While many writers lead relatively ordinary lives, some have met their end in strange and unusual ways. Here are a few examples:
1. **Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849):**
- **Strange Death:** Edgar Allan Poe, known for his macabre and gothic tales, died under mysterious circumstances. He was found delirious on the streets of Baltimore, wearing someone else's clothes, and died shortly afterward. The exact cause of his death remains unknown, and various theories, including alcohol poisoning, rabies, and cooping (a form of election fraud that involved forcing people to vote multiple times), have been proposed.
2. **Anton Chekhov (1860-1904):**
- **Strange Death:** Anton Chekhov, the renowned Russian playwright and short story writer, died of tuberculosis. What's unusual is that he passed away in a spa town in Badenweiler, Germany, after having requested champagne for his final moments. His last words reportedly were, "It's a long time since I drank champagne."
3. **Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875):**
- **Strange Death:** The Danish fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen died of liver cancer. What's peculiar is that, before his death, he believed his condition was improving. Andersen reportedly exclaimed, "Oh, it is melting, but the church bells are ringing for me now – I can hear the music of the angels! The pain will soon be over now."
4. **Isadora Duncan (1877-1927):**
- **Strange Death:** While not a traditional writer, Isadora Duncan was a famous American dancer and choreographer. She met a tragic end when her scarf got entangled in the wheel of an open car she was riding in, leading to her strangulation. It's a bizarre and unexpected death for a creative artist.
5. **Tennessee Williams (1911-1983):**
- **Strange Death:** The renowned American playwright Tennessee Williams, known for works like "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "The Glass Menagerie," died by accidentally choking on a plastic bottle cap. He had the habit of using the cap to ingest barbiturates, and the cap became lodged in his throat.
These examples showcase the unpredictability of life and the unusual circumstances that some writers have faced in their final moments.