Triumphant conclusions and tragic endings, things that finished with a bang and others that faded out with a whimper-this is a tribute to the moment when that final curtain closes. It's a fitting follow-up to the popular Book of Firsts (60,000 copies sold), a richly illustrated and quirky peek into both recent and long-gone history. People, animals, events, and practices all receive their due, from those that changed the face of society to those we barely noticed. Back once again for a closing round of applause: the last Roman Emperor, the Beatles' last number one hit, the last dodo ever to exist on earth. There are personal lasts, historical lasts, last journeys and last words, and last requests and bequests.