Before becoming an author herself, Athill co-founded the publishing house André Deutsch Limited and worked as an editor for nearly five decades, helping shape the works of writers like V.S. Naipaul, Jean Rhys, and Philip Roth. 🔸 The real identity of "Didi" was Waguih Ghali, author of the acclaimed novel "Beer in the Snooker Club," who struggled with depression and took his life using Athill's sleeping pills in 1969. 🔸 The memoir explores themes of self-deception and manipulation through Athill's painfully honest examination of how she allowed herself to be exploited financially and emotionally by Ghali. 🔸 Diana Athill lived to be 101 years old (1917-2019) and continued writing well into her 90s, publishing her final book "Alive, Alive Oh!" at age 98.