SKU: 10937330580

The Work of the Dead: A Cultural History of Mortal Remains

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The Work of the Dead: A Cultural History of Mortal RemainsThe meaning of our concern for mortal remains from antiquity through the twentieth century The Greek philosopher Diogenes said that when he died his body should be tossed over the city walls for beasts to scavenge. Why should he or anyone else care what became of his corpse? In The Work of the Dead, acclaimed cultural historian Thomas Laqueur examines why humanity has universally rejected Diogenes's argument. No culture has been indifferent to mortal

The meaning of our concern for mortal remains--from antiquity through the twentieth century

The Greek philosopher Diogenes said that when he died his body should be tossed over the city walls for beasts to scavenge. Why should he or anyone else care what became of his corpse? In The Work of the Dead, acclaimed cultural historian Thomas Laqueur examines why humanity has universally rejected Diogenes's argument. No culture has been indifferent to mortal remains. Even in our supposedly disenchanted scientific age, the dead body still matters--for individuals, communities, and nations. A remarkably ambitious history, The Work of the Dead offers a compelling and richly detailed account of how and why the living have cared for the dead, from antiquity to the twentieth century.

The book draws on a vast range of sources--from mortuary archaeology, medical tracts, letters, songs, poems, and novels to painting and landscapes in order to recover the work that the dead do for the living: making human communities that connect the past and the future. Laqueur shows how the churchyard became the dominant resting place of the dead during the Middle Ages and why the cemetery largely supplanted it during the modern period. He traces how and why since the nineteenth century we have come to gather the names of the dead on great lists and memorials and why being buried without a name has become so disturbing. And finally, he tells how modern cremation, begun as a fantasy of stripping death of its history, ultimately failed--and how even the ashes of the victims of the Holocaust have been preserved in culture.

A fascinating chronicle of how we shape the dead and are in turn shaped by them, this is a landmark work of cultural history.-- "Library Journal"

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Published: 05/08/2018
ISBN: 9780691180939
Pages: 744
Weight: 2.00lbs
Size: 9.20h x 6.10w x 2.20d
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SKU: 10937330580

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Stephanie Rager
Whiting, US
★★★★★ 5
Good For Heavy Chewers So Far
Color: Onyx Black - Most Durable
Solid quality. My Doberman is a power chewer and I am looking for a toy that he can't destroy in 2 seconds. If a ball lasts more than an hour it is a miracle. It has a sturdy design and is more heavy weight than the other "non-destructible" balls he has. He has only had his ball for one day so we will see how long this ball lasts him. It is the size of a tennis ball, firm, little to no bounce, and seems built for heavy chewing.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2026
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Scott Gromaski
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 5
Great Product, 2 years and running!
Color: Onyx Black - Most Durable
It’s been almost 2 years and my dogs haven’t destroyed them yet. I have a Pitbull and a Pit/Cosro mix. They destroy every toy we’ve given them, except these toys. Great product 100% worth the money
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Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2026
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Tony Ahearn
Cuba, US
★★★★★ 5
Perfect for HEAVY chewers
Color: Onyx Black - Most Durable
My dog is a heavy chewer. Destroys everything that’s not very hard rubber, hard plastic, or hard material. He LOVES this ball. I think it’s his favorite. Plus, it bounces great so you can play with your dog. Very well constructed- probably indestructible or will at least last a very long time. Easily worth the money.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2026
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Evan J.
Bozeman, US
★★★★★ 5
The only toy my dogs can’t destroy and love
Color: Onyx Black - Most Durable
I am thrilled to have found one toy my dogs don’t destroy immediately. They have torn up Fenrir hammers, the black kongs of all sizes, the monster k9 stick, nylabones, and they don’t like the goughnut at all (it stinks like a bad tire). This is the first one they both love and haven’t been able to destroy immediately. It does allow little tooth marks, but that’s what makes it fun for them. They are very happy playing with it and I’d say this one was worth every dollar. Update Months Later: We’ve gone through 2/3 now. I got two initially, and one has lasted long term. They still haven’t completely destroyed it. They did destroy a second one quickly so I suspect a flaw in it. They sent me a new one and they took a while, but they did destroy the third to the point we had to throw it away. Despite that, one still remains and our dogs still love it. It’s still the best for the money compared to others. We have two Bully XL’s that are each close to 100 pounds.
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M. B.
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 5
Indestructible
Color: Onyx Black - Most Durable
This is actually indestrutible! Be careful though, it's wicked hard/heavy. It isn't a ball you want banging into things. Use outside!!
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Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2026

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