Overview

At the heart of Death and the Author is a dramatic account of D. H. Lawrence's desperate struggle against tuberculosis during his last days, and of certain, often bizarre events which followed his death. Around this narrative David Ellis offers a series of reflections about what it is like to have a disease for which there is no cure, the appeal of alternative medicine, the temptation of suicide for the terminally ill, the diminishing role of religion in modern life, the institution of famous last words, the consequences of dying intestate, and so on. These are clearly not the most immediately appealing of topics but they have an obvious significance for everyone and the treatment of them here is by no means lugubrious (even if, in the nature of the case, most of the jokes fall into the category of gallows humour). Lawrence is the main focus throughout but there are extended references to a number of other famous literary consumptives such as Keats, Katherine Mansfield, Kafka, Chekhov, and George Orwell. Not a long book, Death and the author is divided into three parts called `Dying', `Death' and `Remembrance' and is made up of twenty-two short sections. Although it incorporates a good deal of original material, the annotation has been kept deliberately light. The aim has been to combine the drama of events - a good story - with a consideration of matters which must eventually concern us all, and to present the material in a lively and accessible form.

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9780199546657

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Reviews

...replete with allusions...much factual detail with additional reverie on how people act in the face of death... * Karl Orend, Times Literary Supplement * a compelling book * Victoria Glendinning, The Spectator * Ellis has a fine, mordant sense of humour that plays eloquently with the theme of consumption, that knell also of Keats, Katherine Mansfield, Kafka and Chekhov. * Iain Finlayson, The Times * an elegant, detailed and darkly humorous account of the demise of DH Lawrence ... Ellis's biographical experiment is a profoundly instructive and moving success. * Brian Dillon, Irish Times * Elegant, detailed and darkly humorous account of the demise of D H Lawrence. * Brian Dillon, Irish Times * A brilliant, humane book * Steven Poole, The Guardian * If the subject is sombre, the account of Lawrence himself - great, complex, exasperating, brave - and the responses of his wife and various friends, are told with such verve and wit that I found myself laughing as I read. Absorbing throughout * Laura Dietz, Times Literary Supplement * David Ellis's book is graceful, grave and elegantly written. Frequently witty and always well chosen in its detail, it ranges much more widely than its ostensible subject matter. * William Palmer, Literary Review *

David Ellis's book is graceful, grave and elegantly written. Frequently witty and always well chosen in its detail, it ranges much more widely than its ostensible subject matter. William Palmer, Literary Review Absorbing throughout Laura Dietz, Times Literary Supplement If the subject is sombre, the account of Lawrence himself - great, complex, exasperating, brave - and the responses of his wife and various friends, are told with such verve and wit that I found myself laughing as I read. A brilliant, humane book Steven Poole, The Guardian Elegant, detailed and darkly humorous account of the demise of D H Lawrence. Brian Dillon, Irish Times an elegant, detailed and darkly humorous account of the demise of DH Lawrence ... Ellis's biographical experiment is a profoundly instructive and moving success. Brian Dillon, Irish Times Ellis has a fine, mordant sense of humour that plays eloquently with the theme of consumption, that knell also of Keats, Katherine Mansfield, Kafka and Chekhov. Iain Finlayson, The Times a compelling book Victoria Glendinning, The Spectator ...replete with allusions...much factual detail with additional reverie on how people act in the face of death... Karl Orend, Times Literary Supplement

Author Information

David Ellis was born in Lancashire, educated at Downing College Cambridge, and is emeritus professor of English Literature at the University of Kent in Canterbury. During his teaching career he has spent considerable periods in France, Italy, Australia and the United States. In the academic year 1991-2, he was an Andrew Mellon Fellow at the National Humanities Research Center in North Carolina and in the autumn of 2003 a Distinguished Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study of La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia. Best known for this work on D. H. Lawrence, he has also published books on Wordsworth and Shakespeare and has a strong interest in comedy as well as in the art, science, and theory of biography. David Ellis is married with two daughters and now lives in Faversham, Kent.

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