The Transformation of the Cemetery in Eighteenth Century Paris

“The Architecture of Death” is a book by Richard A. Etlin that explores the design and construction of tombs, mausoleums, and other structures associated with death and memorialization. The book is a study of how architecture has been used throughout history to express ideas about mortality, grief, and remembrance.

In the 18th century Paris underwent a remarkable transformation in Western attitudes about life and death. The Architecture of Death traces this change through six pivotal decades and analyzes the intellectual and social concerns that led to the establishment of a new kind of urban institution – the municipal cemetery. Drawing heavily on new materials and archival sources, supported by nearly 270 plans, photographs and drawings, the book is not only a definitive work on the design of cemeteries but is also the cultural history of an age.

The book is divided into six decades. The first part focuses on the history of tomb design, from ancient civilizations to the present day. Etlin examines the ways in which different cultures have approached the design of tombs and mausoleums, looking at the use of different materials, forms, and symbols. He also considers the social and cultural context in which these structures were built, exploring how they were used to communicate ideas about death and the afterlife.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. 25.5 x 18 cm.  441pp. Bibliography, index. Light shelf wear.