This is a study of the state funerals that were celebrated in France between the French revolution and the death of François Mitterand. It investigates the funerals of such prominent figures as Voltaire, Napoleon, Gambetta, Hugo, and de Gaulle, which became major public events that helped to mold the national memory. The book is the first comprehensive analysis of French state funerals, and also a major contribution to the study of French political culture.