In the Midst of Life--: The Australian Response to Death'How we deal with death can be very important for the way we live.' This challenging conviction is the cornerstone to a thoroughly useful, authoritative and compassionate book. In exploring Australian responses to death, it contributes to the growing interest in what such responses reveal about our society - and how we might deal better with death as a part of life. To understand today's practices and attitudes we must go back - to mourning customs, funeral and burial arrangements since the First Fleet; to descriptions of elaborate Victorian etiquette; to the personal histories recorded on gravestones; to vehement debates for and against cremation. The story makes fascinating reading. The authors use this social history in order to look squarely at the questions we still shy away from. What is grief? How can we help ourselves and others through it? What are the practical decisions to be made when a relative or friend dies? What choices do we have? Are the rituals of churches, funeral parlours, cemeteries and crematoria flexible enough to meet our endlessly varied needs? These questions confront us all at some time. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
When Death Comes Home | 4 |
Dealing with Grief | 29 |
Copyright | |
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Aboriginal Adelaide advertising AFDA Anglican areas Association attended Australian Funeral Directors became bereaved body Brisbane burial ground buried Canberra ceme cemetery or crematorium cent century ceremonies chapel chaplain charges child Chinese Church of England clergy coffin colony committal conducted convicts cost cremation crematorium dead death decades deceased died disease dying early East Perth Cemetery embalming established firms funeral companies funeral industry funeral procession funeral rites funeral service grave graveside grief grieving hatbands hearse hospital interment John John Batman living major Melbourne General Cemetery Melbourne University Press ment minister monuments mourners mourning coaches pall particular person Perth plumes practice prayers Presbyterian Press Prices Surveillance Authority Queensland religious remains Revd rituals Roman Catholic settlement significant social society South Australia South Wales Sydney Cove Sydney Gazette Tasmania tradition undertaker Victoria W. G. Raven Western Australia