Friday, August 6, 2010

Ten most memorable literary farewells

Terry Breverton is a former businessman, consultant and academic and now a full-time writer. He is the author of numerous books has been awarded the Welsh Books Council "Book of the Month" award five times. His new book is Immortal Last Words, "a fascinating, diverse collection of history's most uplifting, entertaining and thought-provoking dying remarks and final farewells."

From the Guardian's excerpt of Immortal Last Words, ten of the more memorable literary farewells:
LEO TOLSTOY 1828 – 1910
‘We all reveal ... our manifestations ... This manifestation is over ... That's all’

Tolstoy left his estate, aged 82, to begin a new life as a peasant. Reaching the small town of Astapovo he contracted pneumonia, and died a few days later in the stationmaster’s house. According to the stationmaster, his last words were: ‘But the peasants … how do the peasants die?’ His friend Vladimir Chertkov preferred to remember something from the night before. 'He was lying on his back, breathing heavily … all of a sudden - as if arguing with himself - broke out in a loud voice: "We all reveal ... our manifestations ... This manifestation is over ... That's all".'
Read about the other nine literary goodbyes.

Also see: Best last lines from novels.

--Marshal Zeringue