British author Julian Barnes, who will turn 80 on January 19, was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer six years ago. He is expected to remain on chemotherapy drugs for the rest of his life. Barnes stated he approached the disease with a "novelist's interest" and experienced a sense of calm rather than anger or fear.
Barnes's new book, "Departure(s)", is scheduled for publication the day after his birthday. The book is described as a hybrid of memoir and fiction, chronicling his cancer diagnosis and reflections on death. It is presented as a companion to his 2013 book, "Levels of Life", which detailed the death of his wife, Pat Kavanagh, in 2008. Barnes has announced that "Departure(s)" will be his final book. He also mentioned remarrying in August and enjoying his current life.
Barnes described his literary works as often "hybrid" books, blending autobiography, fiction, nonfiction, and other relevant elements. He discussed his philosophical approach to death, advocating for daily contemplation of it, inspired by the 17th-century philosopher Montaigne. He noted his wife's death, which occurred 37 days after her diagnosis, as an example of dying with grace and consideration for others.
Barnes revealed he experienced suicidal thoughts a few weeks after his wife's death but decided to live, realizing he was the primary keeper of her memories and that his death would effectively erase them. He also expressed support for assisted dying, asserting a human right to end one's life in situations of extreme pain, incurable illness, and when life offers no pleasure for the individual or others. Additionally, Barnes discussed the fallibility of memory, suggesting that memories are not stable but deteriorate and change over time with retelling, potentially making the most cherished memories less reliable.