Thomas A. Kselman

An often dry but also often fascinating work of academic history looking at the evolution of popular attitudes concerning deaths and funerals in post-Revolutionary France. Chapters examine everything from evolving religious traditions (sermons early in the 19th Century emphasized hellfire, while those later in the center focused on paradise) to alternative belief systems like spiritism to changes in how graveyards and funerals were managed (always with a heavy government role, rather than the laissez-faire attitude taken for granted in the United States). Full of interesting tidbits, recommended for someone who's already interested in the subject matter of either attitudes to death or 19th Century France, but probably a tough sell for a general audience.… (mere)

3393. Miracles & Prophecies in Nineteenth Century France, by Thomas A Kselman (read Feb 13, 2000) This is a 1983 book and the topic referred to in this book interests me very much, and this is a well-balanced account of the subject. I did not remember it when I decided to read the book, but it won the John Gilmary Shea award for 1983, and it is worth reading and I wonder if there are other winners of that award which I should read. I don't have a list, but with some work I think I could compile one.… (mere)