There’s nothing like visiting a cemetery to give you a little perspective, to remind you that every day aboveground is a good day.
People are buried everywhere, once you start to notice. Every tourist destination has a cemetery, from New York City to Hong Kong to Isle of Iona. Some tourist destinations are tombs: the Great Pyramids of Egypt or the Taj Mahal or the Royal Mounds in Gamla Uppsala in Sweden, for instance. There are permanent residents in museums, houses of worship, ghost towns, battlegrounds…even in national parks. You may have already visited someone’s grave without giving it a second thought, if you’ve been to Pompeii or Westminster Abbey or the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor.
Why would anyone go out of the way to visit a graveyard intentionally? In addition to the fascinating stories they contain, cemeteries can be open-air sculpture parks full of one of a kind artwork. They provide habitats for birds and wildlife, as well as arboretums and gardens of surprising beauty. Cemeteries appeal to art lovers, amateur sociologists, birdwatchers, master gardeners, historians, hikers, genealogists, picnickers, and anyone who just wants to stop and smell the roses. Our relationships with the places we visit can be deepened and enriched by learning the stories of those who came—and stayed—before us.
199 Cemeteries to See Before You Die visits 49 American states and 58 countries in your back yard and around the world. The hardcover book, fully illustrated in beautiful color, was published by Black Dog & Leventhal on October 3, 2017.
How to get your own copy:
199 Cemeteries to See Before You Die is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indiebound, and Bookshop.org or can be ordered by your favorite local bookstore.
ISBN: 978-0316438438
You can also order an autographed copy directly from my bookstore. To request inscriptions, use the Contact Me form.
Praise:
“Once upon a time, we knew that cemeteries were meant for the living as much as for the dead. In 199 Cemeteries to See Before You Die, Loren Rhoads does much to restore the cemetery to its proper place as a location worthy of a pilgrimage. From the colorful wooden graves of Romania’s Merry Cemetery to the creative granite headstones in Vermont’s Hope Cemetery, 199 Cemeteries is filled with beautiful examples of posthumous humor, astonishing artistry, and natural settings that rival the world’s best parks. A much-needed book for the curious explorer and budding taphophile (cemetery-lover) alike.”―Dylan Thuras, co-founder of Atlas Obscura
Photo of Powazaki Cemetery from 199 Cemeteries
“If you’re like me and find cemeteries a fascinating way to view the real history of a place (or even just a nice, quiet place to eat your lunch), then Loren Rhoads’s 199 Cemeteries To See Before You Die is likely to become a well-worn travel companion. The snappy descriptions and beautiful photographs are just enough to whet your appetite to pack your bags.” – Megan Rosenbloom, director of the Death Salon
“Taphophiles, rejoice! This eclectic compendium is packed with history, eye-catching monuments, quirky local characters, tips on interpreting cemetery symbolism, and fascinating finds. It’s both a useful trip-planning tool and a browser’s delight (although it may turn idle browsers into budding cemetery explorers). Next time someone asks why you love graveyards, show them this book.”―Bess Lovejoy, author of Rest in Pieces: The Curious Fates of Famous Corpses
“Loren’s obvious affection for cemeteries is evident throughout 199 Cemeteries to See Before You Die. Her personal appreciation gives life to places most people would consider only to be about death. A must-have book for the budding cemetery traveler and the serious taphophile.”―Lenore of Gothic Beauty
A Sample of the Press:
The New York Times featured the book in their Open Book column in the Books section:
A Guide to Graveside Tourism
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/27/books/review/199-cemeteries-to-see-before-you-die.html
Time magazine interviewed me for their 10/3/17 issue:
What Gets Remembered: How Visiting a Cemetery Can Teach you About History
http://time.com/4963379/cemeteries-history-rhoads/
The San Francisco Chronicle also featured it in their Sunday Lit section:
Travel Books: 199 Cemeteries A Lively Chronicle of Culture
http://www.sfchronicle.com/travel/article/Travel-Books-199-Cemeteries-a-lively-12241291.php?cmpid=gsa-sfgate-result
Atlas Obscura:
In Search of Cemeteries Alive with Beauty, Art, and History
http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/cemeteries-to-visit-before-you-die-monuments
Mental Floss:
12 of the Most Beautiful Cemeteries Around the World
http://mentalfloss.com/photos/504533/12-most-beautiful-cemeteries-around-world
The book was featured on a couple of book lists:
The Order of the Good Death’s Resource List (under General Death):
http://www.orderofthegooddeath.com/resources/books
Cult of Weird’s Morbid Must-Reads for Fall 2017:
http://www.cultofweird.com/books/2017-fall-reading-list/