Mortalism: Readings on the Meaning of Life

The inevitability and finality of death have prompted some of the world’s most poignant and memorable literature, from the Epic of Gilgamesh of ancient Babylon to the works of contemporary poets and novelists. The conviction that death means everlasting extinction, with no possibility of an afterlife, is described by Peter Heinegg as ‘mortalism’. In this unique anthology, he has collected more than fifty selections of poetry and prose that reflect this view. In perusing this intriguing volume, the reader will find that mortalism was the viewpoint shared by many of the most profound and creative minds in history.