The Oxford Book of Death

by D. J. Enright (Editor)

Overview

The inescapable reality of death has given rise to much of literature's most profound and moving work. D.J. Enright's wonderfully eclectic selection presents the words of poet and novelist, scientist and philosopher, mystic and sceptic. And alongside these "professional" writers, he allows the voices of ordinary people to be heard; for this is a subject on which there are no real experts and wisdom lies in many unexpected places.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199556526
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	12/15/2008
Series:	Oxford Books of Prose & Verse
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	368
Sales rank:	832,070
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.60(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

D. J. Enright (1920-2002), poet, novelist, and critic, was born in Royal Leamington Spa, the son of a postman. He was educated at Leamington College and Downing College, Cambridge. His first collection of poetry, The laughing hyena and other poems was published in 1953. This was followed by an anthology Poets of the 1950s (1955) which gathered together the work of contemporary poets that became known as "The Movement." His own poetry was straightforward, sometimes ironic and almost in the style of light verse, often dealing with themes of inequality.

In fiction, D.J. Enright recreated his own experiences of a British academic in a foreign country. His first novel, Academic Year (1955), has been compared with Kingsley Amis's Lucky Jim. Enright published several books for children, including the novels The Joke Shop (1976), Wild Ghost Chase (1978) and Beyond Land's End (1979).

Table of Contents

Editor's NoteIntroductionDefinitionsViews and AttitudesThe Hour of DeathSuicideMourningGraveyards and FuneralsResurrections and ImmortalitiesHereaftersRevenantsWar, Plague and PersecutionLove and DeathChildrenAnimalsEpitaphs, Requiems and Last WordsAcknowledgementsIndexes

Editorial Reviews

"Learned, original, serious, yet always enjoyable, as well as frequently surprising."—Geoffrey Grigson

"Extensive and enjoyable.... first rate."—Anthony Powell, Daily Telegraph

"A tonic as well as a wholesome draught of mortality."—John Carey, Sunday Times

"Salutary, sometimes breathtaking, finally life-enhancing."—Times Educational Supplement

"Excellent.... Enright has gathered a fine harvest and cleverly kept melancholy in check."—The Guardian

From the Publisher