Between 1780 and 1920 mortality declined greatly and permanently in most areas of Europe, but the history of the decline is still incompletely known. Norway was one of the first countries to undergo this momentous change, and the Norwegian experience is the cornerstone of this collection of historical studies, which also draws on Finnish, Swedish, Dutch, and German examples. In addition, several of the essays focus on infant mortality, a central component in the overall decline. These new essays are of especial interest to historical demographers, family historians, social historians, urban historians, and historians of medicine, but they provide stimulating challenges to all readers.

Det Norske Videnskaps-Akademi. II. Hist.-Filos. Klasse. (DNVA) Skrifter og avhandlinger, nr. 3