I have already started, boring people about the writer who died following a rupture caused by swallowing the toothpick from his martini.
The fact I had never heard of American writer Sherwood Anderson, or read anything of his, was irrelevant.
Final Chapters: How Famous Authors Died could be frustrating to a reader looking for something more academic, but Bernhard makes it clear from the outset it is not a textbook or reference work and should not be held to strict academic standards.
Where there are differing accounts of an author's death, he has favoured the "most interesting (or lurid) version'' but indicated that opinions vary.
The book is divided into seven chronological eras.
While it is reasonably easy to find favourite authors among the 103, an alphabetical index would also have been helpful.
Bernhard, who has written books on word games, has a light touch.
There is a potted biography of each writer preceding the account of his or her death.
Information on some writers piqued my
curiosity (including poor old Sherwood) and I will be searching out more detail on them.
Among the memorable deaths is that of French writer Moliere, who was "mortally stricken while playing the part of a hypochondriac in one of his own plays''.
American poet Emily Dickinson, who died at 55, made treating any illness she might have had a little difficult.
A visit to her doctor involved her walking
slowly past the open door of his examining room while he observed from afar.
She did not allow him to even take her pulse.
Alcohol, tobacco and narcotics were responsible for a depressing number of deaths.
While some writers were long-lived, Bernhard notes that the average age of the 42 writers he has listed from the modern era is about 65, compared with about 70 for the 10 writers included from the classical era.
Some authors tried to write their own epitaphs. American writer Robert Benchley's family did not go with his pithy choice, "This is all over my head''.
Understandably, "queen of quips'' Dorothy Parker had several possible epitaphs planned, including "Wherever she went, including here, it was against her better judgement''.
Authors' views on death have been included, where known.
Attitudes towards death range from "fear to acceptance to indifference'', much like the rest of us.
• Elspeth McLean is an ODT columnist and former health reporter.
