In 'Dead' is a 4-Letter Word, Robin Dalton, ninety-two – ex-intelligence agent, writer, television presenter, literary agent and film producer – takes a hilarious look at death and the way we die these days. With a smile firmly set on her face, her wish is for a 'jolly death', without all the pussy-footing, political correctness and false sentimentality around the subject. She looks at death head-on – plain, simple, good old death. Not 'passing away', or any of the other squeamish innuendos we have come up with to avoid the issue. 'Dead' need not be a four-letter word.

In this wonderful compilation of short, sparkling autobiographical vignettes, Robin gets her eyes tested, passes a test for Alzheimer's with flying colours, battles with technology, calls for plain-speaking when it comes to mortality, and rounds up the jolliest deaths and happiest funerals in her experience. 'Dead' is a 4-Letter Word will reassure anyone who worries about their journey to 'the undiscovered country'. To Robin, the grim reaper is a cowled buffoon who should be laughed at and never feared . . .