Overview

The Untold Story of American Funeral and Mourning Traditions Why do we embalm the deceased? Why are funerals so expensive? Is there a reason coffins are shaped the way they are? When--and why--did we start viewing the deceased? Ceremonies for honoring the departed are crucial parts of our lives, but few people know where our traditional practices come from--and what they reveal about our history, culture, and beliefs about death. In Last Rites, author Todd Harra takes you on a fascinating exploration of American customs around death, burial, and remembrance, including: - Influences for American rituals--from medieval Europe, the Roman Empire, and ancient Egypt - When mourning fell out of fashion--and how George Washington's passing brought it back - Abraham Lincoln's landmark funeral and its widespread impact - How technology, religion, media, and even grave robbers have shaped our traditions - Unknown soldiers--how warfare influenced funeral and bereavement practices ... and vice versa - The future of our death rites--mushroom suits, green burial, body donation, flameless cremation, home funerals, and more The rich story of the American funeral is one of constant evolution. Whether you're planning a funeral service or are simply intrigued by the meaning behind American burial practices, Last Rites is an informative and compelling exploration of the history--and future--of the ceremonies we use to say farewell to those who have departed this world.

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Todd Harra is the author of several books about the funeral profession. He is a fourth-generation funeral director and works for the family business in Wilmington, Delaware. In addition to being a funeral director and embalmer, Todd is a certified postmortem reconstructionist and cremationist. T. Ryder Smith is a narrator whose audiobook readings have won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration as well as several AudioFile Earphones Awards. As an award-winning actor, he has appeared on Broadway in Equus and in many off-Broadway shows including Passion Play, Dead Man's Cell Phone, and Lebensraum, for which he won a Drama Desk Award. He has also made numerous television appearances on series such as Nurse Jackie, Blue Bloods, Law & Order: SVU, and others.

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