PMJ to publish second title from pathologist Richard Shepherd

Penguin Michael Joseph has acquired The Seven Ages of Death: A Forensic Pathologist’s Journey Through Life, the new book from Dr Richard Shepherd, a forensic pathologist with over 30 years' experience.  

The synopsis for The Seven Ages of Death reads: "How can death teach us about life? Conducting tens of thousands of post-mortems has given Dr Richard Shepherd the opportunity to examine death at every stage of life. Each autopsy is its own unique investigation, providing evidence of how, through life, the risks to us ebb and flow. From old to young, from murder to misadventure, and from illness to accidental death, each body has taught him something: about human development, about mortality, about its owner's life story, about justice and even about himself."

Rowland White, publishing director, acquired world rights including audio (excluding Philippines and Canada) from Mark Lucas at the Soho Agency. Publication is slated for 2nd September 2021 and will be supported by a "major" marketing and publicity campaign. 

White said: "It was a huge pleasure for the whole MJ team to see Dick Shepherd’s outstanding memoir, Unnatural Causes, enjoy the success it so richly deserved. Whisper it, but Dick’s new book might be even better than its illustrious predecessor. The Seven Ages of Death is an extraordinary and endlessly fascinating journey through life and its last great adventure in the hands of a compassionate, reassuring, expert and engaging guide."

Shepherd commented: "The human body is so fascinating it had been a privilege to be able to understand its complexities both in life and in death. Shakespeare considered the Seven Ages of Life, my work and experience makes me look at humans though the lens of death but while always affirming life."

Shepherd's memoir Unnatural Causes was published by Michael Joseph in 2018 and has sold 191,642 copies across all editions via Nielsen BookScan's Total Consumer Market in the UK.