I Just Stepped Out by Felix Dennis

I Just Stepped Out

Extended Synopsis

Written as a kind of 'last will and testament' in verse, this poignant collection of poems by the late Felix Dennis is eerily prophetic, startlingly honest, and intensely moving. In October 2013, Dennis was diagnosed with terminal cancer during a 30-day poetry reading tour. Characteristically, he chose to press on, performing to sold-out audiences with his legendary verve while compiling this, his tenth, book of verse. The collection is divided into two distinct parts: 'Premonitions' features a selection of poems written over the years when he intuitively sensed an early death. The second part, 'A Verse Diary', consists of poems chosen by Dennis from the many he wrote between his terminal diagnosis and his passing—works he believed were possibly the best he had ever written. Framed by the author's own notes, this book takes readers on a profound physical, emotional, and psychological journey.

Target Audience & Reader Targeting

This collection is deeply moving for readers of contemporary poetry, literary memoirs, and autobiographical reflections. It appeals directly to those seeking an intimate, unvarnished exploration of mortality, human resilience, and the creative spirit in the face of terminal illness.

Author Biography

Felix Dennis (1947–2014) was a British publisher, philanthropist, and spoken-word performer. After achieving tremendous entrepreneurial success in the magazine publishing industry, he dedicated the later years of his life to a profound passion for writing and performing poetry. Over a span of fourteen years, he authored multiple collections of verse and embarked on extensive national tours, captivating audiences with his dynamic delivery and unapologetic honesty before his passing in 2014.

Accolades & Features

• Serves as the author's deeply personal tenth and final book of verse.
• Features a deeply authentic "Verse Diary" chronicling his immediate creative responses to a terminal diagnosis.
• Showcases specific poems that Dennis personally evaluated as the strongest artistic achievements of his lifetime.

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