THE OBITUARY BOOK

New York, NY: Stein & Day, 1971. Hardcover. Near Fine/Near Fine. EX-LIB. Text/Near New. DJ/NF; under library mylar. New York Times journalist Alden Whitman (1913 - 1990) pioneered writing personalized obituaries. In 1965, Whitman began preparing the obituaries of notables in advance, and, in consultation with his subjects. This book is an anthology of 37 obits so prepared, and selected by the author; all appearing first in the New York Times between 1965 to 1970. This unusal collection makes for fascinating and rewarding portraits/biographies, with the deceased having a voice. T.S. Eliot, Martin Buber, Adlai E. Stevenson, Le Corbusier, Albert Schweizer, Helen Keller, John Steinbeck, Mies van der Rohe, Ho Chi Min, and Bertrand Russell are among those who spoke of themselves to Alden Whitman before their deaths. Fine copy.