A collection of the notable last recorded words of the dying- Famous Last Words is- unexpectedly- bursting with life- hope- wisdom- and often laughter. Here are writers- philosophers- athletes- gangsters- kings- queens- movie stars- and politicians- in all sorts of moods and states of preparedness. Some merely want to say goodbye to loved ones- others want to create a legacy. And some are caught completely off guard- like Civil War general John Sedgwick- answering his troops* urgings to take cover: They couldn*t hit an elephant at this dist. There*s the droll: It*s the wallpaper or me. One of us has to go (Oscar Wilde); the blasé: How are the Mets doing today? (Moe Berg); the cranky: It wasn*t worth it (Louis B. Mayer); the wistful: That was the best ice cream soda I ever tasted (Lou Costello); the optimistic: I shall hear in heaven! (Beethoven); and the overly optimistic: I*ve never felt better (Douglas Fairbanks). Ultimately- every one of these parting statements is a reflection of the person behind it. Each is accompanied by a mini-biography of the speaker- including the context of death- from the golf course (That was a great game of golf- fellers Bing Crosby) to a favorite armchair (Go on- get out. Last words are for fools who haven*t said enough-Karl Marx).***** Hard Cover*** 177 Pages