This unique book is a study of northern New England and its culture's views of death. The author, James Hill Parker, pieces together conversations, funerals and other evidence of a latent Book of the Dead. He also makes comparisons with the Mayan and various books of the dead. The book discusses several methodological problems that were encountered in the author's search for the New England and other books of the dead. Readers will benefit from the information that Parker has gathered due to his 'insider/outside' status. His intriguing work will surely interest historians, sociologists and the literate public who want to learn more about New England's cultural history.