A poetic work in book form, "The River in the Sky" reflects Clive James's final moments in life with all the wisdom, light knowledge, and humor that shaped his exceptional career. Facing death for several years, Clive James refers to his experience through a series of poignant poems. In this volume, we find him in poor health but in high spirits. Despite his limited condition, his mind is free to wander. Through a grand walk "in the fragile treasures of his life," James is alive with strong memories. He presents a flowing stream of vivid images, moving from emotionally charged personal moments, such as listening to jazz records with his future wife, to indelible encounters with all kinds of culture: Beethoven's 9th Symphony frames the "breadth of YouTube." James shares his passionate loves with immense generosity, connecting with exceptional wit and bravely confronting the biggest questions: the meaning of life and how to live it. In the end, from this autobiographical epic emerges a spectacular work of remarkable depth and emotion.
"The River in the Sky is magnificent, an epic lament, written in the final years of his life, full of precise and moving observations on life and culture" – New York Times.
Clive James (1939–2019) was a presenter, critic, poet, autobiographer, and novelist. His acclaimed poetry includes the collection "Sentenced to Life" and a translation of Dante's "Divine Comedy," both Sunday Times bestsellers. His love and knowledge of poetry are captured in his critical book on the subject, "Poetry Notebook," and, written in the last year of his life, in his personal anthology of favorite poems, "The Fire of Joy."
Praise for Clive James:
"He will be considered, I think, as one of the most important and influential writers of our time" – Bryan Appleyard, Sunday Times
"Wise, witty, terrifying, tireless, and wonderfully alive" – A.S. Byatt, critic and author of "Possession: A Romance"
"Clive James is a true poet" – Peter Porter, London Review of Books.
