Examines funeral and burial customs in various religions and cultures.
Gr 5-7-Perl sets out to demystify "the mystery at the end of life." In six chapters, she discusses funeral and burial customs from prehistoric to modern times, including mummification, embalming, and the differences and similarities among major religions regarding death practices. Readers are also told what happens to a corpse after several months buried in a coffin, and how bodies are cremated. The book closes with examples of humorous epitaphs from gravestones of the past. The black-and-white photos expand the text and are appropriately placed. Although research and treatment are superior in Penny Colman's Corpses, Coffins, and Crypts (Holt, 1997), libraries looking for a brief overview may want to consider Perl's book.
Jennifer Ralston, Harford County Public Library, Belcamp, MD
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Gr. 6-12. In this meticulously written text, sure to entertain as well as enlighten, Perl unveils both facts and superstitions about death. Avoiding morbidity and histrionics, she explores timeless mysteries about death, examines funeral customs shaped by prehistoric and ancient peoples, and takes a look at various world religions' traditions and American customs, past and present. She keeps the writing sharp and interesting by adeptly working in intriguing trivia. Numerous illustrations support the text, which is rich in social and religious lore and filled with concrete details about burial rites, mourning, and humankind's myriad attempts to outwit death. In the final chapter, comic epitaphs by the famous and forgotten add a touch of humor to a topic well covered from many angles.
Roger LeslieCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved