- Paperback: 260 pages
- Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp.; 1st Carol Pub. Group Ed edition (1 Dec 1993)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0806512776
- ISBN-13: 978-0806512778
- Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 15.4 x 1.7 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,182,065 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Filled with bizarre anecdotes and illustrated with ghoulish images, this most unusual bedside companion records the lengths to which people throughout history have gone to cope with fears of being buried alive, of being defiled after death, of disintegrating in tombs, of being forgotten, and of coming to ignominious ends. **Lightning Print On Demand Title
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
'The unendurable oppression of the lungs - the stifling fumes of the damp earth - the clinging to the death garments - the rigid embrace of the narrow house - the blackness of the absolute Night - the silence like a sea that overwhelms - the unseen but pa Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
'The unendurable oppression of the lungs - the stifling fumes of the damp earth - the clinging to the death garments - the rigid embrace of the narrow house - the blackness of the absolute Night - the silence like a sea that overwhelms - the unseen but pa Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I originally borowed this book from the library and then I just had to seek out and buy a copy for myself. I found it totally fascinating, I couldn't put it down and read it all in one sitting.
The book covers all aspects of death going back into ancient times and bringing us up to a more modern age.
In a world where the subject of death is generally taboo, resulting in fear and ignorance of the unknown, this book is highly refreshing, discussing and explaining many subjects usually hushed or swept under the carpet.
It deals in true fact discussing issues such as the preparation of bodies for burial or cremation, coffin structures, customs, places of burial and so on and yet all the while maintaining a truely human emotional level throughout. For example, dealing with people's fear of being burried alive or having their corpses stolen by bodysnatchers such as the infamous Burke & Hare, continuing with the lengths that people would go to in order to avoid such occurances befalling them.
On top of all this, you are likely to discover extra little scraps of information that hadn't even occured to you before.....and prehaps wish that you hadn't!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3 reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
The most fun you can (legally) have with the dead!
26 Sep 2000
Format:Paperback
Often hilarious, often tragic, but mostly a quick and "lively" read, this book is a must have for anyone who is interested in a topic that most people shun. This book (which includes chapters on Grave Robbing, , Premature Burial, and Mummification) has a wonderful "English" feel to it (lot's of gallows humor and an Author who treats the subject with the right balance of seriousness and levity). The section on the death of George II is worth the price of the book alone. True, a few myths are taken as historical fact - but many others are dispelled. Ahh Hell, this is just good, clean, morbid FUN.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Later title: DEATH A History of Man's Obsessions and Fears
7 Feb 2002
Format:Paperback
You won't feel "Morbid" reading this book. The writter makes the reader feel very comfortable with this subject. He literally puts the FUN back in Funeral- using humar where appropriate. No stress- Just History and a lot of it!!
He begins with being Buried Alive then goes to Body Snatchers,Mummification,Embalming,Cremation,Tomb stones,Suicide and Fears of planning your own funeral.
I purchased another copy in case my friends lost one while they read it- it's that good. DON'T MISS THIS BOOK!!
After all you can't avoid it.
He begins with being Buried Alive then goes to Body Snatchers,Mummification,Embalming,Cremation,Tomb stones,Suicide and Fears of planning your own funeral.
I purchased another copy in case my friends lost one while they read it- it's that good. DON'T MISS THIS BOOK!!
After all you can't avoid it.
Wonderful Read!
19 Mar 2011
Format:Paperback
I could hardly put the book down! It's filled with the most interesting facts about death. I'd recommend it for anyone who is remotely interested in death. It's definitely a book you can read multiple times and still enjoy. I also use it as a reference book sometimes.
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
