From childhood, dying neither repulsed nor frightened Hayley Campbell however as a substitute spurred her curiosity. So it was solely pure that Campbell, a contract journalist based mostly in London, would interview individuals who make a residing from dying: not only a funeral director and an embalmer but additionally a crematorium operator, against the law scene cleaner, an executioner and extra.
In All of the Dwelling and the Lifeless: From Embalmers to Executioners, an Exploration of the Folks Who Have Made Demise Their Life’s Work (9 hours), creator and narrator Campbell is a probing investigator who elicits sincere solutions from her topics. She can also be an lively observer of their work, even dressing a lifeless man for his funeral. With every interview, it’s clear she is affected by the presence of dying, notably after witnessing the preparation of a child’s physique for a forensic post-mortem.
Campbell’s voice turns into extra introspective as she considers how the actions of dying staff allow the residing to fulfill dying on their very own phrases. Although ironic at instances, she is rarely ghoulish. As an alternative, her tone is all the time even, quietly emphasizing that dying is probably the most pure factor on the planet.
