Last Words: Variations on a Theme in Cultural History. Karl S. Guthke

Last Words: Variations on a Theme in Cultural History



Download Last Words: Variations on a Theme in Cultural History



Last Words: Variations on a Theme in Cultural History Karl S. Guthke. pdf ebook
Publisher: Princeton Univ Pr
Language: English
Page: 262
ISBN: 0691056889, 9780691056883

From Publishers Weekly

This densely written study by a German academic deals with the sociological importance of the last words uttered by the dying. Rather than a compilation, Guthke ( B. Traven: The Life Behind the Legends ) provides a historical perspective on last words in Western society, noting that, in earlier times, it was thought that by verbalizing an appropriate religious sentiment, dying persons might guarantee their entrance into heaven or at least protect themselves from eternal hell fire. A cultural mythology surrounds last words such as Goethe's "More light" and Gertrude Stein's "In that case what is the question?," which are handed down through the generations but are not always authenticated. Guthke offers his thoughts on fictionalized last words in literature as well as an evaluation of published anthologies of last words. Acknowledging that his subject is his personal passion, he has written a scholarly treatise of use primarily to cultural historians. Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The nature of the last words of the dying are explained by Guthke as examples of cultural artifacts and the continuing secularization of society. Using folklore, literature, and biography, he discusses the concept of the final insight as a historic construct that was developed in antiquity and still present in the modern world. The words of saints and sinners, the famous and the unknown, along with phrases, proverbs, and maxims, are here included in the whole genre of last words. Guthke has interesting things to say about the authenticity of last words, Shakespeare's death scenes, interpretations of Goethe's last words, and the literature of last-word collections. But while it makes for fun reading despite the topic, this is still a highly specialized work. Recommended for large literature and academic libraries.- Gene Shaw, Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.



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