Quiet City: Walking in the West Terrace Cemetery

by Carol Lefevre

I do not think that I believe in ghosts, but just for this morning, just for the time it will take to ramble through this quiet city under clouds the colour of tin, or of pigeons' wings, I am going to believe in them.

Ordinary lives are revealed as extraordinary, as Carol Lefevre traces the stories of West Terrace Cemetery's little-known inhabitants: there is the tale of the man who fatally turned his back on a tiger, and the man who avoided one shipwreck only to perish in another; there is the story of the young woman who came home from a dance and drank belladonna, and those who died at the hands of one of South Australia's most notorious abortionists.

Said to be the most poetic place in Adelaide, in this heritage-listed burial ground the beginnings of the colony of South Australia are still within reach. Amid a sea of weather-bleached monuments, the excavated remains of Australia's oldest crematorium can be seen, and its quietest corner shelters the country's first dedicated military cemetery.

From archives, and headstones, the author recovers histories that time and weather threaten to obliterate. Quiet City is a book for everyone who has ever wandered through an old graveyard and wished its stones could speak

344 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2013

Reviews

[Inés · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't live in Adelaide, I don't live anywhere near Adelaide. In fact, I don't even live near Australia (born, raised and still living in Spain), but now I'm left longing for a walk in West Terrace Cemetery and longing even more for a visit to the city of Adelaide.

I bought this book because I'm working in writing project set in Adelaide and West Terrace Cemetery is a location of quite importance - not massive, but still worth researching - and this book seemed like Heaven-sent to me. I have always been fond of graveyard, how individual stories are hidden behind every grave, behind every monument... People with all kind of lives, dreams, wishes and experiences are there and you can't help to wonder about their story, what they experimented when they were alive.

Quiet City certainly answers to all of these questions, taking the reader in a literary journey across West Terrace Cemetery while discovering the lives and deaths of their inhabitants. I wish every cemetery in the world could have a book like this but I'm grateful for this one existing for WTC.

[Barbara Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well researched and written. Found it a very interesting read.

[Barbara Whitehead · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a glimpse of the history of early Adelaide and it's people, this is fascinating.
Really thought it is the beauty and respect shown in the writing that I enjoyed.

[Vicki Heneker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love love love this book. I walk in this cemetery regularly, and now I have so much more information when I look around at the many headstones and paths. So well researched, and the author talks of the history of the cemetery, but also it's atmosphere, it's gardens and paths, it's original indigenous plants, the old buildings, even the early staff. This is a book I would have loved to have written myself. Anyone who loves history, and cemeteries, and especially knows Adelaide well, or just has an interest in history or early Australian history I think would also love this book.

Well done Carol Lefevre for your amazing work.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written. Never have I so wanted to visit a cemetery!

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most interesting, well written and thoroughly researched novel I've ever read. Thoroughly enjoyed reading about our forefathers: their struggles, losses, heartbreak and hardships. From an aged and lonely headstone, Carol Lefevre takes their names and brings their stories to life. With her gifted ability, the city of Adelaide also springs to life imagining the dusty streets with horse and carriages bringing new citizens from Port Adelaide fresh from many and varied countries. I couldn't put this novel down. Can't speak highly enough of it.

[Meri Elena · Rating 3 out of 5]

A friend brought me this back from her trip to Australia. It was pretty frustrating that I couldn't follow the directions to go see the graves myself, not being there myself, so that hampered my enjoyment. The stories were very interesting, though. This is why I love old graveyards so much--all the history, all the lives. The botanical and ghostly sections were my favorite parts.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! A truly fascinating read. This is a book mixed with creative storytelling and interesting history of the beautiful city of Adelaide. Would love to meet this author!!! Love her work!