Which statesman was, by the end, "bored with it all?" Which
world-renowned economist considered on his deathbed whether he ought to
have been less abstemious, saying "I should have drunk more champagne."
Did Admiral Horatio Nelson, one of England's greatest naval heroes,
really utter "Kiss me, Hardy" to his captain just before his death in
the Battle of Trafalgar?
Over the years, family and loved ones have recorded an extraordinary
number of famous last words, from kings and queens to politicians,
philosophers, scientists, writers, and actors. These exit lines can
impart keen insights from an extraordinary life, reveal a sense of humor
indomitable in even the darkest hours, or tell us something about a
celebrated person's last moments of life. Perhaps unavoidably given
their provenance, many last words have proven irresistible to
embellishment or remain in question. King Charles II, for example, was
said to have instructed his brothers to "let not Poor Nelly starve,"
asking that his favorite mistress be provided a pension of 1,500 pounds
a year. Although she did indeed receive said pension, some contend that
Charles's actual last words, following a long period of illness, were,
"You must pardon me, gentlemen, for being a most unconscionable time
a-dying."
For Famous Last Words, Claire Cock-Starkey has collected the most
interesting, insightful, and controversial last words, from deathbed
desperation to the fondest of farewells.
