When a loved one dies, words fail us. Roland Barthes, one of the most stimulating thinkers from 20th century France, sought solace in language after the death of his mother. On about 250 index cards, the philosopher of signs recorded brief notes that revolve around the deceased, grief, and his loneliness. The recordings ceased in June 1978 and have now been edited from his estate. The result is an unusual and moving autobiographical testimony that compellingly explores the boundary between grief and language.