[Ann Drysdale]

Felix Dennis is dead. He was a publishing legend, famed for his maverick and entrepreneurial style and, more lately, a successful and much-loved poet, whose generously-provisioned readings and launches were legendary. He will be greatly missed.

[Jayne Osborn]

I hadn't heard this awful news, Ann, and I'm really shocked and saddened by it.

I've been to three of his "Did I Mention The Free Wine" readings in the last couple of years, chatted with him and had my photo taken with him - and I have all his books. I was a big fan!

He had completely recovered from the throat cancer that had threatened to kill him, or at least he thought he had. Did it get him in the end? It's late (nearly 1am) and I'm in bed writing this on my phone so I'll find out more tomorrow.

Felix was indeed a legend. How sad.

[John Whitworth]

Wine, women and song. Lots of wine (and drugs of all kinds) £100 million worth of women, and some not half bad song. And he left a forest to the Nation. It doesn't get much better than that. Good on you, Felix.

Confeffion

In poesy, I flaunt fatal flaws,
Preferring ‘thou’, (or ‘thine’ to ‘yours’),
And though I never stretched to ‘thee’
I could have done, believe thou me.
It’s just pretentiousneff, one guesses,
Substituting ‘ff’s for ‘ss’es,
Yet, I mourn (like Miniver C)
The rhyming scans that died with ‘thee’,
And mourn still more the loss of ‘thou’
(So helpful when one’s bombing Slough);
But as for that, I’ve sworn an oath
To editors and readers, both,
To clothe my thoughts in modern dreff
And come to love a double ‘ss’.

[William A. Baurle]

RIP, fine fir.

[Michael Juster]

Fascinating obituary in today's New York Times.

[Jayne Osborn]

Ann started a thread here yesterday in General Announcements.

Jayne

[John Whitworth]

I'm so sorry for treading on your toes, Ann.

[Ann Drysdale]

John, my toes are fine. I "announced" it rather than proposed it as a subject for discussion because the poor old sod has been discussed to bits within these sacred halls.

But you, as a Mod, could combine the two threads. If you liked. Then any element of competition would be blown away like fairy dust and my toes would remain unscathed. Or so my Aunt Jobiska assures me.

[John Whitworth]

I hereby wish what you wish, Ann. Perhaps some clever person like Jayne could do it. Have we discussed Felix Dennis? It must have passed me by. Or I have forgotten. I forget a lot these day.

What was I saying?

[Ann Drysdale]

Yes, he's been discussed at some length. In the context of populism, mainly.

http://www.ablemuse.com/erato/showth...t=felix+dennis