Facing the 'King of Terrors'

Inthisbook,death,atopicoftenneglectedbyhistorians,isgiventheattentionitdeservesasoneofthemostimportantaspectsofpersonalandsocietalexperience.Facingthe'KingofTerrors'examineschangesintherolesandperceptionsofdeathinoneAmericancommunity,Schenectady,NewYork,from1750to1990.Aremarkablythoroughstudy,thisworkincorporatesawidevarietyoftopics,includingcausesofdeath,epidemicsandthereactionstheyengender,ritualssurroundingdyingandburial,cemeteriesandgravemarkers,publiccelebrationsofthedeathsofimportantfigures,reactionstowar,andbusinessesthatprofitfromdeath.Combininganin-depthlookatpatternsofdeathinsocietyasawholewithaninvestigationofpersonalresponsestosuchculturalcustoms,thebookmakesuseofpersonallettersanddiariestoexplorehowbroadersocialchangesweremanifestedinthelivesofindividuals.