A comprehensive historical survey of the work of undertakers in the first half of the twentieth century, essential reading for anyone interested in understanding an often hidden but certainly most fascinating trade. Reflecting the rapidly changing nature of the undertaker's work in pre, inter and post- war Britain, this book details the introduction of embalming; how the enormous task of dealing with the dead from both World Wars was undertaken; how undertakers coped with the tragic death toll of the Spanish flu, and the rise of the Co-operative Funeral Service. Around these more institutional historical keystones, the author includes several important burials from the period: the moving story of the burial of the Unknown Soldier; the extraordinary tale of the 'empty coffin' of Lord Kitchener, and the awful logistics of dealing with the worst ever aviation tragedy, the crash of the airship R101. Also included is the author's own collection of rare photographs detailing the changes in modes of transport, premises and coffins that took place during this time, along with contemporary advertising and other images showing the undertaker at work. A further section illustrates the work of a related occupation, the monumental mason.

“A top-notch mystery full of keen characterization, humor, old English atmosphere, a charmingly decadent family, and a few sudden deaths.” —The New York Times A beggarwoman on a bench arouses Albert Campion’s curiosity—and helps Scotland Yard lure him into a case of family dysfunction. The seemingly destitute woman is none other than a member of the eccentric Palinode family, which has recently lost two of its members. The police suspect a poisoner is on the loose, which is why Campion is willing to go undercover as a lodger in the boardinghouse where they live. As the recently deceased are exhumed, Campion becomes acquainted with the old-fashioned, out-of-the-ordinary family members, who talk in crossword puzzle clues, sneak out at night, and cook vats of stinky food in the basement to save money. And if that’s not enough to keep Campion on his toes, the local undertaker seems to be digging himself into a hole . . . Praise for Margery Allingham “Margery Allingham stands out like a shining light.” —Agatha Christie “The best of mystery writers.” —The New Yorker “Don’t start reading these books unless you are confident that you can handle addiction.” —The Independent “One of the finest Golden-Age crime novelists.” —The Sunday Telegraph “Spending an evening with Campion is one of life’s pure pleasures.” —The Sunday Times

'On the last day of 1959 my father, the Beau Brummel of morticians, piled us into his green and white Desoto in which we looked like a moving pack of Salem cigarettes. He drove away from Lanesboro, the city in which we all were born, and into a small town on the Kentucky and Tennessee border. It was only a ninety-minute drive, but it might as well have been to Alaska. When our big boat of a car glided into Jubilee we circled the town square and headed towards the residential section of Main Street. My father pulled the car over and our five dark heads turned to face a huge, slightly run down house. My parents were total strangers to this tiny enclave, but it didn't matter because my father had finally realised his dream in this old house, which was to own his own funeral home.'

An enthralling novel of historical fiction for fans of Lisa Wingate and Ellen Marie Wiseman, The Undertaker’s Assistant is a powerful story of human resilience set during Reconstruction-era New Orleans that features an extraordinary and unforgettable heroine at its heart. “The dead can’t hurt you. Only the living can.” Effie Jones, a former slave who escaped to the Union side as a child, knows the truth of her words. Taken in by an army surgeon and his wife during the War, she learned to read and write, to tolerate the sight of blood and broken bodies—and to forget what is too painful to bear. Now a young freedwoman, she has returned south to New Orleans and earns her living as an embalmer, her steady hand and skillful incisions compensating for her white employer’s shortcomings. Tall and serious, Effie keeps her distance from the other girls in her boarding house, holding tight to the satisfaction she finds in her work. But despite her reticence, two encounters—with a charismatic state legislator named Samson Greene, and a beautiful young Creole, Adeline—introduce her to new worlds of protests and activism, of soirees and social ambition. Effie decides to seek out the past she has blocked from her memory and try to trace her kin. As her hopes are tested by betrayal, and New Orleans grapples with violence and growing racial turmoil, Effie faces loss and heartache, but also a chance to finally find her place . . .

The Undertaker is one of the most famous wrestlers of all time. He has wrestled in hundreds of matches and won several championships. Readers will learn about the UndertakerÕs past, his training, and how he has remained one of the biggest stars in wrestling for over 25 years.

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The Undertaker is Laura Del Gaudio's lively story of learning the family business from under the kitchen table as a child. It is how she learned empathy in the face of unspeakable traumas while understanding the impact of trauma herself. Licensed at the age of 21, she became the 3rd generation in the family business which was located at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge. Laura Del Gaudio has written a one-of-a-kind book, like the author herself who is authentic, a New York character as any. It is a toss up between "6 Feet Under" meets "A Bronx Tale" and The "Undertaking: Life Studies from the Dismal Trade" meets "A Walker in the City." The Undertaker is a story about suffering, and also about family, community, healing, triumph and what it means to be loyal. The Undertaker is not only by a woman-for-women, but for those who want to better understand what it means to be a woman in a world where the future is female.