So, I received my pre order of the book. Beautifully presented and it will make a terrific coffee table book.
However, what does seem strange to me is that 75% of the book is devoted to cemeteries in the USA. Fair enough, it may be targeting a specific market and in older time cemeteries were not especially decorative, but I can’t see why they have to be to be interesting to people.
There are many old and moving cemeteries in various parts of the world but surely not such a large proportion in one country.
Well, the US of A is a pretty big country. Except for some war graves, pretty much every historical figure in its 240+ year history is buried there, and not abroad.
Why not do an Australian version of the book? That would certainly be of interest.
Maybe they should have clarified that it focused mainly on the USA.
That being said, I hope Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, GA is in there. It is located right along a river and supposed to be one of the best examples of that high Victorian period of funerary art when they were really into romanticizing death. Lots of lovely statuary and crypts with all kinds of elaborate markings and poetry framed by live oaks and spanish moss to make it extra moody. It is lovely in the Spring when the azaleas are blooming, and I don’t find it morbid at all. On a sunny day it is a very pleasant place to walk, even comforting.
Seconded. A great website. Want to see where Nixon is buried? Want to see what Alberto Santos-Dumont’s headstone looks like? They finally replaced the vandalized angel on Louis-Marie Gottschalk’s grave; have a look?
NYC has two world-class cemeteries: Woodlawn in the Bronx and Green-Wood in Brooklyn, about 20 blocks south of me. They are among my usual haunts.