Clive James

Latest Readings

Small Pre-loved Hardcover

In 2010, Clive James was diagnosed with terminal leukaemia. Deciding that “if you don’t know the exact moment when the lights will go out, you might as well read until they do,” James moved his library to his Cambridge house, where he would “live, read, and perhaps even write.” James is the award-winning author of dozens of works of literary criticism, poetry, and history, and this volume contains his reflections on what may well be his last reading list. A look at some of James’s old favourites as well as some of his recent discoveries, this book also offers a revealing look at the author himself, sharing his evocative musings on literature and family, and on living and dying.

As thoughtful and erudite as the works of Alberto Manguel, and as moving and inspiring as Randy Pausch’s The Last Lecture and Will Schwalbe’s The End of Your Life Book Club, this valediction to James’s lifelong engagement with the written word is a captivating valentine from one of the great literary minds of our time.

Book type: Pre-loved hardcover
Condition:
Very good
Cover image: For illustration purposes only
Notes: This book looks almost like new. The cover has no visible wear. It has no missing or damaged pages, no creasing, no writing, notes or highlighting.

$16.99

1 in stock

More Information & Critical Reviews

Clive James was the author of more than thirty books. As well as essays, he published collections of literary and television criticism, travel writing, verse and novels, plus five volumes of autobiography. As a television performer he appeared regularly for both the BBC and ITV. In 1992 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia and in 2003 he was awarded the Philip Hodgins memorial medal for literature. Cultural Amnesia was a New York Times Notable Book. Clive passed away in November 2019.

“These essays and poems are death-haunted but radiant with the felt experience of what it means to be alive, even when mortally sick, especially when mortally sick.” Financial Times

Latest Readings is a plain demonstration that Mr. James remains as learned and as funny as any critic on earth.” The New York Times

“The literary judgments in Latest Readings are as a sound as ever . . . [James’s] credo: ‘The critic should write to say not “look how much I’ve read” but “look at this, it’s wonderful.”‘ I submit: reader, look at this book, it’s wonderful.” Philip Collins, Times

“Pick up Latest Readings. It’s wonderful.” Michael Dirda, Washington Post

“This is the kind of writing we have always appreciated him for: perceptive, acerbic, laconic, witty . . . There is so much to enjoy here, so many infectious enthusiasms.” Sue Gaisford, The Tablet

Additional information

Book Author

Clive James

Available Format

Small Pre-loved Hardcover

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