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Victorian death rituals

Judith Flanders explores the fascinating and sometimes bizarre rites and rituals around dying and mourning in the 19th century

Published: February 16, 2024 at 7:02 AM

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Death was an everyday part of life in 19th-century Britain – and the Victorians were fascinated by it, developing a wealth of customs and rules about how people should bury their dead and how they should grieve. Many of these – from hair jewellery to deathbed photography – seem strange to modern eyes, but they sprang from a deep desire to pay respect to the deceased. Speaking to Rebecca Franks, Judith Flanders takes us on a moving journey from the sickbed to the cemetery.

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Judith Flanders is the author of Rites of Passage: Death and Mourning in Victorian Britain (Picador, 2024)

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