Death Be Not Proud

John Gunther
3.86
12,769 ratings 806 reviews
Death Be Not Proud chronicles Johnny Gunther's gallant struggle against the malignant brain tumor that killed him at the age of seventeen. The book opens with his father's fond, vivid portrait of his son—a young man of extraordinary intellectual promise, who excelled at physics, math, and chess, but was also an active, good-hearted, and fun-loving kid. But the heart of the book is a description of the agonized months during which Gunther and his former wife Frances try everything in their power to halt the spread of Johnny's cancer and to make him as happy and comfortable as possible. In the last months of his life, Johnny strove hard to complete his high school studies. The scene of his graduation ceremony from Deerfield Academy is one of the most powerful—and heartbreaking—in the entire book. Johnny maintained his courage, wit and quiet friendliness up to the end of his life. He died on June 30, 1947, less than a month after graduating from Deerfield.
Genres: NonfictionClassicsMemoirBiographyBiography MemoirDeathSchoolMedicalGriefLiterature
206 Pages

Community Reviews:

5 star
3907 (31%)
4 star
4556 (36%)
3 star
3218 (25%)
2 star
813 (6%)
1 star
275 (2%)

Readers also enjoyed

Other books by John Gunther

Lists with this book

To Kill a Mockingbird
Pride and Prejudice
The Diary of a Young Girl
Books That Everyone Should Read At Least Once
30947 books • 116593 voters
To Kill a Mockingbird
1984
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Best Books of the 20th Century
7793 books • 49719 voters
1984
Animal Farm
The Diary of a Young Girl
Best Books of the Decade: 1940s
835 books • 1136 voters
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
My Sister’s Keeper
The Fault in Our Stars
Books that Made You Cry!
3206 books • 7697 voters