More about the book
Last Orders is the story of four men once close to London butcher Jack Dodds, who meet to carry out his last wish: to have his ashes scattered into the sea. The men, whose lives revolve around work, family, the racetrack and their favourite pub, must make their way down to a seaside town to complete the task. Through conversation and memory they trace the paths they have followed by choice and by accident; through the Second World War and its aftermath, through the dramas of family life, and their relationships with each other. In their brilliantly realized, richly nuanced voices, Swift has created a narrative language that perfectly expresses not only the comforts of old habits and friendships, but also the complexity and courage of ordinary lives.
Payment methods
We’re missing your review here.
- Title
- Last Orders
- Language
- English
- Authors
- Graham Swift
- Publisher
- Vintage Canada
- Released
- 1997
- Format
- Paperback
- Pages
- 304
- ISBN10
- 0679308571
- ISBN13
- 9780679308577
- Series
- Tags
- Fiction, Historical Themes, Family, Contemporary Fiction, Friendship, 20th century, British Literature, Death, England, Great Britain, English Literature, Adapted for Film, London, Mourning, Breakup, separation, Cancer, Tumors, Booker Prize
- First published
- 1996
- Original title
- Last Orders
- Rating
- 3.7 out of 5
- Description
- Last Orders is the story of four men once close to London butcher Jack Dodds, who meet to carry out his last wish: to have his ashes scattered into the sea. The men, whose lives revolve around work, family, the racetrack and their favourite pub, must make their way down to a seaside town to complete the task. Through conversation and memory they trace the paths they have followed by choice and by accident; through the Second World War and its aftermath, through the dramas of family life, and their relationships with each other. In their brilliantly realized, richly nuanced voices, Swift has created a narrative language that perfectly expresses not only the comforts of old habits and friendships, but also the complexity and courage of ordinary lives.