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'In 2010, Clive James was diagnosed with terminal leukemia. Deciding that “if you don't know the exact moment when the lights will go out, you might as well read until they do,” James moved his library to his house in Cambridge, where he would “live, read, and perhaps even write.” James is the award-winning author of dozens of works of literary criticism, poetry, and history, and this volume contains his reflections on what may well be his last reading list. A look at some of James's old favorites as well as some of his recent discoveries, this book also offers a revealing look at the author himself, sharing his evocative musings on literature and family, and on living and dying.
'As thoughtful and erudite as the works of Alberto Manguel, and as moving and inspiring as Randy Pausch's The Last Lecture and Will Schwalbe's The End of Your Life Book Club, this valediction to James's lifelong engagement with the written word is a captivating valentine from one of the great literary minds of our time.' (Publication summary)
Notes
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Contents :
Revisiting Conrad 15
Patrick OBrian and His Salty Hero 31
Phantom Flying Saucer 51
Treasuring Osbert Lancaster 69
Kipling and the Widowmaker 87
Naipauls Nastiness 99
Extra Shelves 119
Stephen Edgar Australian Ace 137
On Wit 155
Conrads Greatest Victory 169
Copyright
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Dedication: To my doctors and nurses at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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Writing Toward the Twilight, Prolifically
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: The New York Times Book Review , 14 January 2016; (p. C1)
— Review of Sentenced to Life 2015 selected work poetry ; Latest Readings 2015 selected work essay -
The Lightning Before Death : A Tribute to Clive James
2015
single work
essay
— Appears in: Los Angeles Review of Books , November 2015; -
More of Everything and Then Nothing
2015
single work
column
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 24-25 October 2015; (p. 23) -
A Quest for Clarity
2015
single work
review
— Appears in: The New York Review of Books , 24 September vol. 62 no. 14 2015;
— Review of Poetry Notebook 2006-2014 2014 selected work essay ; Latest Readings 2015 selected work essay -
The Clock Ticks in the Critic’s Kitchen
2015
single work
review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 5-6 September 2015; (p. 18)
— Review of Latest Readings 2015 selected work essay
-
The Final Chapters
2015
single work
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 5 September 2015; (p. 27) The Age , 5 September 2015; (p. 30)
— Review of Latest Readings 2015 selected work essay -
The Clock Ticks in the Critic’s Kitchen
2015
single work
review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 5-6 September 2015; (p. 18)
— Review of Latest Readings 2015 selected work essay -
A Quest for Clarity
2015
single work
review
— Appears in: The New York Review of Books , 24 September vol. 62 no. 14 2015;
— Review of Poetry Notebook 2006-2014 2014 selected work essay ; Latest Readings 2015 selected work essay -
Writing Toward the Twilight, Prolifically
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: The New York Times Book Review , 14 January 2016; (p. C1)
— Review of Sentenced to Life 2015 selected work poetry ; Latest Readings 2015 selected work essay -
More of Everything and Then Nothing
2015
single work
column
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 24-25 October 2015; (p. 23) -
The Lightning Before Death : A Tribute to Clive James
2015
single work
essay
— Appears in: Los Angeles Review of Books , November 2015;