An exquisite visual and lyrical portrait of Susie Cave that unites the creative talents of four icons - celebrated writer and musician Nick Cave, renowned photographer Dominique Issermann, superstar designer Irma Boom and Susie Cave herself.
'Through the countless words I have written about Susie, in song and prose, my prime concern has been to contain Susie's fleeting nature. Yet, Susie remains as much a mystery to me now as when I first saw her' Nick Cave
In the beginning there was Susie and Nick.
Later the twins, Arthur and Earl.
And along on this journey was Dominique Issermann, capturing the photographs gathered in this powerful book.
Nick Cave's profound devotion to his wife Susie is present in the imagery crafted through his words and lyrics since they met in 1997. Their long-standing friend, photographer Dominique Issermann, has spent years attempting the same task on film, captured here in episodic bursts. The result: a mirror held up to Susie - the ethereal presence - whose form beguiles and evades the lens. There are many characters within and many Susies to record.
In her own words, the role Susie feels most true to is that of mother, and this book is an extraordinary testament to its power. It offers a poignant visual account of both the devastating loss of a beloved child and the deep comfort found in the one who remains.
With reflections from Nick and Susie throughout, this is a book to cherish: it affirms faith in art, enchantment, beauty and the strength of the human spirit. It is a visual ode to love, to family and to Susie.
About the Author
Nick Cave is an acclaimed and prolific Australian musician, writer and ceramic artist, best known as the frontman of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, one of the world's most influential and compelling bands. Nick's previous publications include And the Ass Saw the Angel (1989), The Death of Bunny Munro (2009) and Faith, Hope and Carnage (2022), an extended conversation with co-writer Seán O'Hagan. In 2018 Nick launched The Red Hand Files, a weekly mailer and website where he offers candid, insightful, and sometimes poetic responses to questions from fans. Described by Nick as 'a strange exercise in communal vulnerability and transparency', the project has evolved from a simple Q&A forum into a profound cultural phenomenon.
Susie Cave (née Bick) is a British fashion designer and former model. Beginning her career at 14 years old, she has gained a cult following and has worked with Vivienne Westwood, Christian Dior, Versace and Yves Saint Laurent. Susie's luxury fashion label, The Vampire's Wife, created the Falconetti dress, described by Vogue as 'the dress of the decade', and in 2026 she launched the demi-couture label Susie Cave, Weddings & Funerals. Susie and Nick married in 1999.
Dominique Issermann is a celebrated French photographer who has worked with some of the most prominent artists, creators and fashion houses of our time, from Leonard Cohen to Marguerite Duras and from Bob Dylan to Catherine Deneuve. In 2013, she shot the iconic album cover for Push the Sky Away by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, and in 2021 she became the first woman to be elected to the photographic section of the Académie des Beaux-Arts.
