This Wild Darkness: The Story of My Death
This Wild Darkness is a compilation of essays written by Harold Brodkey as he neared death from AIDS and first published in 1996. The memoirs were written from when he was first diagnosed with AIDS until it left him too feeble to write, as he details in the later entries. Many were first printed in The New Yorker, where Brodkey's works most often appeared. They are written reflectively, regarding both recent events caused by his affliction and past memories revived by his condition. Brodkey died on January 26, 1996, at the age of 65.
The book was adapted into a performance piece by Italian playwright Pippo Delbono. Entitled Questo buio feroce, it debuted in Rome on October 3, 2006.