Spectacle of Grief: Public Funerals and Memory in the Civil War Era

The book explores how the public funerals of major figures from the Civil War era shaped public memories of the war and allowed a diverse set of people to contribute to changing American national identities. These funerals featured lengthy processions that sometimes crossed multiple state lines, burial ceremonies open to the public, and other cultural productions of commemoration such as oration and song. Americans' participation in these funeral rites led to contemplation and contestation over the political and social meanings of the war and the roles played by the honored dead.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 12 April 2022
Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

This captivating book delves into the profound impact of public funerals held during the Civil War era on shaping public memories of the conflict and contributing to the evolution of American national identities. These elaborate ceremonies, characterized by lengthy processions that traversed multiple state lines, open burial rituals accessible to the general public, and various cultural productions of commemoration such as orations and songs, served as powerful platforms for diverse individuals to contribute to the changing narrative of the war. As Sarah J. Purcell meticulously reveals, the participation of Americans in these funeral rites sparked intense contemplation and debate over the political and social meanings of the war, as well as the roles played by the honored deceased.

Public mourning for military heroes, reformers, and politicians during this period became a means to channel political and social anxieties as the country grappled with the aftermath of immense death and casualties. Purcell's insightful analysis demonstrates how large-scale funerals for figures such as Henry Clay and Thomas J. Stonewall Jackson set the stage for mourning culture and Civil War commemoration. Following the war, public funerals for prominent figures such as Robert E. Lee, Charles Sumner, Frederick Douglass, and Winnie Davis further elaborated on these established patterns, fostering public discussions about the profound meanings of the war, Reconstruction, race, and gender.

Through a meticulous examination of these funeral ceremonies, Purcell sheds light on the ways in which public mourning served as a means to commemorate and honor the fallen, while also shaping the collective memory and understanding of the Civil War. This book offers valuable insights into the complex interplay between politics, society, and the human experience during a pivotal period in American history.

Weight: 234g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781469668338