Death, Grief and Poverty in Britain, 18701914 [Paperback]

A study of expression of grief among the working class in Victorian and Edwardian Britain.With high mortality rates, it has been assumed that the poor in Victorian and Edwardian Britain did not mourn their dead. Contesting this approach, Julie-Marie Strange studies the expression of grief among the working class, demonstrating that poverty increased--rather than deadened--it. She illustrates the mourning practices of the working classes through chapters addressing care of the corpse, the funeral, the cemetery, and commemoration. This book, which draws on a broad range of sources, will be an invaluable contribution to an important area of social and cultural history.With high mortality rates, it has been assumed that the poor in Victorian and Edwardian Britain did not mourn their dead. Contesting this approach, Julie-Marie Strange studies the expression of grief among the working class, demonstrating that poverty increased--rather than deadened--it. She illustrates the mourning practices of the working classes through chapters addressing care of the corpse, the funeral, the cemetery, and commemoration. This book, which draws on a broad range of sources, will be an invaluable contribution to an important area of social and cultural history.It has been assumed that the poor in Victorian and Edwardian Britain did not mourn their dead because of high mortality rates. Contesting this approach, Julie-Marie Strange studies the expression of grief among the working class, demonstrating that poverty increased--rather than deadened--it. She illustrates the mourning practices of the working classes through chapters addressing care of the corpse, the funeral, the cemetery, commemoration, and high infant mortality rates. The book draws upon fiction, journalism, and official reports as well as personal testimony.Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations; 1. Introduction: revisiting the Victorian and Edwardian celebration of death; 2. Life, sickness and death; 3. Caring for the corpslCž