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Past Mortems
Life and death behind mortuary doors
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Check link for latest rating. ( 2,485 ratings, 298 reviews)
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Past Mortems
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See moreLet Carla Valentine, mortician and curator - the mistress of death and high queen of the specimen jar - tell the truth about, in her words: 'exactly what happens when the mortuary doors swing shut or the lid of the coffin closes.'
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Description
PRE-ORDER NOW: MURDER ISN'T EASY: THE FORENSICS OF AGATHA CHRISTIE, THE FASCINATING NEW BOOK BY CARLA VALENTINE
'Part memoir and part manifesto, Valentine's book lifts the lid on daily life in the mortuary . . . Valentine bares her own soul . . . with visceral attention to physical and emotional detail' - Wendy Moore, Guardian
'A fascinating portrait . . . one seriously intriguing read' - Glamour
'A grisly topic, but a glorious read' - Mail on Sunday
A day in the life of Carla Valentine - curator, pathology technician and 'death professional' - is not your average day. She spent ten years training and working as an Anatomical Pathology Technologist: where the mortuary slab was her desk, and that day's corpses her task list.
Past Mortems tells Carla's stories of those years, as well as investigating the body alongside our attitudes towards death - shedding light on what the living can learn from the dead and the toll the work can take on the living souls who carry it out.
Fascinating and insightful, Past Mortems reveals the truth about what happens when the mortuary doors swing shut or the lid of the coffin closes . . .
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Carla Valentine's Past Mortems is described as a compelling blend of memoir and manifesto that explores her life in the mortuary, offering vivid insights into her personal experiences and views on death. Critics appreciate her ability to provide a detailed and heartfelt perspective, delivering a captivating account that portrays her profession with care and empathy, making it an engaging read for those curious about the realities of working with the deceased.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780751565348
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 15 March 2018
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Sphere
Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 19.0mm
Width: 127.0mm
Height: 196.0mm
Weight: 250g
Pages: 320
About the Author
Carla Valentine works with the dead: she's your average chick who just happens to know as much about corpses as she does cocktails. After studying forensics, Carla assisted pathologists with post-mortems for years, before eventually becoming the Technical Curator of the world's most famous pathology museum. When it comes to death, she truly is a world-class expert.
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