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Final Thoughts: Eternal Beauty in Stone
The story of life and death in America as told through beautiful cemetery art photography accompanied by meaningful epitaphs from cemeteries up to 300 years old. View 68 cemeteries in 224 beautiful photographs that breathe life into existence of those who have passed before us, and who are now enshrined for eternity in landscaped paradises. Within each placid scene and through heartfelt words displayed upon markers, join photographer John Thomas Grant in his one-of-a-kind study of an American tradition.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published November 28, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 21, 2020
The silence, the loneliness, the peacefulness, the beauty, the memories, the love – all captured here in these beautiful photographs of interesting gravestones captioned with moving epitaphs. A lovely glimpse at some truly gorgeous memorials.
April 23, 2012
This is a spectacularly beautiful book, which I fully expected after seeing Grant's photography by way of the cemetery groups on Facebook. His pictures capture the vivid colors of spring, summer, and autumn, as well as the indignities wrought by time, lichen, and pollution. The photos manage to be both joyful and melancholy, like the best exploration of a cemetery on a sunny day.
Unfortunately, rather than caption the photographs as to where they were taken, there's an index with minuscule print on the penultimate page. I'm going to have to do the work to cross-reference the photos, because there are monuments that Grant has documented that I would like to see for myself.
The book's text is primarily limited to epitaphs drawn from Grant's cemetery travels. That element disappointed me, since the epitaphs appear without any identifying information beyond a date -- which I assume is the date of death on the tombstone from which they are copied, although that isn't made clear. I'd like to know more. What state did the epitaph come from? What city? What graveyard? Was the person it remembers male, female, young, old? Can anything be inferred about the family's religious beliefs or familial connections or social relationships? Is the epitaph original to the stone from which it came? Is this person individualized? Or are the epitaphs quoted from scripture or hymns or poetry of the time?
Without more information, the epitaphs became tedious. They appear to be mostly Christian, mostly Victorian, and while they don't seem to repeat exactly, their all too similar sentiments become repetitious.
Several years ago, I heard a fascinating presentation at an Association for Gravestone Studies conference on the origins of familiar epitaphs. I wish Grant had included some of that information here.
About halfway through the book, I gave up on reading the epitaphs altogether and returned to simply gazing at the wonderful pictures. They are where the true magic of this book lies.
Unfortunately, rather than caption the photographs as to where they were taken, there's an index with minuscule print on the penultimate page. I'm going to have to do the work to cross-reference the photos, because there are monuments that Grant has documented that I would like to see for myself.
The book's text is primarily limited to epitaphs drawn from Grant's cemetery travels. That element disappointed me, since the epitaphs appear without any identifying information beyond a date -- which I assume is the date of death on the tombstone from which they are copied, although that isn't made clear. I'd like to know more. What state did the epitaph come from? What city? What graveyard? Was the person it remembers male, female, young, old? Can anything be inferred about the family's religious beliefs or familial connections or social relationships? Is the epitaph original to the stone from which it came? Is this person individualized? Or are the epitaphs quoted from scripture or hymns or poetry of the time?
Without more information, the epitaphs became tedious. They appear to be mostly Christian, mostly Victorian, and while they don't seem to repeat exactly, their all too similar sentiments become repetitious.
Several years ago, I heard a fascinating presentation at an Association for Gravestone Studies conference on the origins of familiar epitaphs. I wish Grant had included some of that information here.
About halfway through the book, I gave up on reading the epitaphs altogether and returned to simply gazing at the wonderful pictures. They are where the true magic of this book lies.
October 30, 2012
LOVE IT!!! But it is my book after all. The response has been most gratifying. Thanks Everyone.
June 20, 2018
Beautiful book. The photography is amazing and the narratives chosen for each picture are so tastefully done. This book truly does gives one ' pause to think'. The epitaphs or verses are so very fitting - "an eye that captures everything at a breathless moment". When the book arrived, I was just going to glance at it, but once I started to look at a few pages, I just could not put it down. I was mesmerized. I hope Mr. Grant does another book such as this one. Truly stunning !!
July 22, 2012
The photography and epitaphs are lovely and beautiful - adding sacredness to a difficult life experience. It makes those who detest cemeteries reconsider the lens through which they view them...pun intended!
November 8, 2012
Just finished reading this amazing book and it was truly wonderful. The stark gravestones seem to call out and the loneliness of some of the cemeteries is very eerie. John Grant is a very talented and gifted writer and photographer. Do yourself a favor and buy this book.
April 25, 2013
This book is amazing!! The photos are incredible, the epitaphs moving, it's a must see if you are a fan of graveyards or cemeteries. After this book you will never look at a cemetery the same way again!
December 1, 2012
I love all things spooky and I'm an art major so I took photography in college. This book is a mix of the two. Pictures of cemeteries. Very artfully done, consisting of locations I'm familiar with as I grew up in the area. And included on every page are quotes and interesting epitaphs. Neat book.
April 13, 2022
Stunning cemetery photography and poetry. Must-have for every taphophiliac's bookshelf!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews