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Quote by Jessica Mitford

“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Where, indeed. Many a badly stung survivor, faced with the aftermath of some relative's funeral, has ruefully concluded that the victory has been won hands down by a funeral establishment - in disastrously unequal battle.”

Book:The American Way of Death Revisited

Work

The American Way of Death Revisited

This book delves into the practices and business aspects of the funeral industry in America, offering an in-depth look at how it has evolved and its impact on society. more

Author

Jessica Mitford

Jessica Mitford was an English author known for her critical analysis of the middle class. Her work spanned a variety of subjects, including social commentary, history, and biography. Born on September 11, 1917, she passed away on July 22, 1996. more

“Alas, poor Yorick! How surprised he would be to see how his counterpart of today is whisked off to a funeral parlor and is in short order sprayed, sliced, pierced, pickled, trussed, trimmed, creamed, waxed, painted, rouged and neatly dressed - transformed from a common corpse into a Beautiful Memory Picture.”

Would Be Today Beautiful Order Memories Poor Common Funeral Transformed Alas Corpses Counterparts Parlor Beautiful Memories

Book:The American Way of Death Revisited

Source: The American Way of Death Revisited

“Funeralese has had its ups and downs. The word 'morticians,' first used in Embalmers Monthly for February, 1895, was barred by the Chicago Tribune in 1932, 'not for lack of sympathy with the ambition of undertakers to be well regarded, but because of it. If they haven't the sense to save themselves from their own lexicographers, we shall not be guilty of abetting them in their folly.”

Ifs Firsts Wells Used Havens Ambition Guilty Folly Chicago Ups & Downs February Undertaker Lexicographer Morticians

Book:THE AMERICAN WAY OF DEATH

Source: THE AMERICAN WAY OF DEATH

“the whole point of muck-raking, apart from all the jokes, is to try to do something about what you've been writing about. You may not be able to change the world but at least you can embarrass the guilty.”

World Writing Trying May Whole Able Jokes Guilty Journalism Changing The World

Author:Jessica Mitford

“[On the United States:] A nation which does not appreciate that the simple elocution exercise 'Merry Mary married hairy Harry' contains not one but three vowel sounds.”