Famous Last Words, Fond Farewells, Deathbed Diatribes, and Exclamations Upon Expiration (Hardcover)

~ Ray Robinson (Author) "After suffering a heart attack in 1939 at the age of 57, "The King of Silent Hollywood" (Robin Hood, The Thief of Baghdad, The Mark..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York, World War, George Washington (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A collection of the notable last recorded words of the dying, FAMOUS LAST WORDS is, unexpectedly, bursting with life, hope, wisdom, and often laughter. Here are writers, philosophers, athletes, gangsters, kings, queens, movie stars, and politicians, in all sorts of moods and states of preparedness. Some merely want to say goodbye to loved ones, others want to create a legacy. And some are caught completely off guard, like Civil War general John Sedgwick, answering his troops' urgings to take cover: "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist-."

There's the droll: "It's the wallpaper or me. One of us has to go" (Oscar Wilde); the blasé: "How are the Mets doing today?" (Moe Berg); the cranky: "It wasn't worth it" (Louis B. Mayer); the wistful: "That was the best ice cream soda I ever tasted" (Lou Costello); the optimistic: "I shall hear in heaven!" (Beethoven); and the overly optimistic: "I've never felt better" (Douglas Fairbanks).

Ultimately, every one of these parting statements is a reflection of the person behind it. Each is accompanied by a mini-biography of the speaker, including the context of death, from the golf course ("That was a great game of golf, fellers" Bing Crosby) to a favorite armchair ("Go on, get out. Last words are for fools who haven't said enough"-Karl Marx).

About the Author

Ray Robinson is a former magazine editor, journalist, and author of many books, including Iron Horse: Lou Gehrig and His Times; and Yankee Stadium: 75 Years of Drama, Glamour, and Glory. He lives in New York City with his wife, Phyllis, and his Norwich Terrier, Penelope.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Workman Publishing Company (September 5, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761126090
• ISBN-13: 978-0761126096
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 3.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #391,051 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hmmmmmm - Makes you think and live differently....., December 22, 2004

By	Julie Jordan Scott "Writer, Life Coach - Owne... (Bakersfield, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

When I first held this tiny book in my hand I thought, "Yeah, so?" and then I started to read. Author Ray Robinson has collected these "last words" and contents he can't be absolutely sure these were exactly the last words AND the words - all of them - have a lesson within them.

It is fair to say these last words could even prove to be life changing for readers. It made me think "What do I want to say in my final moments?"

Some of my favorites include Seattle Slew's last words, Yes, apparently the race horse spoke to his trainer, Mickey Taylor... saying "You get on with your life. I've got to go." I believe it. My dogs and cat speak to me... so who am I to wonder about Seattle Slew's words?

George Bernard Shaw spoke some very dramatic words as he met his demise, not surprising being the dramatist that he was in life. I was touched by the calming words spoken to loved ones, the profound like that from Thomas Alva Edison and the requests made such as the one by Edgar Degas.

I don't want to give their words away - you will find many more treasures if you hold this gem in your hand and thumb through it yourself.

The mini - biographies under the final words are enlightening and enjoyable as well.

This simple book.... Are the words all true? Perhaps. Are they intriguing? Yes. Are they life changing? Hopefully. Enjoy!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very interesting book!, January 9, 2007

By	Atomicwasteland (North Bethesda, MD USA) - See all my reviews

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This is a great book; It is manufactured well, and is a fascinating read. I think it makes a great gift for those with an interest in History, because it is probably something that they don't have!

I leave the book on my bookshelf in my office (with the cover facing up) and people are always coming over and paging through it. It makes a great conversation piece.

It is bound nicely, with a faux leather end piece, and a solid and "weathered looking" cover piece. It would not look out of place in any nice library.

I opened it in a bookstore as a joke, but was quickly drawn in to the characters and quotes within.

Some examples of those listed:

Douglas Fairbanks
Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson
Thomas Edison
Sir Walter Raleigh
John Wilkes Booth
P.T. Barnum
Sigmund Freud
Karl Marx
Pablo Picasso
James Madison
Malcolm X

It does not just consist of quotes. Typically there is a quote and then a paragraph to a page description putting the quote in context. This makes it a lot more interesting.

One note: not all the quotes are "deathbed" quotes. Some examples, like that of Lou Gehrig, and Douglas McArthur are the last public speech they ever gave, often alluding to their impending exit on the world stage.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A pleasant read, January 7, 2005

By	lifemom (KY United States) - See all my reviews

A perfect little book to read cover to cover and then keep handy to pick up again. I thought it would be one to sit and read a page at a time slowly, for entertainment. It is so intriguing though that I found myself wanting to read the next and the next page until I was to the end. It's not a long philosophical book, rather a fun little book of quotes that induces thought/interest/smiles/curiosity. It was so interesting to contemplate the words famous and not so famous people used in their last moments, the irony, the uniqueness, the unlikely. A wonderful addition to any library and a sure to please gift.