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Highgate Cemetery: Victorian Valhalla
Highgate Cemetery, clinging to the southern slope of Highgate Hill, looks out across London to the Epsom Downs in the distance. It is one of the great cemeteries of the world (to those who know it, one of the Wonders) but in many ways it is also one of the most secret. A maze of rising terraces, winding paths, tombs and catacombs, it is a monument to the Victorian age and to the Victorian attitude to death. Containing some of the most celebrated -- and often most eccentric -- funerary architecture to be found anywhere, it has also, as nature has gradually taken it over, become a wild-life reserve near the centre of London. Now after many years of neglect, the cemetery is being lovingly restored, the dense foliage cut back, nature brought under control and its treasures revealed. In Highgate Victorian Valhalla the London historian Felix Barker tells fully and for the first time the story of this burial ground. But, above all, the book contains a unique pictorial record of its moods and its monuments caught over the last twenty years by John Gay whose photographs superbly and evocatively convey the spirit of the place.
112 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1984
183 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 10, 2011
If you own no other book of cemetery photos, this is the one to have. Be warned, however: once you see this book, you will want to journey to London and visit Highgate Cemetery. Sixty-five luminous black-and-white photos, lush with the textures of marble and ivy, capture the romance of of the Victoria cemetery.
John Gay's photos record the play of the seasons amidst the graves. A lion, larger than life, sleeps shrouded in snow. Drifts of Queen Anne's Lace pile up around headstones. Fallen leaves carpet granite steps. Angels mourn under cloaks of ivy. Mist softens the outlines of bare branches behind a cross adorned with cherubic faces. Christ ascends toward Heaven, his face uplifted in the sun. It's impossible not to want to see the things for yourself.
An introductory essay by Felix Barker, a London historian, details the history of the graveyard since its consecration in 1839. It passes (too quickly for this inquiring mind) over the desecration in the 1970s, when witchcraft was performed on the graves and bodies were staked as alleged vampires. The cemetery in all its ruined glory stood on the verge of being dismantled, the bodies exhumed, and the land sold for recreational purposes when the Friends of Highgate Cemetery formed to look after its upkeep and restoration.
The most visited grave in Highgate Cemetery belongs to Karl Marx. The only photograph in this book to include the living records a gang of young Chinese men in pressed uniforms come to pay their respects. One man looks back at the photographer with a smile.
This is the book that started me visiting graveyards. If you don't already visit them yourself, you'll find it inspirational.
John Gay's photos record the play of the seasons amidst the graves. A lion, larger than life, sleeps shrouded in snow. Drifts of Queen Anne's Lace pile up around headstones. Fallen leaves carpet granite steps. Angels mourn under cloaks of ivy. Mist softens the outlines of bare branches behind a cross adorned with cherubic faces. Christ ascends toward Heaven, his face uplifted in the sun. It's impossible not to want to see the things for yourself.
An introductory essay by Felix Barker, a London historian, details the history of the graveyard since its consecration in 1839. It passes (too quickly for this inquiring mind) over the desecration in the 1970s, when witchcraft was performed on the graves and bodies were staked as alleged vampires. The cemetery in all its ruined glory stood on the verge of being dismantled, the bodies exhumed, and the land sold for recreational purposes when the Friends of Highgate Cemetery formed to look after its upkeep and restoration.
The most visited grave in Highgate Cemetery belongs to Karl Marx. The only photograph in this book to include the living records a gang of young Chinese men in pressed uniforms come to pay their respects. One man looks back at the photographer with a smile.
This is the book that started me visiting graveyards. If you don't already visit them yourself, you'll find it inspirational.
August 30, 2009
Lots of interesting sculptures. Wish I could have gotten there to see it in person when I was in London.
September 22, 2017
With all my trips to London, I am amazed that I have not visited this beautiful place. Highgate Cemetery Victorian Valhalla narrative by historian Felix Barker and photographed by John Gay shows me what a truly phenomenal spot Highgate is. Mr. Barker's description of Highgate makes it sound as though "it resembles a lively club." One finds "Companions in Death" entertainers and actors including the last well-known actor to be interred, Sir Ralph Richardson, in November 1983. "We're a mystery to ourselves and other people." This is a statement Sir Ralph made "on the imponderables of life." Karl Marx who has many visitors, and near him is Herbert Spencer a "radical philosopher". In another part of Highgate, there are four publishers. One is Frederick Warne who was the "publisher and friend of Beatrix Potter. There are many different "Companions in Death". Many are quite fascinating. But John Gay's photographs are grand. He catches Highgate before the Friends of Highgate Cemetery had restored this Victorian cemetery, and his photography is so moving, haunting, and unbelievably beautiful. Mr. Gay's photography truly make this book and relate nature and Highgate to tell Highgate's story before restoration. Truly grand. 4 1/4 stars!
October 8, 2011
How I visit this place vicariously...
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November 25, 2022I visited Highgate cemetery in January 1985, it was a damp and chilly Sunday and because i and my partner were wearing wellingtons, the volunteers thought we were there to help.
The cemetery was still in the progress of heavy clearing, Ivy, Trees, broken stones and vandalism, but someone was kind enough to take a small party of us around and show us some of the, fantastic headstones, mausoleums and crypts, explaining some of the history of the cemetery and interesting characters buried there.
After this we were able to wander around and explore on our own before (the health and safety ) brigade). We found so many interesting graves and the whole place was eerie, romantic and full of beauty, celebrity, eccentricity and sorrow which can all clearly be seen and wondered at.
I used to own this book as it was bought for me as a present, when it was first published and i foolishly lent it to someone, who never gave it back. Having said this i am going to purchase it again and can thoroughly recommend it to anyone, who wants to experience, Victorian Valhalla, for themselves.
The cemetery was still in the progress of heavy clearing, Ivy, Trees, broken stones and vandalism, but someone was kind enough to take a small party of us around and show us some of the, fantastic headstones, mausoleums and crypts, explaining some of the history of the cemetery and interesting characters buried there.
After this we were able to wander around and explore on our own before (the health and safety ) brigade). We found so many interesting graves and the whole place was eerie, romantic and full of beauty, celebrity, eccentricity and sorrow which can all clearly be seen and wondered at.
I used to own this book as it was bought for me as a present, when it was first published and i foolishly lent it to someone, who never gave it back. Having said this i am going to purchase it again and can thoroughly recommend it to anyone, who wants to experience, Victorian Valhalla, for themselves.
May 29, 2019
I love the photos in the second half of this book. Gives the feel of a long lost abandoned cemetery which Highgate was for awhile.
The first half of the book is gives a well written and detailed history of Highgate cemetery. There is also a number of famous people and some other people’s’ life stories explored in connection to their wonderful gravestones.
I found this book, though outdated now by thirty odd years, interesting and easy to read. I am going on a tour of Highgate cemetery in a few weeks and this book has just made me more excited to see the headstones for myself.
The first half of the book is gives a well written and detailed history of Highgate cemetery. There is also a number of famous people and some other people’s’ life stories explored in connection to their wonderful gravestones.
I found this book, though outdated now by thirty odd years, interesting and easy to read. I am going on a tour of Highgate cemetery in a few weeks and this book has just made me more excited to see the headstones for myself.
January 1, 2023
Scooped up for a few dollars in a secondhand bookstore during a quick post Xmas trip to Milwaukee. A nice souvenir for my visit last summer. This dates from early 80s, so the black and white photos are extra evocative as most of the restoration hadn’t been completed, so looks extra rambling overgrown ivy entwined gothic spookiness. Good history and background on some of the more reknown residents..
September 28, 2024
Covers the background of historic Highgate Cemetery, in a very interesting way -
The first half is a mix of the timeline of the cemetery itself, dates opened and closures, and stories about specific people interred there (along with stories about some graves that were opened and why)
The second half is beautiful black and white photos of various statues/stones and walkways
There’s also a map at the end, but it’s not very detailed
The first half is a mix of the timeline of the cemetery itself, dates opened and closures, and stories about specific people interred there (along with stories about some graves that were opened and why)
The second half is beautiful black and white photos of various statues/stones and walkways
There’s also a map at the end, but it’s not very detailed
September 4, 2018
I was looking for something quick to read and found this old book on my shelf. It was visually satisfying and offered a bit of the cemetery history and a look at Victorian thinking about life and death.
November 1, 2022
Absolutely wonderful. Fascinating and the photographs are brilliant. Someone needs to create a second edition.
March 24, 2011
Beautiful and inspirational black and white photography.
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March 13, 2015730.94214 B2553 1984
April 2, 2015
The only thing missing in this book is twice the number of pages. It's so interesting, and the photos are so evocative, that you just want more.
January 12, 2017
Just beautiful. A lovely visual reminder of a "bucket list" destination!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews