澳大利亚作家理查德·弗拉纳根近日首次公开披露，他曾被诊断患有早期痴呆症并被告知仅余12个月生命[1]。在这一诊断的驱使下，他完成了《Question 7》一书，并将其视为自己的最终之作[1]。然而，这一诊断后来被发现是错误的——经过核磁共振成像检查，医生发现放射科的初始报告存在误差[1]。经过一年的沉默期后，弗拉纳根获得全面健康检查的确认，重获新生[1]。
弗拉纳根为此次误诊经历做出了自己的回应。他婉拒了《Question 7》获得的贝利·吉福德奖的10万美元奖金，理由是该奖的赞助商在化石燃料领域有投资[1]。如今，他推出了新作文集《Heresies》，该书汇集了他二十年来创作的随笔与演讲，探讨写作自由与不从众压力等主题[1]。此外，弗拉纳根还有三部短篇小说正在创作中，其中一部定于2027年末出版[1]。他曾表示："我一直想要做的，就是坐在桌前做白日梦。"[1]
Australian author Richard Flanagan has disclosed for the first time that he was diagnosed with early-stage dementia and given approximately twelve months to live, prompting him to write what he believed would be his final work, Question 7 [1]. The diagnosis later proved erroneous following an MRI examination that uncovered an error in the initial radiologist's report, and after a year of silence, Flanagan received a clean bill of health [1].
His latest publication, Heresies, is a collection of essays and speeches spanning two decades that explores themes of writing freedom and resistance to censorship [1]. Flanagan remarked on his creative philosophy, stating: "All I ever wanted to do was sit at the table and daydream" [1].
In a show of principle, Flanagan declined the one hundred thousand dollar Baillie Gifford Prize for Question 7, objecting to the sponsor's investments in fossil fuels [1]. He is currently working on three novellas, with one slated for publication by the end of 2027 [1].