The Oxford Book of Death

I have the old hard-bound version, given to my mother after my father died, with passages she underlined and my little sister's crayon scribbles. Growing up, I assumed it must be like The Egyptian Book of the Dead or the Guide for the Recently Deceased in Beetlejuice, so while curious, I viewed it with trepidation and kept my distance. Its contents were a mystery to me until my mom gave this to me as a resource for my poetry, which often explores death. In just the few months I've had it, it's been a fantastic resource for further reading as well as a source of solace in a time of grief. Some quotes are heartbreaking, some are heartwarming, and most provide interesting food for thought. It's well-organized and indexed, something often show more lacking in these sorts of compilations. My only complaint , which I suppose is a matter of personal taste, is that some of the quotes are too long, indeed they are full passages of text that can go on for a page or longer, and I prefer things more concise. show less

This is a comprehensive anthology of writers views of death. Organized by topic covering the multitude aspects of death from definitions to epitaphs, requiems and last words the book provides a coverage of thinking about death that is at once breathtaking and inspirational. The editor, D. J. Enright , provides useful introductions to the sections as a guide for the reader. I have found this volume to be a useful reference and fascinating source for thinking about the myriad aspects of death.

I'm not sure why someone took the trouble to write this book, nor indeed why Oxford published it!