"The Handbook of Death and Dying" takes stock of the vast literature in the field of thanatology, bringing together what has previously been an unwieldy body of knowledge into a concise, yet comprehensive reference work. This two-volume handbook will provide direction and momentum to the study of death-related behaviour for many years to come. Key features include: more than 100 contributors representing authoritative expertise in a diverse array of disciplines such as - anthropology, family studies, history, law, medicine, mortuary science, philosophy, psychology, social work, sociology and theology; a distinguished editorial board of leading scholars and researchers in the field; 103 definitive essays covering almost every dimension of death-related behavior; the exploration of concepts and social patterns within the larger topical concern; journal article length essays that address topics with appropriate detail; and, multidisciplinary and cross-cultural articles.