The History and Politics of Exhumation

This book argues that a serious, scholarly study on exhumation is long overdue. Examining more well-known cases, such as that of Richard III, the Romanovs, and Tutankhamen, alongside the more obscure, Michael Nash explores the motivations beyond exhumation, from retribution to repatriation. Along the way, he explores the influence of Gothic fiction in the eighteenth century, the notoriety of the Ressurection Men in the nineteenth century, and the archeological heyday of the twentieth century.

Michael L. Nash is a well-known legal and royal historian, consultant and broadcaster who teaches at the University of East Anglia, UK. He is a Judge of the Diocesan Tribunal of East Anglia and royal historian of BBC Radio Norfolk. He has contributed over 200 articles to legal and historical publications and his previous book, Royal Wills in Britain from 1509 to 2008, was published by Palgrave in 2017.

“In his Royal Wills in Britain from 1509 to 2008 Michael Nash shed a penetrating and original light on the testaments of monarchs from just before the Reformation. I am eagerly looking forward to being enlightened by what he has unearthed about the afterlife not only of monarchs' bodies but of those of others, as well as of a range of matters relating to disinterments.” (Stephen White, Senior Lecturer, Cardiff University, UK)

“A new and thoroughly well researched piece of work by Michael Nash that touches upon the importance of symbolism in death and after death, of burial, exhumation, and reburial. An interesting though complex issue that has given birth to legends (Inés de Castro in Portugal), has stirred passions (Evita Perón in Argentina), has been used for political gain (General Franco in Spain), has been linked to national aspirations (reburial of the king of Montenegro), or simply fostered mysteries and superstitions (pharaoh Tut-an-Khamen).” (Ricardo Mateos Sáinz De Medrano, Historian and Royal author)

“...the practice (of exhumation), its motivations and its consequences, deserve both attention and scholarly study....much of the law's history has been concerned with death... the exhumation of dead bodies is a matter which should interest both lawyers and historians...many very deep issues merit the reader's attention. ..the figure of Death says to happy individuals in medieval wall painting "What I am, you will be: what you are, once I was". Yet, as this book's attention to the fate of the bodies of royalty, saints and politicians discloses, such democratic sentiment does not necessarily hold so true with regard to exhumations.” (Richard W. Ireland, Emeritus Lecturer, University of Aberystwyth, UK)