In this illustrated historical survey of the image of death in art and literature Karl S. Guthke assesses the significance of the various personifications of death in different ages and cultures, as male or female, enemy or lover, friend or avenger, angel or devil. Guthke shows that such images are reflections of the life and cultures that produced them, and through them he offers astonishing new insights into the nature and perception of the Western self in its cultural, intellectual, and literary context.

Standardstoff an Schule und Hochschule. 'Emilia Galotti', 'Kabale und Liebe' und 'Maria Magdalena' gelten als Paradebeispiele fur das burgerliche Trauerspiel. Was zeichnet die zentrale literarische Gattung des 18. und 19. Jahrhunderts aus? Die 6. Auflage liefert einen aktualisierten Uberblick.