Explores medieval and modern treatments of the edgy topic of 'living death' - the dead-in-life and the living dead.

Dr Jane Gilbert is a chartered environmentalist and waste management professional, who has been involved in the composting sector for over twenty years. She is the former CEO of the UK Composting Association and co-founder of the European Compost Network.
Jane originally trained as a microbiologist, has a doctorate in biochemistry and an MBA. She currently provides consultancy and writing services, and works with national and international non-governmental organizations.
Jane has authored a number of technical composting books and has presented at conferences in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia. She has recently launched Carbon Clarity Press, specializing in publishing resources to inspire sustainable living.
Jane lives in Northamptonshire, England, with her husband, two children and cat. When not running around after them, she likes to spend time in her garden, making compost, of course!
For further information visit: www.carbon-clarity.com

Introduction: living death; 1. Roland and the second death; 2. The knight as thing: courtly love in the non-cyclic prose Lancelot; 3. The Ubi Sunt? Topos in Middle French: sad stories of the death of kings; 4. Ceci n'est pas une marguerite: anamorphosis in Pearl; 5. Becoming woman in Chaucer: on ne naît pas femme, on le devient en mourant; Conclusion: living dead or dead-in-life?