The Last Word is a fascinating compilation of more than one hundred of the most colorful, entertaining, and touching obits and farewells that have appeared in The Times in the last few years. It deliberately omits celebrities to concentrate on an eclectic mix of lesser-known but remarkable men and women whose compelling lives have enriched the tale of life in the twentieth century. You may not have heard of Julian Hill, for example, but he revolutionized our lives as the inventor of nylon, and you'll learn more about him in The Last Word. You'll also meet others like him: a quiet man who braved the hostility of racists to integrate the University of Georgia; a woman who turned her recipe for chopped liver into a million-dollar business; the hustler who gave the Beat Generation its very name; a reclusive woman who turned a $5,000 nest egg into a $22 million fortune that she left to a school she never attended; a splendid actor who died for a living. Although many worthy deeds were performed by the people you will encounter in this book, not everyone had a strong character. Most were decent, but not all. Some were the life of the party, some never got out of the house. Some lived long enough to have led several lives. A few died before they really had much chance to live. The collection also includes commentary by some of The Time's finest reporters, columnists, and critics and by such well-known contributors as Jules Feiffer, William E. Geist, James Gleick, Charlayne Hunter-Gault, Anna Quindlen, William Styron, and Wendy Wasserstein.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
It is nearly impossible to name a favorite farewell among the 100 honored in this compilation of obituaries (few if any famous names are included). In his foreword, Russell Baker takes a light, reverential approach to the obits that follow. Among those honored is Jerry Siegel, who created Superman, eventually a billion-dollar industry, and who sold the rights to the man from Krypton for $130. Then there's Elizabeth Paepcke, the artistic-minded developer of Aspen, who, among her many aspirations, sought to weed the mountains of thistles, and Immaculata Cuomo, mother of the former New York governor. Taken collectively, these obituaries are like a hallelujah chorus, praising the accomplishments of the living. Editor Siegel, assistant to the managing editor of the New York Times, and all the obit writers whose work appears here deserve a similar chorus of thanks.?Robert Kelly, Fort Wayne Community Schs., Ind.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From The New Yorker
This weighty and enlightening volume ... is nectar to those of us who consider the obituary to be not merely an art form but one of the few art forms that have remained coherent enough to demand any measure of obedience.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A helluva book,
By
This review is from: The Last Word: The New York Times Book of Obituaries and Farewells : A Celebration of Unusual Lives (Hardcover)
I teach Memoir Writing to local seniors and I routinely use this book as an example of outstanding biography. It's one thing to write a 250 word bio but quite another, and much more demanding, to pen a few-hundred-word last goodbye to someone and do it with panache. The NY Times has three books of obituaries, this is the most recent. The quality of the writing is, in many cases, superior to anything in the rest of the newspaper(all the obits here were published in the Times). I especially like the reviews of Robert McG Thomas, who died within the past year at age 60. His obituaries deserved a Pulitzer. His obits are worth the price of the book. Everybody deserves a last word. These obits are not just about famous people but about average joes and janes who have been extraordinary human beings. I'd even recommend this book for spiritual reading because the lives here are inspirational. I teach writing and am always on the lookout for examples of prose that will knock my socks off. This is one helluva book.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A delightful and witty collection.,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Last Word: The New York Times Book of Obituaries and Farewells : A Celebration of Unusual Lives (Hardcover)
A delightful collection of lives which I read cover to cover in one sitting. Offers a fascinating glimpse of la comedie humaine--often witty, sometimes sad, always remarkable.I was turned onto this book when it was selected for the Book-of-the-Month Club--I cannot recommend it enough to anyone interested in the lives of others. A great gift.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Last Word - Enriching,
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This review is from: The Last Word: The New York Times Book of Obituaries and Farewells : A Celebration of Unusual Lives (Hardcover)
I ordered this book, as something I could read at the pool, on a recent trip to Florida. I wasn't expecting much, but it sounded interesting. I have to say it was one of the most enjoyable books of the year for me, and I read alot. It was so life affirming. I just hope the Times puts out a sequel.
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