Drawing upon a rare and highly original ethnography of contemporary mortuary practices, Representations of Death takes the reader through the medical, bureaucratic, commercial and ritual aspects of death Going behind the scenes at hospitals, funeral parlours, crematoria and cemeteries, as well as holding poignant, in-depth interviews with bereaved women, Bradbury has been able to illuminate the very different perspectives of the deathwork professional and the grieving relative. Illustrated with stunning photographs, this fascinating book makes a significant contribution to the...

Drawing upon a rare ethnography of mortuary practices in the 1990s, this book takes the reader through the medical, bureaucratic, commercial and ritual aspects of death. Making extensive use of conversations with staff in hospitals, registry offices, funeral rooms and cemeteries, as well as drawing on fieldwork conducted with bereaved women, the book makes a contribution to the growing literature in death studies.