When the "Dead" Rose in Britain: Premature Burial and the Misdiagnosis of Death During the Enlightenment

This book explores the history of humankind's understanding of physiological death, highlighting the anxieties and fears that emerged with the potential for misdiagnosis and premature burial. It provides a timeline of events and statistics related to misdiagnosed death during the eighteenth century and explores the folkloric phenomenon of the rising dead.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 277 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2022
Publisher: McFarland & Co Inc

This captivating book delves into a comprehensive timeline of humankind's evolving understanding of physiological death, offering a rich and intricate exploration of the subject matter. With its roots firmly entrenched in Early Modern Britain, it unravels the complexities surrounding the ambiguous definition of death, igniting a profound sense of anxiety among those who feared the potential for misdiagnosis. The fear of premature burials took on a tangible form as newspapers across Europe published numerous articles detailing instances where individuals had been mistakenly declared dead and subsequently buried—or nearly buried—alive. These distressing accounts have been meticulously compiled within the pages of this text, providing the first contemporary statistical snapshot of the frequency with which misdiagnosed death led to premature burial during the eighteenth century.

The public's awareness of this unsettling phenomenon manifested itself in various ways, including the emergence of the practice of holding wakes before funerals and the development of safety coffins. Moreover, this book delves into the fascinating folkloric phenomenon of the rising dead, drawing inspiration from the stories that have captivated the imaginations of renowned authors such as Coleridge, Byron, and Stoker. These authors, in their literary works, skillfully fused medical knowledge with fiction, giving birth to the genre of vampire literature that continues to captivate readers to this day.

Through its meticulous research and engaging narrative, this book offers a profound insight into the complex interplay between medical knowledge, societal fears, and the literary imagination, shedding light on the fascinating and often chilling aspects of humankind's historical relationship with physiological death.

Weight: 354g
Dimension: 150 x 226 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781476682747