The Creators of the Classics and Their Last Words

When it comes to famous last words, some are memorable, some are forgettable, some are hilarious, some are downright tragic. So where do the authors of the timeless classics fall within those categories? Here are just a few of the last words of famous authors so that you can decide for yourself.

George Orwell gave the world a shocking vision of the future that is proving to be all too true with 1984. He’s also well remembered for Animal Farm and a few non-fiction pieces. Orwell’s last written words were: “At fifty, everyone has the face he deserves.” He died at age 46.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle gave Sherlock Holmes to an eternally grateful audience. Doyle dies in his garden at the age of 71, and perhaps knowing that the end was upon him, he turned to his wife and said: “You are wonderful.” He then clutched his chest and died.

Ernest Hemingway was a complex and troubled man, but one who loved his wife Mary deeply. Before he commited suicide, his last words to his wife were simply: “Goodnight my kitten.”

Herman Melville gave the world Moby Dick, but he may have confused a few with his last words: “God bless Captain Vere!” Melville was referencing his then-unpublished novel Billy Budd, which was found on his desk after he died.

Looking for a deep dive into the classics? Visit our online library at www.genretop.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more. Accessible anytime, anywhere, and available on all your favorite devices.

Words to Live By: F. Scott Fitzgerald

F. Scott Fitzgerald has given us some of the most important novels of the modern literature, and between such classics as The Great Gatsby and This Side of Paradise, he’s also given us plenty of words to live by. Here are just a few of the many F. Scott Fitzgerald quotes that are well worth taking to heart.

First published in 1925, The Great Gatsby is often considered to be a cautionary tale about the American Dream. It follows a cast of wealthy characters through their lives of decadence and offers the following gems:

“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.”

“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

“I hope she'll be a fool -- that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”

This Side of Paradise was Fitzgerald’s debut novel. Published in 1920, it explores the effects of greed and status on love, and leaves us with these memorable lines:

“I don't want to repeat my innocence. I want the pleasure of losing it again.”

“I'm not sentimental--I'm as romantic as you are. The idea, you know, is that the sentimental person thinks things will last--the romantic person has a desperate confidence that they won't.”

Looking for more of the classics? Visit our online library at www.genretop.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more, accessible anytime from your favorite devices.