1 Introduction
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Lucy Noakes
Abstract
The introduction argues that death is central to warfare. Demonstrating that a variety of factors, including the dominant emotional economy of the war years, have meant that the dead of Second World War Britain have been largely absent from the cultural memory of this conflict, it goes on to explain why it is important to write the history of death, grief and bereavement in wartime. It sets out the numbers of the dead, considers how they died, and provides an overview of the ways that the state attempted to manage wartime death. The chapter discusses the power of emotions in wartime, focusing on the disruptive potential of grief, and places this within a brief discussion of the ‘history of emotions’. Finally it sets out the three key arguments of the book, and provides a brief introduction to the themes of each chapter.
Abstract
The introduction argues that death is central to warfare. Demonstrating that a variety of factors, including the dominant emotional economy of the war years, have meant that the dead of Second World War Britain have been largely absent from the cultural memory of this conflict, it goes on to explain why it is important to write the history of death, grief and bereavement in wartime. It sets out the numbers of the dead, considers how they died, and provides an overview of the ways that the state attempted to manage wartime death. The chapter discusses the power of emotions in wartime, focusing on the disruptive potential of grief, and places this within a brief discussion of the ‘history of emotions’. Finally it sets out the three key arguments of the book, and provides a brief introduction to the themes of each chapter.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- Acknowledgements vi
- 1 Introduction 1
- 2 Shadowing 21
- 3 Feeling 45
- 4 Planning 73
- 5 Coping 101
- 6 Dying 125
- 7 Burying 155
- 8 Grieving 193
- 9 Remembering 229
- 10 Conclusion 265
- Bibliography 271
- Index 291
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- Acknowledgements vi
- 1 Introduction 1
- 2 Shadowing 21
- 3 Feeling 45
- 4 Planning 73
- 5 Coping 101
- 6 Dying 125
- 7 Burying 155
- 8 Grieving 193
- 9 Remembering 229
- 10 Conclusion 265
- Bibliography 271
- Index 291
