The Social and Cultural History of Death and Bereavement in Australia and England 1914-1980

Death, bereavement and old age come to us all, but their history has been neglected for twentieth century Australia and England. I aim to write two substantial books and several articles on this vitally important subject, explaining how and why emotional and expressive death practices and attitudes were often transformed after 1918 into a silence about death, with minimal ritual and privatised grief. This comparative project has crucial outcomes for our understanding of the histories of medicine, war, religion and the family, as well as policy implications for current issues such as euthanasia, suicide, aged care, cancer and palliative care.