The best of the last

2009 Books Issue: Our contest for the best last lines of books drew some great entries | Marvin Olasky

When my April 25 column announced a contest for "best last lines" of books (50 words maximum), we at WORLD looked forward to receiving maybe 100 entries. We received about 400 and have included 80 of them over the next eight pages, so if yours is included you hit the top 20 percent. If not, thanks for participating—I had to cut out some very good entries.

The 80 winners are listed this way: First, the 10 finalists for 'best' that went to our panel of judges. (Names of judges, and a paragraph that summarizes the process, are at the end of this article.) Then, 20 in each of three categories—classics, fiction, and nonfiction. Next, two endings chosen as best by the most readers and given honorable mention. (Because how could we slice up 30 ways the three subscriptions to WORLD that we are giving away?) Finally, eight last lines of books of the Bible; these were not subject to best-in-show judging, for every line in the Bible is an inspired winner.

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