'Final Chapters' (1995) by Jim Bernhard

'Final Chapters: How Famous Authors Died' by Jim Bernhard explores the intriguing circumstances surrounding the deaths of over one hundred renowned writers, spanning from classical antiquity to the modern era. The book delves into the diverse and sometimes bizarre ways these authors met their end, providing insights into their attitudes toward mortality.

For instance, the playwright Aeschylus reportedly died when a turtle was dropped on his head by an eagle, mistaking his bald head for a rock. Christopher Marlowe, the Elizabethan dramatist, was fatally stabbed in a barroom brawl. Molière collapsed on stage while portraying a hypochondriac in one of his own plays. Edgar Allan Poe was found delirious and wearing someone else's clothes shortly before his mysterious death. Sherwood Anderson succumbed to peritonitis after swallowing a toothpick hidden in a martini olive. The book also questions whether Dylan Thomas truly died after consuming eighteen straight whiskeys and explores the peculiar circumstances of Tennessee Williams' demise involving a bottle cap. ​

Beyond detailing these unusual deaths, Bernhard examines the writers' own reflections on death. Francis Bacon noted, "It is as natural to die as to be born," while Socrates, upon being condemned, remarked, "And now we go our ways, I to die and you to live. Which is better is known to God alone." The book offers a blend of historical anecdotes and personal philosophies, providing a comprehensive look at how these literary figures faced their final moments. ​

'Final Chapters' serves as both an informative and entertaining read, appealing to those interested in literature, history, and the human experience of confronting mortality. The collection of stories underscores the notion that while death is a universal certainty, the ways in which individuals meet their end can be as unique and compelling as their lives and works.