Celebrations of Death

Celebrations of Death by Peter Metcalf

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.

"..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." Choice

Peter Metcalf has conducted research in Borneo for over two decades. He is Professor of Anthropology at the University of Virginia, USA.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780521423755
ISBN 10	0521423759
Title	Celebrations of Death
Author	Peter Metcalf
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Cambridge University Press
Year published	1991-10-25
Number of pages	258
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note	Unavailable