Rob Delaney

A Heart That Works reveals another use for the directness familiar from Delaney’s comedy and his co-writing of Catastrophe. This memoir concerns the life and death of his young son, Henry, and gives love, grief, anger and moments of humour room beside each other. It is emotionally demanding reading rather than a light celebrity collection. The writing matters here for its attention to particular experience and its refusal to let a comic reputation dictate a cheerful tone. Choose it when you want the person’s prose, not simply more punchlines.