Last Words: Variations on a Theme in Cultural History

This densely written study by a German academic deals with the sociological importance of the last words uttered by the dying. Rather than a compilation, Guthke ( B. Traven: The Life Behind the Legends ) provides a historical perspective on last words in Western society, noting that, in earlier times, it was thought that by verbalizing an appropriate religious sentiment, dying persons might guarantee their entrance into heaven or at least protect themselves from eternal hell fire. A cultural mythology surrounds last words such as Goethe's ``More light'' and Gertrude Stein's ``In that case what is the question?,'' which are handed down through the generations but are not always authenticated. Guthke offers his thoughts on fictionalized last words in literature as well as an evaluation of published anthologies of last words. Acknowledging that his subject is his personal passion, he has written a scholarly treatise of use primarily to cultural historians. (Dec.)