The Strange Life and Death of Froggy

[deirdre]

aka F. Gwynplaine MacIntyre, whose obituary is in the New York Times.

First, a public service announcement, attempting suicide by fire is a Bad Idea. But don't take my word for it, read this post from a burn ward RN.

That said, it's the most interesting and compelling obituary I've ever read, particularly this one tidbit:

Stacked neatly atop a bureau, as if a work in progress, were several hundred burnt-edged pages of a manuscript titled “The Coming of Bealtaine.” The word, which refers to an Irish and Scottish summer celebration, is derived from a Gaelic word meaning bright fire.