Dealings with the Dead, Volume 2 (of 2)

"Dealings with the Dead, Volume 2" by Lucius M. Sargent is a journey through 19th-century society's strange relationship with death, marked by sharp wit and insightful observations. The author paints pictures of Boston’s elite, their elaborate funeral clothes, and odd customs, weaving personal stories with historical moments, like the tales of Colonel Barnabas Clarke and Tailor Tommy Marshall, to reveal the eccentric side of remembrance. Sargent cleverly pokes fun at cultural practices like Irish wakes, yet he also raises serious questions about our fears, like being buried alive. With a mix of humor and thoughtful questions, the book urges us to think about life, death, and what we leave behind.