How Shall I Tell the Dog?

In "e;a book to make the Grim Reaper laugh,"e; the popular English humorist faces cancer and death with his sparkling trademark wit (Michael Palin). When some people are told they have only a few months to live, they might travel around the world or write their memoirs or put their affairs in order. When it happened at the age of 66 to Miles Kington one of England's best-loved humorists he did what he did best, offering sharp, wry, laugh-out-loud observations and ideas about his situation. Following his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, Kington proposes crazier and crazier ideas for his next book (what he calls "e;cashing in on cancer"e;) in a series of letters to his literary agent, Gill. And what sort of things capture Kington's attention in his waning months? The sudden grimness of those 1,000 Places to See Before You Die books, for example. (What about 100 Things to Do Before You Die, Without Leaving Home?, he suggests. Instead of bungee jumping and whitewater rafting, learn to whistle with two fingers in your mouth, yodel, or steam open envelopes.) The irony that his dog, Berry, will probably outlive him, or the semi-outrageous idea of creating a funeral video:I have already visualised the opening shot. It is of me, smiling ruefully, and saying to camera: "e;Hello. I'm sorry I couldn't be here in person with you today."e;Mischievous and utterly original, Miles Kington's words in the face of death are memorable and surprisingly uplifting. "e;One of the most brilliantly written books I've ever read hilarious, sad, touching, profound. A true tour de force."e; Edward Klein, #1 New York Times bestselling author