Cemetery-related Books and More

---

The Empire of Death: A Cultural History of Ossuaries and
Charnel Houses
Paul Koudounaris
London: Thames and Hudson, 2011

This is a fabulous looking book and justifies its price. I had already read excerpts from it in a magazine and was looking forward to reading it in its entirety.

It’s beautifully illustrated with over 290 illustrations, including 260 photos by the author, and he has done his research thoroughly. Most serious taphophiles will probably have heard of or visited ossuaries such as Sedlec, near Prague or Hythe in the UK, but this book will tell you of others of which you might not know.

In our modern world, I often feel that we are embarrassed by death and try to erase it from our lives. Maybe that’s why so many ossuaries have vanished despite being popular as a memento mori for future generations to be reminded of their inevitable fate. Our ancestors lived more closely with death than we do. High infant mortality rates, epidemics such as cholera and plague meant that people prepared for death and it reached its zenith in the Victorian era with the Magnificent 7 London cemeteries and the cult of mourning.

Koudounaris says in the lengthy and informative introduction that adults would visit the local charnel house with their children and show them the skulls of their ancestors as an introduction to their family history. Charnel houses were usually built on consecrated ground and the bones within them were considered blessed as they would be resurrected on Judgement Day. The author claims that the skull and crossbones symbol also symbolises the promise of resurrection. Another popular motto was ‘Che la morte chiude le pose del tempo e apre quelle dell’eternita’ translated as ‘Death closes the gates of time and opens those of eternity’.

He guides us through the beginnings of charnel houses at St Catherine’s Monastery in Egypt. It possessed a very small cemetery and hence the bones of the departed had to be put somewhere and then onto the 12th century in Germany where churches were required to provide ossuaries within their burial grounds before continuing through Austria, Bavaria and the Upper Rhine. Initially, although usually a pile of skulls, it then became common practice to use them and the bones to create elaborate displays or paint them with the names and dates of the deceased.

Another variation was the beautiful, ornate bejewelled skeletons found on display in German and Bavarian churches. These are usually the remains of magnificent martyrs and their relics and must be a breathtaking sight to see in the flesh.

He also discusses the decline of the great charnel houses and ossuaries as attitudes to death changed and we lost our connection to our ancestors. Dead bodies should be underground and not on view to be gawped at. However, the celebrated Paris catacombs still remain and the book’s title ‘The Empire of Death’ comes from the sign over its entrance in which visitors were reminded that this was the realm they were entering. People would often pray to the dead for aid or even lottery numbers so they still saw the remains as sacred and able to assist their descendants in some way. Indeed one photo shows a group of skulls with candy, cigarettes and fruits at a charnel house tomb in Peru which was constructed in 1972 by Enrique Belon. The Killing Fields in Cambodia also have a memorial stupa of skulls on display of those who died under the reign of Pol Pot. A former orchard near Phnom Penh contains remains of 9000 people. A powerful reminder of death and the horrors of dictatorship.

I recently visited the ossuary in the crypt of St Leonard’s near Hythe UK and found it fascinating to look at the skulls and bones on display and wonder about their lives, how they died and the information they give us about their diet and how they lived.

There is a very useful list of sites at the back of the book which gave me 2more sites within the UK to visit which I hadn’t know about previously and I intend to visit one in the City of London very soon.

A book I would highly recommend to any taphophile who wants to add to their knowledge in this field. However, there was one quibble. The small, Gothic print which rendered some of the text difficult to read and also the technique of printing onto a dark background which had the same effect.

Reviewed by Carole Tyrrell (2/18/13)

---

---

Atlanta's Oakland Cemetery: An Illustrated History and Guide
Ren and Helen Davis
Atlanta: University of Georgia Press, 2012

"Atlanta's Oakland Cemetery" is the kind of book I wish I had written (and photographed). It is not only an absolutely beautiful book, it's full of information about Oakland as well as helpful cemetery information in general. Chock full of gorgeous full-color photography, this books takes you into this historic cemetery even if you are reading it hundreds of miles away from this impressive cemetery.

The book is introduced by Timothy J. Crimmins, professor of History at Georgia State University. He is also the director of the Center for Neighborhood and Metropolitan Studies. "Established as a burial ground, the Atlanta City Cemetery," Dr. Crimmins writes, "acquired greater cultural and material significance because of its hilly location and the course of its development. Twenty-two years after its establishment, with expansions, the erection of monuments, and the growth of a cover of oak trees, the cemetery was renamed Oakland. It had become a garden cemetery with artistic monuments."

There is a short history on how the Atlanta City Cemetery, established in 1837, became Historic Oakland. The book also takes the reader on a "tour by sections" throughout the grounds. From Bell Tower Ridge to the Confederate Memorial Grounds to the African American Grounds, you'll get an in-depth look at this historic gem in the middle of Atlanta.

But it's not just the cemetery as a burial ground or historic sculpture park that you'll be introduced to. You will also come to understand the important role Oakland plays in the surrounding community. Oakland offers a variety of tours, including those featuring actors portraying the "residents during their Halloween Tour. There's also the annual Run Like Hell race and Run Like Heck fun run. There seems to always be something fun and fascinating going on in Oakland Cemetery.

If you go to the cemetery, make your first stop the office and shop. Not only can you buy some wonderful items and books, you can also get some great tips on where to look from the volunteers.

This is an A+ book on an A+ cemetery. It's well worth the cover price of $24.95.

Reviewed by Minda Powers-Douglas (12/10/12)

---

---

Carved in Stone: The Artistry of Early New England Gravestones
Thomas E. Gilson and William Gilson
Middleton, Conn.: Wesleyan University Press, 2012

"Carved in Stone" is a lovely book. It's a beautiful hardcover book filled with strong, stately images from early New England gravestones. No surprise there! But what makes this book's images stand out is how they almost "pop" off the pages. A number books of featuring these kinds of old stones offer more "clinical" images. Don't get me wrong, I haven't come across a book of gravestones that haven't been interesting. I just really like these photos!

Another thing about this book that I like is that it is personal. Rather than an informational-only approach, there are quotes from journals and other writings of the times of the stones. There is also William Gilson's introductory essay. He writes, "The original New England Puritans, those of the first two or three generations, were half in love with death. You can't focus so intently on something, obsess about it with such flexed attention, without some part of you desiring it." I think this is something all taphophiles can relate to on some level. We contemplate death on a more regular basis because we surround ourselves with it. Perhaps we aren't necessarily thinking of our own deaths, but we do have an acute awareness not everyone has.

I am always happy to see a book filled with gravestone images because they are a beautiful and important part of our history and heritage--and also because they aren't as permanent as we'd like to think. As William Gilson writes, "The stones remain out there, stuck in the New England dirt, deteriorating as any man-made thing must, ultimately vanishing."

"Carved in Stone" is available in hardcover or eBook.

Reviewed by Minda Powers-Douglas (12/4/12)

---

---

A Biographical Guide to Forest Hill Cemetery : The Ordinary and Famous Women and Men Who Shaped Madison and the World - Vol. I and II
The Forest Hill Cemetery Committee of HMI
Madison, Wis.: Historic Madison, Inc., 2002

This set of books is based on research by the Forest Hill Cemetery Committee of Historic Madison, Inc. They were published in 2002, which was made possible by a grant from the Evjue Foundation.

These are the kind of books everyone wishes were written about their favorite cemeteries. They are filled with information about many of the "residents" of Forest Hill, which is a beautiful Victorian/garden cemetery that was established in 1857, when the city bought the first tract of land. I have been to this cemetery, and it is a lovely and lush green space. It is also the final resting place of many prominent citizens and even more non-prominent but no less important citizens.

The books contain a variety black and white photos, ranging from those of the grounds, close-ups of headstones, maps, and images from the city's historical archives. A very nice touch is the inclusion of oral histories. These books are a revised and expanded edition of the original book, which had been written by members of the Cemetery Committee--in particular Henry Carl "Hank" Soder and Frank Custer, who had passed away by the time of this publishing.

Reviewed by Minda Powers-Douglas (8/25/12)

---

---

Cemetery Travels Notebook
Photography by Loren Rhoads
San Francisco: Automatism Press 2012

Loren Rhoads' "Cemetery Travels Notebook" is the perfect notebook for a taphophile. It's a lined notebook for all your note-taking needs, and it's also filled with beautiful full-color photos of monuments from the U.S. and beyond.

According to Ms. Rhoads, it's a great place "to keep field notes from your own cemetery adventures." It's also just a nice journal for writers inspired by great statuary.

The journal consists of 80 lined pages and 20 full-page color photos from Paris, Tokyo, Sleepy Hollow, San Francisco and more. Ms. Rhoads is the editor of Death's Garden: Relationships with Cemeteries and writes the blog at CemeteryTravel.com.

Reviewed by Minda Powers-Douglas (8/23/12)

---

---

The Victorian Cemetery
Sarah Rutherford
Oxford, UK: Shire Books, 2009

This little book is a wonderful introduction to the background behind the creation of the great garden cemeteries of the 19th century.  As with most Victorian institutions, from hospitals to asylums, they were introduced to bring order to death and the afterlife as they replaced the unpleasant and unsanitary churchyards.  These couldn’t cope with the rapidly expanding cities and the resulting high mortality rate and had become a national scandal.  So in their place came the wide open spaces, imaginative plantings, landscape design and architecture that we can still appreciate today.  A vast contrast to the modern version we see now with its tombstones often arranged like upstanding teeth.

Rutherford, a project leader on English Heritage’s assessment of cemeteries across England, sets the Victorian cemetery in its context of the Industrial Revolution, commercial enterprise and a class system that lasted after death with pauper burials and ‘guinea graves.’  The planned Grand National Cemetery at Primrose Hill in North London  was never realised and instead commercially owned cemeteries opening in all the major UK cities including London’s ‘Magnificent 7’. 

She also discusses the styles of architecture; neo-Greek, Egyptian until Gothic was settled on as the most appropriate. The great designers of cemeteries including John Claudius Loudon are assessed as are the elements that make a successful cemetery.  She also brings the reader up to date with the decline of the great burial places into neglect, abandonment by their owners and vandalism before being rescued by Friends groups.

Profusely illustrated with archive documents and modern photos featuring cemeteries from Calcutta, New Orleans, Paris, Dublin, Milan and the UK it would make a great gift for a new taphophile or as an addition to the bookshelf of an experienced graveyard rabbit.

Reviewed by Carole Tyrrell (posted 8/15/12)

---

---

Laughter & Tears
Robert E. Pike
Eatonton, New Jersey: H-H Press, 1971

The book is called Laughter & Tears, by Robert E. Pike. It's published by H-H Press, 365 Pine Street, Eatontown, NJ 07724. Inside it says "Copyright 1971" and "This edition consists of 1000 copies."

I found the book advertised in Weird NJ Magazine, issue #9, way back in 1999. The book is a collection of photographs of humorous, odd and unusual gravestone inscriptions and carvings. In most cases, each page contains one photo. There are 129 pages. Every copy of the book is autographed.

The advertisement in the magazine (1999) said to send $15 plus $3 postage and handling to:
Pike
365 Pine St.
Eatontown, NJ 07724

I sent the money and received the book with a photocopied obituary of the author. There was also a note from the author's daughter on it, saying that her father died just as the Weird NJ magazine was going to press. She signed and dated her note to me. She may or may not have some of the books left. I suppose it's possible. It may be worth writing her.
If I were to look for one today I would go on BookFinder.com and search for it. (Search on 8/15/12 BookFinder results.)

Reviewed by Barry Caselli (posted on 8/15/12)

---

---

The Whole Death Catalog: A Lively Guide to the Bitter End
Harold Schechter
New York: Ballantine Books, 2009

When you see the name "The Whole Death Catalog," you may think you're in for a dry read. But if you're interested in cemeteries and things having to do with death (and there are more of us out there than people realize), you will find this book fascinating and fun.

Schechter has done very thorough resarch across a variety of death-related topics, from death anxiety and end-of-life experiences to strange bequests and famous last words. But it's not only the information that is great, Schechter's writing style is inviting and humorous. He takes a very serious topic and makes it approachable and respectable.

Throughout the book, there are side boxes featuring recommended reading and resources, death definitions, death quizzes and fun facts. And many of then are in tombstone-shaped boxes.

The only thing I'd change about the book is the mention of Epitaphs Magazine--yeah, this Epitaphs Magazine! Before I go into it, I must tell you that it's an honor to be included in "The Whole Death Catalog." Unfortunately, the information I gave Harold after his gracious request is now out-of-date. The magazine is no longer in print, is now monthly (not quarterly) and the online version is free (some print versions are available for purchase, though). We no longer offer traditional print subscriptions. I also wish www.TheCemeteryClub.com had been mentioned along with it, because the PO Box listed is no longer in use. All this being said, it's so cool to be included in this terrific book!

I highly recommend that you add this book to your taphophile library.

Reviewed by Minda Powers-Douglas (8/16/11)

---

Cypress Lawn: Guardian of California's Heritage
Cindy Ehrlich (editor), Michael E. Richards (photographer)
San Francisco: Cypress Lawn, 1996

Read Loren Rhoads' review at GoodReads.com.

---

Healing: The Essential Guide to Helping Others Overcome Grief & Loss"
Alicia King
Nashville: Turner Publishing, 2011

Alicia King's book "Healing: The Essential Guide to Helping Others Overcome Grief & Loss" is just the type of book people need. When a family member, friend or co-worker losses someone they love, it's difficult to know how to act around the person, let alone help them.

When a friend losses a loved one, it's natural for us to start talking about the losses we've had in our lives. But, as King points out, "it's not about you." She also addresses the mistakes people tend to make (even though they don't mean to) and a number of ways people can help the grief-stricken.

Another thing about the book that hit home for me is that our society seems to think that grief is something we can deal with immediately and then put away in an old shoe box or dismiss all together. It is viewed as very generous for a company to offer employees up to five days bereavement leave; not all do. But if we expect, as a society, that people will have "grieved enough" in that small period of time, that is terribly unfair. A person's life has ended--an entire life--and getting over the loss can take a lifetime. There is no timeline to grief.

I also appreciate how the book has been arranged. The chapters are brief, so that you can pick the book up and read for a little while and still get a good amount of information. She also ends each chapter with a quick summary and resources for further information.

King writes with honesty and the conviction of wanting to help people through this difficult and all-too-present fact of life.

Reviewed by Minda Powers-Douglas (7/24/11)

---

Forever L.A.: A Field Guide to Los Angeles Area Cemeteries & Their Residents
Douglas Keister
Layton, Utah: Gibbs Smith, 2010

Anyone who has taken any of my classes knows I'm a huge fan of Douglas Keister's books. Stories in Stone is one of my mainstay books on my shelf, in my research and in the field. Forever L.A. is a happy addition to my collection--especially since I (sadly) haven't been to see any Los Angeles cemeteries.

Not only does the book cover information and history about a variety of cemeteries, it also includes information about cemetery symbolism and architecture, secret societies and even GPS coordinates for a number of gravesites. Top that off with some incredible color photos and put it all in a compact yet well-constructed paperback you can easily fit in your bag, and you've got a great book for a taphophile.

Keister features such great cemeteries as Hollywood Forever, Forest Lawn Memorial Park - Glendale, Valhalla Memorial Park, and Los Angeles Pet Memorial Park. It also covers, surprisingly, the Haunted Mansion's pretend cemetery in Disneyland. If you've been to the amusement park and have gone on the ride (which is spectacular, by the way), you have probably seen the faux gravesones for the fakely departed humans and animals "buried" around the Haunted Mansion grounds. Names such as I. Truly Departed and M.T. Tomb can be found and laughed about as you wait in the clever queue. I think this addition to a book on cemeteries in the land of make-believe (and I'm talking about L.A. here) is fitting.

If you are planning a trip to L.A., you will definitely want to take this book with you.

Reviewed by Minda Powers-Douglas (4/23/11)

---

Have a Book You'd Like to Review?

Submit a book review about a cemetery book you've read? Books can be new releases or vintage, as long as they are cemetery-related non-fiction. Send your submissions to Minda at idigcemeteries@yahoo.com.

---

'Stories in Stone New York' Excerpt

Read this excerpt from Douglas Keister's book "Stories in Stone New York: A Field Guide to New York City Area Cemeteries & Their Residents."

---

---

Epitaphs to Remember: Remarkable Inscriptions from New England Gravestones

Janet Green
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania: Alan C. Hood & Company, First Edition edition (March 22, 2005)

Just as the title states, this book contains a variety of epitaphs from New England cemeteries--about 200 cemeteries, to be exact. If you're looking for a collection of interesting epitaphs, this is the book for you.

The book is broken into sections, including:
 - Through 1775: Pioneer and Colonial Life
 - 1776 to 1815: War, Reason and Revivalism
 - 1816to 1870: The Age of Ferment
 - 1871 to the Present: The Big New World

While it has no photos, it does include a number of small drawings representing the symbols found on the gravestones.

An enjoyable read and a nice addition to your cemetery book collection, especially if you are interested in epitaphs.

Reviewed by Minda Powers-Douglas (8/19/12)

---

---

Dusty Diablos: Folklore, Iconography, Assemblage, Ole!
Michael deMeng
Northlight Books, 2010

I happened upon this wonderful art book at Barnes & Noble today. I love collage and "junk" art. This book combines technique instruction, inspiration, folklore and personal stories by the author. One of the projects he shares is inspired by Mexican cemeteries, which is initially what triggered me into thinking of sharing this with my taphophile friends. I also know many of you are artists and interested in unique things. Check out this book; I think you'll be as delighted and inspired as I was.

Reviewed by Minda Powers-Douglas (8/25/12)

---

---

Criminal Crafts: From D.I.Y. to F.B.I. Outlaw Projects for Scoundrels, Cheats, and Armchair Detectives
Shawn Bowman
Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2012

This is another artsy craftsy book I found today. This one is perfect for the mystery and crime drama lovers out there.

For taphophiles, the best projects are the "'It's Your Funeral' Stamp Set." With small pieces of linoleum, you can carve out stampers of gravestones, a hearse and more. And "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" is so cute, I can't believe I didn't think of it myself (you make assorted gravestones out of polymer baking clay with stakes in the bottom of them ... to put in your potted plants, of course!).

Other adorably criminal projects include making a "Crime Scene Carpet" (area rug, white spray paint and a body to trace around), "Crime Scene Tape Messenger Bag," "Crime Scene Gingerbread Men" (are you detecting a theme yet?), and a "Case-the-Joint Craft Caddy" made out of a violin case, ala mobster style.

Whether you are into crafting or just want to pick up the book for a laugh, I recommend it if you have a twisted to very twisted sense of humor. And if you do buy this book, feel free to make some cool criminal crafts and send them my way!

Reviewed by Minda Powers-Douglas (8/25/12)

---

Last update 2/18/13
Copyright Minda Powers-Douglas 2004-2013
Contact