Death Be Not Proud (P.S.)
by John J. Gunther
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Book Summary Information
Author: John J. GuntherEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-04-03
ISBN: 0061230979
Number of pages: 224
Publisher: Harper Perennial Modern Classics
Book Reviews of Death Be Not Proud (P.S.)
Book Review: A Brave Face in the Time of Death
Summary: 5 Stars
Sometimes all one needs to possess is courage, wit, and patience in order for one to stave off death.
In John Gunther's classic 1950 memoir, Death Be Not Proud, the author describes the optimism and courage his son, Johnny, possesses throughout the last months of his life as he struggles with cancer. Johnny Gunther is only seventeen years old when his life ends after a courageous, fifteen-month-long battle in which he fought for his life against a malignant glioma, or fatal brain tumor.
Johnny, a high school junior, who is the top in his class academically at Deerfield Academy, is diagnosed with a brain tumor in April, 1946. Although the malevolent disease strikes at Johnny's most promising quality, his intelligence, he gallantly continues to strive to achieve his goals; ultimately, he never once gives up hope of recovering. While in the hospital, Johnny often frets about becoming behind on his schoolwork. On the "good days," when he is feeling well, he diligently completes his assignments. Another aspect of Johnny's life that helps him retain his strong will to live is his desire to make stimulating scientific discoveries. Each time he is healthy enough to leave the hospital, he immediately conjures a list of materials needed to conduct experiments that will help the world.
John Gunther, Sr. and his ex-wife, Frances Gunther, are told by numerous doctors that their son will inevitably die; instead of giving up, they mirror their son's courage, and begin educating themselves about all tumors and alternative medical procedures; they also contact anyone who can be of any assistance. Johnny and his parents learn that they must fight as hard as they can, but are still be able to live and enjoy Johnny's last days leading up to his demise. His parents' constant love and devotion to try anything to save their son from the deathly, orange-sized tumor inside of his head is truly heartwarming.
Throughout Johnny's ordeal, he never ceases to think of others first. His selflessness is remarkable. Upon first learning from a doctor that he has a brain tumor, Johnny immediately says, "Do my parents know? How shall we break it to them?" (4). Another time, after a modest fit of complaining, Johnny requests for John, Sr., to slap him whenever he carps, because he is not the only person in the world who is suffering. Everyone around Johnny is impressed by his biting wit and his innate friendliness as well as his unflagging patience - even during times of desolation. Although his cheerful outlook is almost always present, it sometimes acts as a mask, hiding his fears from his parents and the people around him, so they will not be forced to suffer with him. John Gunther, Sr. describes his son's hardship of always having to put on a good face, in order to spare others the pain. After a companion of Johnny's comes to see him, John writes, "The effort to pretend that the tumor was nothing cost him dearly; the piece of his invincible fight was great fatigue. It took a miserable lot out of him to pretend to ignore what he must have known to be the truth, that he wasn't getting any better" (117). Often times, after having visitors, Johnny is overcome with terrible bouts of tiredness and pain, due to acting as though nothing is wrong.
Six months after Johnny Gunther is first beaten down with his headaches, impairment to his vision, and terrible fatigue, he has a miraculous recovery, which astonishes all of his doctors at the time. The doctors try to decide what has triggered the steady increase in health and the decrease in the size of his tumor. Although, as one knows from reading the first page of the memoir, Johnny's miracle does not last forever; however, even when he becomes sick, once-again, his sanguinity that he will again recover is admirable.
This book, written in a matter-of-fact first-person narrative, as well as a series of letters and diary entries written by Johnny and Frances, is a memoir that a reader never wishes to put down and yearns to learn what happens next. John, Sr.'s depiction of his family's battle to keep death away, and his reverence of his son's character are enticing. Johnny's letters and diary entries range from before his illness up until his very last day. His spirit throughout them remains mostly constant - upbeat and ready to achieve all he can. In a few brief moments of fear and anguish, he expresses his pains in his journal, so he does not worry his parents with them. In her letter, Frances reminds those, who have not been afflicted with the terrible misfortune of losing a child, that they must always love their children.
Although Johnny's life ends well before it should, he is able to make an enormously profound impact on everyone he meets, as well as those who simply hear or read about him. Before his death, Johnny writes "The Gunther Philosophy," which includes a part reading, "Live while you're living then die and be done with - never refuse challenge - never give up trying etc." (171). Even when Johnny knows he is close to the end, he remains positive and excited about what the world has to offer him. He is aware that he must take advantage of all he can while alive.
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