The act of death itself and the rituals surrounding it vary enormously and shed a fascinating light on the cultures of which they are a part. In this brief and lively history, Douglas Davies – internationally acknowledged as one of the leading experts in this field – tackles some of the most significant aspects of death and weaves them into a compelling story about our changing attitudes to dying.

• Offers a fascinating examination of this subject which is of enduring interest in every culture in the world
  
• Considers the profound influence death has had on subjects ranging from philosophy to anthropology, through to art, literature, and music - inspiring some of our most enduring artistic highpoints
  
• Broaches some of the most significant aspects of death, such as the act of dying, grieving, burial, artistic interpretations of death, places of memory, the fear of death, and disasters/tragedies
  
• Weaves these numerous approaches to death into a compelling story about our changing attitudes to dying
  
• Contains several illustrations, and is written in an accessible and lively style.

• A Brief History of Death 6
  • Contents 8
  • List of plates (plates fall between pp. 88–89) 12
  • Preface 13
  • 1 Journey Beyond 16
    • Gilgamesh 17
    • Adam and Eve 19
    • Resurrection-Transcendence 21
    • Death, Sin and Atonement 21
    • Release-Transcendence 23
    • Self-Transcendence 23
    • Hope and Faith 25
    • To Be or Not To Be 28
    • Traditional Futures 29
    • The Uneasy Species 29