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Facing the 'King of Terrors' : Death and Society in an American Community, 1750 1990 - Robert V. Wells

Facing the 'King of Terrors'

Death and Society in an American Community, 1750 1990

By: Robert V. Wells, Wells Robert V.

Paperback | 16 March 2006

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In this book, death, a topic often neglected by historians, is given the attention it deserves as one of the most important aspects of personal and societal experience. Facing the 'King of Terrors' examines changes in the roles and perceptions of death in one American community, Schenectady, New York, from 1750 to 1990. A remarkably thorough study, this work incorporates a wide variety of topics, including causes of death, epidemics and the reactions they engender, rituals surrounding dying and burial, cemeteries and grave markers, public celebrations of the deaths of important figures, reactions to war, and businesses that profit from death. Combining an in-depth look at patterns of death in society as a whole with an investigation of personal responses to such cultural customs, the book makes use of personal letters and diaries to explore how broader social changes were manifested in the lives of individuals.
Industry Reviews
'Wells is not only a scholar with a mole-like knack for digging up intriguing data, but a humanist, stoically resigned to human inevitability.' Albany Times Union '... is essential reading for those who would understand modern American difficulties in coping with death and dying. Professional historians will find that it eases their task of formulating and conveying this understanding to the wider public.' Popular Studies

You Can Find This Book In

Non-FictionSociology & AnthropologySociologySociology & Death & DyingHistorySpecific Events & Topics in HistorySocial & Cultural HistoryRegional & National HistoryHistory of the AmericasEarliest Times to Present DayModern History from 1700 to 1900

Other Editions and Formats

Hardcover

Published: 8th May 2000

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