Goodbye, Twentieth Century

by Dannie Abse

A fully revised and updated autobiography by one of this country's finest poets. 'A magnificently conceived work.' Guardian Dannie Abse's rich mixture of Welsh and Jewish backgrounds, and his dual occupations of doctor and author, have led to what is widely regarded as one of the most readable, humorous and poignant autobiographies since the war. Goodbye, Twentieth Century incorporates his acclaimed first volume of autobiography, A Poet in the Family , in a new volume which brings his life up to the present and the outset of a new century.

Genres: Autobiography, Biography Memoir

320 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2001

About the author

Daniel Abse CBE FRSL (1923–2014) was a Welsh poet, author, doctor and playwright. He wrote and edited more than sixteen books of poetry, as well as fiction and a range of other publications. His poetry won him many awards. As a medic, he worked in a chest clinic for over 30 years.

See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dannie_...

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Here I pleasantly wasted time as Time wastes us."

Sometimes you come across a text that grasps you and doesn't let you go. It completely immerses you into another person's experience, all the more special because this person actually lived a life. A life that is inherently different than yours, and yet you've had the privelege of living it through that person's words on a page. The entire time, I imagined myself sitting in an armchair, sipping comfort-inducing tea, as Mr. Abse told me his life story. I am thankful to have had the pleasure to listen to it.

He writes:

"Since the description of an event, material or spiritual, in the autobiographer's life cannot be the event itself, only a deception, writing autobiography is a hazardous occupation for the autobiographer: it deletes the real experience which becomes forgotten and substitutes it with memorable artifice. In one sense it is a small suicide."

Yet, Mr. Abse, even if you deny the tangibility of relaying your life experience to your reader, you managed to embrace your words so innately with your personality. You showed me your imperfections, your fallability. But, you shared with me your triumphs, and I cheered for you. Finally, you shared with me your pain, and I cried for you.

Thank you Mr. Abse, for taking the time to put your pen to paper. I had a blast having Time wasted by your words.

[Jude Brigley · Rating 4 out of 5]

very enjoyable