Last Words: A Dictionary of Deathbed Quotations

The last words of the dying often provide insight into their feelings about life. Some are peaceful (“It is very beautiful over there”—Thomas Alva Edison) ; many are spiritual (“Don’t ask the Lord to keep me here. Ask him to have mercy”—Walker Percy) ; others are angry (“God-damn the whole frigging world and everybody in it—except you Carlotta”—W.C. Fields) ; still others reflect the weary fight against death (“I’m bored of it all”—Sir Winston Churchill) . Nearly 2,000 deathbed quotations from saints, popes, statesmen, scientists, soldiers, musicians, athletes, artists, entertainers, writers, criminals and others are included in this reference work. Each entry includes a brief biographical sketch of the person and sets the quotation in context. The sources for the quotes include biographies, newspaper and magazine accounts, and, in a few instances, firsthand accounts.