The Return of the Dead

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Exploring the ancient beliefs surrounding death, this work delves into how ancestors were once seen as active participants in the lives of the living. Unlike modern ghost narratives, revenants were believed to interact with the world, seeking justice or upholding moral codes. The text contrasts these views with the church's efforts to redefine the dead as disembodied spirits, leading to a disconnect from ancestral worship. Claude Lecouteux, a former Sorbonne professor, draws on his expertise in medieval literature to illuminate the cultural shifts regarding death and the sacred.