Last words of famous people
Pronounced just the seconds before death, the words are important. Especially if these words belonged to outstanding people who put their mark in history. When you have spent most of your life putting words down, it is only appropriate that you have something witty, humorous or poignant to offer on your deathbed. A writer’s life revolves around always knowing what to say and how to say it. But in the face of death, you’d think fear, pain and pressure would trump eloquence when speaking their last words. However, in the true form of their craft, (most of) these writers combine both honesty and eloquence to produce some of the greatest (and weirdest!) last words spoken.
Mark Twain (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), American author and humorist
Twain speaking to his daughter Clara. A note found by Twain’s deathbed read, “Death, the only immortal, who treats us alike, whose peace and refuge are for all. The soiled and the pure, the rich and the poor, the loved and the unloved.”
Last words of famous people
Anton Chekhov (29 January 1860 – 15 July 1904), Russian physician, dramaturge and author. Dying from Tuberculosis, his doctor had given him champagne to ease the pain. After finishing the glass, he laid down on his bed and diedCharles Dickens (7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) – an English writer and social critic. Suffered a stroke outside his home and was asking to be laid on the groundEdgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) – American author, poetErnest Hemingway (July 21, 1899 – July 2, 1961) – American author and journalist, committed suicideGeorge Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950), an Irish playwrightH.G. Wells (21 September 1866 – 13 August 1946), English writerHans Christian Andersen (April 2, 1805 – August 4, 1875), Danish author and poetHunter S. Thompson (July 18, 1937 – February 20, 2005) American journalist and authorJames Joyce (2 February 1882 – 13 January 1941) – Irish novelist and poetJane Austen (16 December 1775 – 18 July 1817) – English novelistJohann Wolfgang von Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832), German writer and statesmanL. Frank Baum (May 15, 1856 – May 6, 1919), American author of children’s booksLeo Tolstoy (9 September 1828 – 20 November 1910), Russian writer and philosopherOscar Wilde (16 October 1854 – 30 November 1900) Irish writer and poetVoltaire (21 November 1694 – 30 May 1778), French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopherWilliam Sidney Porter (September 11, 1862 – June 5, 1910), O. Henry, American writer known as O. Henry. Quoted as saying “Turn up the lights, I don’t want to go home in the dark” before passing away on June 5th, 1910 after a long battle with liver problems
