Death and the Author: How D. H. Lawrence Died, and Was Remembered: How D.H. Lawrence Died, and Was Remembered

At the heart of Death and the Author is a dramatic account of D. H. Lawrence's desperate struggle against tuberculosis during his last days, and of certain, often bizarre events which followed his death. Around this narrative David Ellis offers a series of reflections about what it is like to have a disease for which there is no cure, the appeal of alternative medicine, the temptation of suicide for the terminally ill, the diminishing role of religion in modern life, the institution of famous last words, the consequences of dying intestate, and so on. These are clearly not the most immediately appealing of topics but they have an obvious significance for everyone and the treatment of them here is by no means lugubrious (even if, in the nature of the case, most of the jokes fall into the category of gallows humor). Lawrence is the main focus throughout but there are extended references to a number of other famous literary consumptives such as Keats, Katherine Mansfield, Kafka, Chekhov or George Orwell. Not a long book, Death and the author is divided into three parts called "Dying," "Death" and "Remembrance" and is made up of twenty-two short sections. Although it incorporates a good deal of original material, the annotation has been kept deliberately light. The aim has been to combine the drama of events--a good story--with a consideration of matters which must eventually concern us all, and to present the material in a lively and accessible form. At the heart of Death and the Author is a dramatic account of D. H. Lawrence's desperate struggle against tuberculosis during his last days, and of certain, often bizarre events which followed his death. Around this narrative David Ellis offers a series of reflections about what it is like to have a disease for which there is no cure, the appeal of alternative medicine, the temptation of suicide for the terminally ill, the diminishing role of religion in modern life, the institution of famous last words, the consequences of dying intestate, and so on. These are clearly not the most immediately appealing of topics but they have an obvious significance for everyone and the treatment of them here is by no means lugubrious (even if, in the nature of the case, most of the jokes fall into the category of gallows humour). Lawrence is the main focus throughout but there are extended references to a number of other famous literary consumptives such as Keats, Katherine Mansfield, Kafka, Chekhov, and George Orwell. Not a long book, Death and the author is divided into three parts called `Dying', `Death' and `Remembrance' and is made up of twenty-two short sections. Although it incorporates a good deal of original material, the annotation has been kept deliberately light. The aim has been to combine the drama of events - a good story - with a consideration of matters which must eventually concern us all, and to present the material in a lively and accessible form. Contents......Page 8 Introduction......Page 10 Part I. Dying......Page 18 1. Bandol......Page 20 2. Tuberculosis......Page 27 3. Denial......Page 38 4. The Sanatorium......Page 48 5. Alternative Medicine......Page 59 6. Being Ill......Page 70 7. Death and the After-Life......Page 80 8. Ending it All......Page 91 Part II. Death......Page 102 9. Andrew Morland......Page 104 10. Ad Astra......Page 114 11. Visitors......Page 126 12. The Hour of Our Death......Page 137 13. Famous Last Words......Page 149 14. Funeral......Page 159 15. Pilgrims......Page 170 Part III. Remembrance......Page 182 16. Will-Power......Page 184 17. Lying for Truth......Page 195 18. Image Rights......Page 206 19. Settling Scores......Page 217 20. Celebrations......Page 227 21. Mortal Remains......Page 238 22. Apotheosis......Page 250 Postscript: On the Fear of Death......Page 262 Acknowledgements and Sources......Page 271 B......Page 282 D......Page 283 H......Page 284 L......Page 285 M......Page 287 P......Page 288 S......Page 289 Y......Page 290 "We are always reluctant to think about our own death but one way of being able to do so is through the experience of eloquent others. David Ellis's fascinating account of the last days of D.H. Lawrence, and of the sometimes bizarre events which followed his death, makes for compelling reading." "The book includes thoughtful and often grimly humorous reflections on what it is like to have a disease for which there is no cure, the appeal of alternative medicine, the temptation of suicide for the terminally ill, the diminishing role of religion in modern life, the institution of famous last words, and the consequences of dying interstate." "Lawrence is the main focus throughout but there are extended references to Keats, Katherine Mansfield, Kafka, Chekhov and George Orwell and other famous literary consumptives."--Résumé de l'éditeur "We are always reluctant to think about our own death but one way of being able to do so is through the experience of eloquent others. David Ellis's fascinating account of the last days of D.H. Lawrence, and of the sometimes bizarre events which followed his death, makes for compelling reading." "The book includes thoughtful and often grimly humorous reflections on what it is like to have a disease for which there is no cure, the appeal of alternative medicine, the temptation of suicide for the terminally ill, the diminishing role of religion in modern life, the institution of famous last words, and the consequences of dying interstate." "Lawrence is the main focus throughout but there are extended references to Keats, Katherine Mansfield, Kafka, Chekhov and George Orwell and other famous literary consumptives."--Jacket Organised around a dramatic account of D.H. Lawrence's desperate struggle against tuberculosis, and of the bizarre events which followed his death, this book offers a series of often grimly humorous reflections on death and dying. Lawrence is the main focus throughout but there are references to a number of other famous literary consumptives. - ;At the heart of Death and the Author is a dramatic account of D.H. Lawrence's desperate struggle against tuberculosis during his last days, and of certain, often bizarre events which followed his death. Around this narrative David Ellis offers a seri Organized around a dramatic account of D.H. Lawrence's desperate struggle against tuberculosis, and of the bizarre events which followed his death, this text offers a series of often grimly humorous reflections on death and dying