A fascinating cultural history, this book looks at a period of great change in perceptions of grief in thirteenth century Italy. At around this time the governments of the city states started intervening in funerary arrangements, passing laws to curb the public display of grief. These laws were actually enforced, and bizarrely it seems to be the elites of the governing classes which were most affected. These laws also mark the start of the concept that it is unmanly to cry. Carol Lansing argues that as the well-being of the state came to be associated with orderly behaviour public displays of grief became seen as disorderly and were associated increasingly with women.