“End? No, the journey doesn’t end here. Death is just another path, one that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and then you see it.”
These are reputedly some of the final words of the writer and philologist, author of books The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Tolkien died in hospital from a bleeding ulcer and chest infection at the age of 81.
“I believe we must adjourn this meeting to another place.”
This humorous quip, delivered with a smile to friends at his bedside, were the final words of 67 year old Adam Smith. The economist and philosopher, author of ‘The Wealth of Nations’ passed away at his home Panmure House in Edinburgh after a painful illness.
“Give me my glasses.”
Too weak to talk, the writer and humorist wrote down these words on some paper as he was dying, a request for his glasses so he could better see his daughter Clara. Mark Twain died of a heart attack at his mansion house Stormfield in Redding Connecticut, he was 74 years old.
“Come, come, no weakness! Let’s be a man to the last! Now, I shall go to sleep.”
These are said to be the deathbed words of the Romantic poet and satirist, who is perhaps best remembered for writing the epic poem Don Juan. Lord Byron had been fighting in Greece for the country’s independence, when he succumbed to fever in the town of Missolonghi and died at the age of 36.
“I’ve had eighteen straight whiskies. I think that’s the record!”
Just days before his death, Dylan Thomas a heavy drinker boasted about a drinking binge he’d been on at the White Horse tavern in New York. Following this, the 39 year old poet and writer became severely ill with a chest illness and slipped into a coma. He was taken to hospital but died days later – the official cause of death was pneumonia.
“Is it not meningitis?”
These were reportedly the last words of the novelist and poet, most well known for writing Little Women, who wrongly believed she was ill with meningitis.
Louisa May Alcott was 55 years of age when she suffered a stroke and lost consciousness, she remained in this state until her death three days later.
“I can’t sleep”
These were the dying words of the novelist and playwright, who is best remembered as the creator of Peter Pan. James Matthew Barrie died of pneumonia at a nursing home in London, he was 77 years old.
“Answered Prayers”
These were Truman Capote’s last words before he died, spoken to a close friend, and referred to the title of his unfinished novel. The author of Breakfast at Tiffany’s was aged 59 when he passed away from liver disease complicated by multiple drug intoxication.
“Goodnight, my kitten”
These were Ernest Hemingway’s final words spoken to wife Mary shortly before killing himself with a shotgun. The 61 year old novelist and journalist had been suffering from depression and poor mental health leading up to his death.
“Valerie”
The poet and playwright, perhaps best known for his poem The Waste Land, was only able to whisper one word as he lay dying – the name of his beloved wife Valerie.
Thomas Stearns Eliot died of emphysema at his home in London, he was aged 76.
