The Last Farewell

Beverley Nichols, a journalist and author, meets Dame Nellie Melba at her London apartment with the intention of writing her opinion of a notorious murder case, but ends up writing her memoirs instead. As they become better acquainted, Melba convinces him to be her personal secretary and to manage her operatic company, a job Nichols was, at first, reluctant to take on. At the end of her career, Melba is faced with the reality of saying farewell to the stage and to her beloved fans, but discovers that saying farewell isn't the easiest thing she has ever had to do. The Last Farewell is a heart-warming true story of a world-famous opera singer who is struggling with growing old, and a loyal fan who realises his life and achievements are of equal importance to him. It would appeal especially to those who love opera and biographies. 2026 marks the centenary of Dame Nellie Melba's last farewell.