Ann Wroe reflects on two decades of writing unique obituaries for The Economist

Ann Wroe has written obituaries for a wide range of subjects over the past 20 years for The Economist. She focuses on capturing the essence of individuals rather than just detailing their life events. Wroe prefers writing about lesser-known figures, often inspired by reader suggestions. Wroe's approach includes exploring personal passions, as seen in her obituary for playwright Arthur Miller, where she highlighted his love for carpentry. She finds unique stories, like that of Mau Piailug, a sailor who navigated the Pacific without a compass, through reader tips. While Wroe has tackled high-profile figures, she expresses reluctance for such assignments. She recalls challenges with writing about controversial figures like Osama Bin Laden and Jimmy Savile. In contrast, she enjoyed writing about Benson, a famous carp, whose obituary allowed her to creatively describe the fish's life and interactions with anglers.