In 2015, the Argentinian novelist Eduardo Berti spent several weeks in a "medico-literary" residency at the University Hospital Centre in Rouen, France, observing and conversing with the staff and volunteers of its palliative care department. From that experience he created this series of lightly fictionalized testimonials from nurses, nursing aides, doctors, administrators, porters, volunteer musicians, and the other people who make the unit tick. The result is a distinctly intimate and often poignant portrait of sickness and care, and unflinching look at death through the eyes of the people who work with it every day--but also a profound reflection on what it means to be alive.

Cover -- Copyright -- Dedication -- Pauline Jourdan: Nursing Aide -- Marie Mahoux: Nurse -- Camille Zirnheld: Nursing Aide -- Hélène Dampierre: Nurse -- Catherine Koutsos: Resident -- Awa Modou: Nurse -- Joséphine Boulleau: Mobile Unit Nurse -- Pascale Rambert: Doctor -- Nadia Chounier: Nurse -- Danièle Pourcely: Nursing Aide -- Margaux Tellier: Volunteer Reader -- Jacqueline Marro: Nurse -- Carine Le Brun: Nursing Aide -- Valérie Le Panno: Nursing Aide -- Delphine Ziegler: Nursing Aide -- Clémence le May: Nurse -- Morgane Bruckner: Nurse -- Aude Leschevin: Medical Secretary -- Patricia Long: Nursing Aide -- Sylvie Compère: Doctor -- Jeannette Romano: Intern Nursing Aide -- Noémie Saint-André: Nursing Aide -- Simone Terwilliger: Psychologist -- Anne-Laure Belmont: Doctor -- Marie-France Bergeret: Mobile Unit Doctor -- Suzanne Daviel: Beautician -- Marie-Pierre Tschann: Internist -- Valentine Langer: Nursing Aide -- Charlotte Bouillon: Nurse -- Hervé Monterolier: Nurse -- Sylvie Carlier: Nursing Aide -- Chantal Rouyer: Doctor -- Patrick Tomas: Porter -- Dominique Louiron: Internist -- Aude Buisson: Nursing Intern -- Mireille Gosselin: Unit Manager -- Vanessa Frontin: Volunteer Musician -- Adèle Blanqui: Internist -- Nelly Jundzill: Doctor -- Cécile Milliot: Nurse -- Solène Halys: Nursing Aide -- Daphné Nazarian: Internist -- Arlette Grenon: Doctor -- Micheline Roméo: Nurse -- Linda Mouilleron: Non-resident Student -- Amandine D'avray: Nurse -- Yvonne-Félice Guiraud: Mobile Unit Nurse -- Barbara Sylvère: Social Worker -- Lou Villarson: Doctor -- Isabelle Nahon: Nursing Aide -- Christophe Orsini: Porter -- Sylvie Guidée: Custodial Staff -- Fabienne Vinour: Doctor -- Aline Lacrabère: Volunteer Social Worker -- Elsa Almaki: Nurse -- The Unit.