The Last Chapter

Delve into the history of death, discover the many ways Shakespeare killed off his characters, find out what life is like for people who make a living by working with the dead, be introduced to the often gruesome history of skulls, and explore the history of crime and death in York.

This Mortal Coil: A history of death


Tempest Anderson Hall, Museum Gardens

Biochemist Andrew Doig provides an eye-opening portrait of death throughout history, looking at particular causes, who they affected and how they were overcome.

Death by Shakespeare: Snakebites, stabbings and broken hearts


Chemist and author Kathryn Harkup turns her discerning scientific eye to the Bard and the varied and creative ways his characters die.

When a Chapter Ends: The experience of grief and loss


Philosophers from the University of York discuss less understood but highly important aspects of the experience of grief.

Skulls: Portraits of the dead and the stories they tell


Paul Gambino, collector of the macabre, unravels the often gruesome history of skulls, how they are acquired by collectors and what makes them so highly prized.

I’ll Die After Bingo: A decade as a care home assistant


Comedian, writer and former care home assistant Pope Lonergan explains what life inside a care home is really like, for both residents and carers.

On Consolation: Finding solace in dark times


Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York

Internationally renowned historian and Booker Prize finalist Michael Ignatieff shows how people facing tragedies and crises have looked to each other across time to recover hope and resilience.

All the Living and the Dead: A personal investigation into the death trade


Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York

Join journalist Hayley Campbell, in conversation with comedian and writer Clint Edwards, to find out what life is like for people who make a living by working with the dead.

Plagues Upon the Earth: Disease and the course of human history


Explore the history of humans and their germs with Kyle Harper, who weaves together a grand narrative of global history with insights from cutting-edge genetics.

Plotting Murder: An expert’s guide


Tempest Anderson Hall, Museum Gardens

Join award-winning crime writer Ann Cleeves and forensic soil science expert Professor Lorna Dawson to discover the connections between writing murder and evaluating soil data.