librarianofrnd: centuriespast: The British dance of death, exemplified by a series of engravings, fr

librarianofrnd:

centuriespast:

The British dance of death, exemplified by a series of engravings, from drawings by Van Assen; with explanatory and moral essays.
Main Author: Van Assen, Benedictus Antonio, d.ca.1817.
Contributors: Cruikshank, Robert, 1789-1856. illus.
Riviere & Son.
Published 1828
London, Printed by and for Hodgson and Co.

When this post came across my dash, I was very curious as to what the book The British Dance of Death was all about.  It’s available online via The Internet Archive, and appears to be a fairly conventional book of moral lessons for young people (this chapter is basically “Don’t have premarital sex, especially not with prostitutes!”), but with the grim specter of Death thrown in to make it extra fun.

The 19th century was kinda messed up.

The British Dance of Death, p. 29-30:

“[B]ut at the very moment when Love thus holds emporium over the senses; when the heart palpitates with refinement of passion, and a long season of extatic bliss appears in store–even at such a soul-thrilling juncture, envious Death appears, and with a well-poised dart, dispels the fond illusions of the tender youth, by consigning him at once to the chilly sepulcher, thus planting the barbed dart of misery in the bosom of her to whom he so lately proffered up his heart.”

More Regency Goth.