
Celebrations of Death
The Anthropology of Mortuary Ritual
Cambridge University Press
2nd Edition
Published on 25. October 1991
Book
Paperback/Softback
258 pages
978-0-521-42375-5 (ISBN)
Description
This revised edition of a cross-cultural study of rituals surrounding death has become a standard text in anthropology, sociology and religion. Part of its fascination is that in understanding other people's death rituals we are able to gain a better understanding of our own. The authors refer to a wide variety of examples, from different continents and epochs. They compare the great tombs of the Berawan of Borneo and the pyramids of Egypt, as well as the dramas of medieval French royal funerals and the burial alive of the Dinka 'masters of the spear' in the Sudan, and other rituals which at first sight seem to have little in common. Many of these cases are anthropological classics, but the authors place them in an alternative context, so as to shape a novel synthesis on the anthropology of death ritual. A fresh introduction reviews theoretical developments in the field since the book first appeared in 1979.
Reviews / Votes
"...a model of clarity. It can be read by specialist and non-specialist alike..." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion "...a readable and fascinating survey that on occasions borders on the brilliant." ChoiceMore details
Edition
2nd Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Edition type
Revised edition
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
9 Halftones, unspecified; 9 Line drawings, unspecified
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight
424 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-521-42375-5 (9780521423755)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Book
10/1991
2nd Edition
Cambridge University Press
€55.80
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Previous edition

Book
10/1991
2nd Edition
Cambridge University Press
€55.80
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Persons
Author
University of Virginia
International Science and Technology Institute, Inc., Washington DC
Content
List of illustrations; Preface; Introduction to the second edition; 1. Preliminaries; Part I. Universals and Culture: 2. Emotional reactions to death; 3. Symbolic associations of death; Part II. Death as Transition: 4. The living and the dead: a re-examination of Hertz; 5. Death rituals and life values: rites of passage reconsidered; Part III. The Royal Corpse and the Body Politic: 6. The dead king; 7. The immortal kingship; Part IV. Seeing Ourselves Anew: 8. American deathways; Bibliography; Index.