Book excerpt: This book situates the work of the artist Joseph Wright of Derby (1734–1797) within the context of his life and times. It brings to light fresh information, including evidence of the flute music that Wright played and the ‘graveyard’ genre of poetry that he read. The book argues that Wright is the author of ‘The Final Farewell: a poem written on retiring from London’ (1787). It will be of interest to all admirers of this famously retiring artist. By the same author: The Adventures and Speculations of the Ingenious Peter Perez Burdett.