Peter de Meteor
Joined: 27 Mar 2007 Posts: 50 Location: Bristol
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Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 8:20 am Post subject: Kurt Vonnegut R.I.P. |
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So it goes . . .
I was saddened to hear of Kurt Vonnegut's death, at 84, from injuries sustained during a fall at his home 2 days ago.
He was best known for his semi-autobiographical novel "Slaughterhouse 5", based on his experience as an prisoner of war trapped in an abbatoir during the allied carpet-bombing of Dresden.
My favourite of his books (indeed amongst my favourite of ANY books) is "Sirens of Titan". Al Stewart is obviously another fan; a song of the same name, about the book, is included in his 1975 album "Modern Times".
I was fortunate enough to have seen Kurt Vonnegut speak, at The Leeds Playhouse in 1982. He was that most rare of people, an American with a well-developed sense of irony, self-effacing and an enemy of the right-wing.
One of his books, "Breakfast of Champions" includes simple drawings by the author. One is of a gravestone, on which is written:
"Everything Was Beautiful And Nothing Hurt". _________________ . . . From The Asteroid Belt, Peter de Meteor |
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