I was so excited to finally get this book! I was tired of squinting at the computer screen and looked forward to looking at all the interesting details of the pictures.
The pictures are still detailed and interesting- but they are actually smaller then on the screen. MUCH smaller. It would have been SO much better if the pics were bigger- tho there are a very few page size. Also better if there were more contrast- they had lightened the pics and not made the background black so they kind of fade into them. The font size is somewhere around -6.
So muchly disappointment size wise but not content wise. The cover is lovely- the embossing and gold title are very nice. It is about 1/2 the size I expected all the way around- but it is still a neat book. Be warned- while you will enjoy the feel of it and the pics and info- you may well need a magnifier of some kind to truly see the details. I am not sure if I would have purchased it knowing how small everything is- but I will still enjoy it :)
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Beyond the Dark Veil: Post Mortem & Mourning Photography from The Thanatos Archive Hardcover – December 15, 2014
by
Jack Mord
(Author)
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Jack Mord
(Author)
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Print length200 pages
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LanguageEnglish
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PublisherLast Gasp
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Publication dateDecember 15, 2014
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Dimensions7 x 0.75 x 9 inches
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ISBN-10086719796X
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ISBN-13978-0867197969
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Jack Mord is a collector of rare vintage photography and the owner and operator of The Thanatos Archive. He lives in the Pacific Northwest.
Product details
- Publisher : Last Gasp (December 15, 2014)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 200 pages
- ISBN-10 : 086719796X
- ISBN-13 : 978-0867197969
- Item Weight : 1.9 pounds
- Dimensions : 7 x 0.75 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #99,833 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer Reviews:
Customer reviews
4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
575 global ratings
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2016
The pictures are still detailed and interesting- but they are actually smaller then on the screen. MUCH smaller. It would have been SO much better if the pics were bigger- tho there are a very few page size. Also better if there were more contrast- they had lightened the pics and not made the background black so they kind of fade into them. The font size is somewhere around -6.
So muchly disappointment size wise but not content wise. The cover is lovely- the embossing and gold title are very nice. It is about 1/2 the size I expected all the way around- but it is still a neat book. Be warned- while you will enjoy the feel of it and the pics and info- you may well need a magnifier of some kind to truly see the details. I am not sure if I would have purchased it knowing how small everything is- but I will still enjoy it :)
Verified Purchase
4.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely book - just hard to see.
By Zanny H. on February 6, 2016
I was so excited to finally get this book! I was tired of squinting at the computer screen and looked forward to looking at all the interesting details of the pictures.By Zanny H. on February 6, 2016
The pictures are still detailed and interesting- but they are actually smaller then on the screen. MUCH smaller. It would have been SO much better if the pics were bigger- tho there are a very few page size. Also better if there were more contrast- they had lightened the pics and not made the background black so they kind of fade into them. The font size is somewhere around -6.
So muchly disappointment size wise but not content wise. The cover is lovely- the embossing and gold title are very nice. It is about 1/2 the size I expected all the way around- but it is still a neat book. Be warned- while you will enjoy the feel of it and the pics and info- you may well need a magnifier of some kind to truly see the details. I am not sure if I would have purchased it knowing how small everything is- but I will still enjoy it :)
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87 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2017
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I just received this book and was immediately disappointed. Unfortunately, the font used is extremely small and difficult to read. The choice of gray print on dark pages only makes the readability worse. So while the pictures are a good resource for those with an interest in thanatology, it will take a lot of effort to decipher the printed material that accompanies them. I understand the author was probably going for a particular feel, or motif, with the color combination invoking a vintage nuance, but in making the text very difficult to read, one would think they would opt for a different combination. Perhaps they were going for the reader having the impression death was settling in upon them and their eyesight was growing dim. :-) I believe the same could have certainly been accomplished with a larger font and different color.
23 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2021
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The quality of this book's construction is great. From the hardcover to the thick glossy pages that are gilded in gold, I have no complaints about the quality. My issues with this book are: the tiny, tiny font size on dark, glossy pages and the author's long-winded attempt to explain the mindset of the people in these early days of photography. The subject matter is of great interest to me; however, the tiny font and dark colored, glossy pages make this book very difficult to read. I need a magnifying glass to read the print and I'm not an old man nor do I have vision problems. It is mostly a book full of interesting, macabre photos....with captions that are difficult to read.
One person found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2015
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An absolutely beautifully done book, inside and out. A must for people like myself who love the macabre, death portraits, or just eccentric things in general. Well-bound, lots of thought-provoking photographs. All I can think to write is Bravo! Well done!
Word to the wise....books of this nature are always done in limited printings and releases, so this is probably going to go out of print soon. It will either be impossible to find or the price of the existing copies will skyrocket. As a mortician I wish it wasn't this way but it is. Death is not taboo, it should not be shunned or hidden, nor is it something to be frightened of.
Word to the wise....books of this nature are always done in limited printings and releases, so this is probably going to go out of print soon. It will either be impossible to find or the price of the existing copies will skyrocket. As a mortician I wish it wasn't this way but it is. Death is not taboo, it should not be shunned or hidden, nor is it something to be frightened of.
23 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2016
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I absolutely love this book. I'm buying it as a gift for someone, which makes me sad. I might have to buy myself a copy to keep.
If you aren't familiar, momento mori is (I think) Latin and means "remember that you have to die". The Victorians were using the fairly new medium of photography to do something that no one in history had done before: Keep their loved ones with them for eternity.
Thankfully, the book is divided into sections. Memento mori was most popularly used with dead children, so you can skip that chapter if it makes you uncomfortable. There's also a chapter on adults and pets.
This book is beautifully compiled, excellently written, and delves into the Victorian fascination with death. Absolutely love it.
If you aren't familiar, momento mori is (I think) Latin and means "remember that you have to die". The Victorians were using the fairly new medium of photography to do something that no one in history had done before: Keep their loved ones with them for eternity.
Thankfully, the book is divided into sections. Memento mori was most popularly used with dead children, so you can skip that chapter if it makes you uncomfortable. There's also a chapter on adults and pets.
This book is beautifully compiled, excellently written, and delves into the Victorian fascination with death. Absolutely love it.
9 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2016
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I truly enjoyed this book. Victorian post mortum photography has always fascinated me and to find this book was exciting. Traditions, funeral clothing, photos, hair braiding and knotting are all in this book to some degree. Some may find it rather macabre and I suppose it is. The pictures contained within the book are tastefully done and many the deceased appears to be sleeping. I am glad I found this book and would recommend it to others interested in post morum photography.
4 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2017
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Absolutely incredible and important wealth of photographs. The most lavish book I have seen on any topic printed in the last 100 years. The cover, interior and gilding will absolutely blow away your expectations. The only portion I had trouble with, and trust me - I am hard as diamonds but when I got to the section of deceased pets, it became a bit harder to proceed. Regardless, this is a 5-star purchase, crafted with care and respect, not for uncultured "gore hounds" seeking a shock. This is a true work of beauty and would be at home beside any of Paul Koudounaris' books.
5 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2016
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The book is beautiful, sad and heartbreaking. These people loved their friends and family so much, and you can feel in these photos. The book itself is beautifully designed and I love the flowers and gold foil on the cover. What I like about this books is that it gives additional information on the individuals in the pictures, how they died, who they were, and information about that era. For example, I'd never heard of Victorian charm strings before this book! I also enjoyed the newspaper articles included with some of the pictures.
This book is fantastic!
This book is fantastic!
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries
Alyss
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 5, 2015Verified Purchase
Lovely book- I really recommend this for anyone with an interest in the Victorian era, mourning traditions or post mortem photography. Some wonderful photos, and lots of information about post mortem photography and mourning. A very emotional book- some photos within evoke a sad feeling, others give off a feeling of peace and tranquility. All are beautiful in their own way.
The book itself is beautiful- the black and gold colour scheme of the cover is lovely and the embossed floral pattern on the cover is beautiful. The gold edges of the pages is a nice touch. Altogether just a lovely book.
The book itself is beautiful- the black and gold colour scheme of the cover is lovely and the embossed floral pattern on the cover is beautiful. The gold edges of the pages is a nice touch. Altogether just a lovely book.
8 people found this helpful
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Brenda O'Leary
5.0 out of 5 stars
Curiously beautiful
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 18, 2020Verified Purchase
This book is beautiful, the cover is very nice and detailed. The contents though they may seem quite morbid to many people. I found the whole thing very interesting and have always found it an interesting topic. These post mortem photographs were essentially a means for people to preserve an image of there lost loved ones and as photograph was a bit expensive this was the one point when people would have popped money together to take these photographs.
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Really beautiful book. Nicely presented in a way that shows ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 3, 2018Verified Purchase
Really beautiful book. Nicely presented in a way that shows the pictures well, and it's good to know who the people were, not just unattributed images. The text could be a bit easier to read, but there you go.
Sadly, it was a Christmas gift, and the person I bought it for died before they got a chance to open it, is that irony?
Sadly, it was a Christmas gift, and the person I bought it for died before they got a chance to open it, is that irony?
4 people found this helpful
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freyja jones
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dead good!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 17, 2018Verified Purchase
Absolutely love this book. That might sound odd but if you are fond of the slightly macabre and fascinated by post mortem photography then this book is for you. If you are easily troubled then stay away as the pictures of dead children and pets could be too much for some.
2 people found this helpful
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Brontebabe
4.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful and Moving
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 25, 2017Verified Purchase
Some of the imagery is beautifully moving. The Victorians had Memento Mori down to a fine art. I recently inherited a mourning photograph of a dear little girl who, if she had survived a scarletina epidemic in 1904 would have been my great aunt Maria. Its heartbreaking to see so many parents holding their lost children in their arms.
4 people found this helpful
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