Celebration of Death: Introduction to Some of the Buildings, Monuments and Settings of Funerary Architecture in the Western European Tradition

by James Stevens Curl

This book describes and illustrates funerary architecture, monuments, memorials, and mausolea, together with the landscapes of cemeteries, from classical antiquity to the 20th century. The subjects of funerary architecture, of commemorative structures, and of cemeteries have been neglected by writers until fairly recently. This book describes funerary traditions, derived from early civilizations, from the Graeco-Roman world, and from Judaeo-Christian practice. In one broad sweep the author covers a wide range of chronology and geographical area, including the highly elaborate cemeteries created from the 18th century onwards.

Genres: Death

432 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Born in Ireland, where he received his early education, Professor Emeritus James Stevens Curl has held Chairs in Architectural History at two British Universities. Having graduated in Architecture at Oxford, he went on to study Town Planning, and wrote his Dissertation under the direction of the German architect, Arthur Korn. He later read for his Doctorate at University College London, and has twice been Visiting Fellow at Peterhouse, University of Cambridge. He is a Member of The Royal Irish Academy, a Fellow of the Societies of Antiquaries of London and of Scotland, an Architect Accredited in Building Conservation, a member of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, a Fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland and a Member of the Royal Institute of British Architects . He worked for a number of years as an architect, with an especial interest in historic buildings and conservation, until he became a full-time academic in 1978, having already published perceptive articles and books which began to establish his reputation for impeccable scholarship, a fine prose-style, and penetrating insights.

Reviews

[Liam Ostermann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can not praise this book enough - specifically for its abundant enthusiasm but also it's rigorous factuality. The author knows his subject and loves it with an infectious enthusiasm which always makes makes a book a pleasure to read.

I can't comment on what the current position towards cemeteries or the ceremonial aspects of death are in other countries but it is extraordinary how in the UK we went from full on elaborate ceremonial and commemoration with elaborate funeral monuments to an almost complete abandonment of almost every aspect funeral traditions. I certainly get the impression from my admittedly superficial experience that cemeteries, funerals, mortuary monuments, etc. still have a more central place in people's experience then they have here. For me, and I think many UK readers this book and so much that it contains is a revelation. That so much time, money and thought was put into the housing of the dead, not simply in memorialising them, is almost in comprehensible, but still fascinating. As are the physical structures.

This is one of the best comprehensive examinations of some marvellous, but largely unknown, architectural and artistic monuments. Marvellous texts and photographs and, it is nice note, in many case the cemeteries and their monuments are in better condition and better looked after then when this book was published.

[Adam Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the best book on this under researched area, ever published. Its scope is comprehensive, it is entertaining. Even though the book is pushing 40 years old it is still relevant.