The History of Death

by Michael Kerrigan

Death is universal, but each culture has found a different way to deal with it. This wide-ranging book examines the compelling subject of death, funeral rites and burial in different cultures and societies, from the drama of medieval French royal funerals to the burial alive of the Dinka ‘masters of the spear’ in the Sudan, from the Egyptian pyramids to the Chinese terracotta army to elaborate Victorian mausolea, and from the Grim Reaper to Hades and the Underworld.

The History of Death illuminates the combination between the earthly and spiritual in funeral rites, the practices of human sacrifice and ritual killing, as well as the processes of grieving, burial, cremation, remembrance and the differing concepts of life after death. Funerals need not always be solemn, but can be celebratory, drunken and even lascivious.

An intriguing yet sensitive treatment, the book includes more than 100 remarkable photographs and artworks of representations of death and funerary rituals. Far from being a morbid study, The History of Death balances grim facts with intriguing details drawn from many cultures and epochs, revealing how through our passing we, in fact, define our lives.

Genres: History, Death, Nonfiction, Anthropology, Science, Mythology, Reference

192 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2007

About the author

Michael Kerrigan is a seasoned freelance writer and editor with over thirty years of experience across a wide spectrum of publishing work, from advertising and catalogue copy to book blurbs and specialist nonfiction. A prolific author, he has written around sixty full-length books on subjects ranging from ancient warfare and Slavic myth to modern architecture and the science of consciousness, all aimed at a general readership. He contributed a weekly Books in Brief column to The Scotsman for two decades and has reviewed extensively for the Times Literary Supplement, The Guardian, and Financial Times.

Reviews

[Clark Hays · Rating 4 out of 5]

Memento mori -- remember, you’re going to die.

Death is such a cheery topic. This is a light and lively tour through the ages and across cultures exploring funerary customs, concepts of the afterlife and our usually uneasy relationship with death. The author is a skilled writer adept at distilling information down into powerful, occasionally wry (bordering on the irreverent) insights. I was struck by the similarities at the heart of so many shared beliefs, perceptions and fears related to our own mortality — reflected in a thousand variations adjusted for scientific advancement and social norms. Preserving the entrails of an Egyptian ruler in Canopic jars centuries ago really doesn’t seem that much different than preserving the cremains of a loved one in a porcelain vase (hopefully with a lid).

If you like death, and who doesn’t, this is a fun read with some amazing photos.

[Jocelyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read as a potential additional text for the Death class Michael teaches. Aside from one chapter on funeral rituals of the world's major religions, this didn't prove to be useful - too scattered and too much othering/exoticization.

[Joss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the subject, a fairly light read with plenty of illustrations that gives a good overview of attitudes to death and the customs of various cultures both past and present.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fascinating insight into the different customs and traditions found around death throughout much of human history (where there is written records anyway). The chapters are separated by categories ranging from ideas of afterlife and funerary rites to demands of the dead (not literal) and how things are changing in the modern world. Kerrigan does jump around a little bit in terms of timelines, not just across chapters but within them which does make it difficult to put some aspects in context of when certain things were or are most prevalent but the focus is more on the who and the where rather than the when so for many this probably won't matter so much (personally I'm found of knowing the when of things). But every aspects is covered well and explained not just in terms of what happens but in terms of why, which is the most fascinating part. All of this is supported by illustrations, photos etc. that demonstrate the particular aspect being covered. All told this shows how diverse our death customs have been and continue to be and how they are still changing now.

[Chai King-James · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of wording and not necessarily needed.

I picked up this resource as I joined the funeral business and it did teach me a lot more about the choices that families make for their loved ones and it really overwhelms me to think of the drastic changes to views of death we have.

In terms of religion, it helped me better realize that everyone's culture is so vastly different. All the different religions in the world really want to have their own unique method and its so interesting.

As someone who is not afraid of death or dying, a good easy read with important facts. Loved most of it!

Pictures ... not so much (COULD BE MORE GRAPHIC IN MY OPINION.)

[Cyndi Jolley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. I was hoping for more information on death across different cultures, but this seemed to focus more on why we embalm, bury, cremate, etc. and how we got to where we are.

[Sundee Perkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me a little bit to get into. It's a little dry to begin with, but the information is really good and this was, at once, a great overview and very detailed.

[Bailey B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid overview

[Clivemichael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black and white photos, excellent presentation, a couple of lol moments.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a book about death, it's a fairly light and enjoyable read. It really gave good insight into different traditions and how death as a ceremony evolved.

[Metagion · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has all the information you'd need to find out how different peoples/faiths/areas view death and the soul (or spirit) and the customs and practices involved when life ends. Excellent pictures as well.

[Jaymee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good introduction to mortuary rituals all over the world. Includes art and literature.