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City of Immortals: Père-Lachaise Cemetery, Paris
This first-person account of a legendary necropolis will delight Francophiles, tourists and armchair travelers, while enriching the experience of taphophiles (cemetery lovers) and aficionados of art and architecture, mystery and romance. Carolyn Campbell's evocative images are complemented by those of renowned landscape photographer Joe Cornish.
"City of Immortals," named to the Los Angeles Times bestseller list and #1 hot new release on Amazon celebrates the novelty and eccentricity of Père-Lachaise Cemetery through the engrossing story of the history of the site established by Napoleonic decree along with portraits of the last moments of the cultural icons buried within its walls. In addition to several "conversations" with some of the high-profile residents, three guided tours are provided along with an illustrated pull-out map featuring the grave sites of eighty-four architects, artists, writers, musicians, dancers, filmmakers and actors, including Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison of the Doors. Frédéric Chopin, Georges Bizet, Edith Piaf, Maria Callas, Isadora Duncan, Eugène Delacroix, Gertrude Stein, Amedeo Modigliani, Sarah Bernhardt, Simone Signoret, Colette and Marcel Proust.
"City of Immortals," named to the Los Angeles Times bestseller list and #1 hot new release on Amazon celebrates the novelty and eccentricity of Père-Lachaise Cemetery through the engrossing story of the history of the site established by Napoleonic decree along with portraits of the last moments of the cultural icons buried within its walls. In addition to several "conversations" with some of the high-profile residents, three guided tours are provided along with an illustrated pull-out map featuring the grave sites of eighty-four architects, artists, writers, musicians, dancers, filmmakers and actors, including Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison of the Doors. Frédéric Chopin, Georges Bizet, Edith Piaf, Maria Callas, Isadora Duncan, Eugène Delacroix, Gertrude Stein, Amedeo Modigliani, Sarah Bernhardt, Simone Signoret, Colette and Marcel Proust.
- GenresHistoryNonfictionFrance
200 pages, Paperback
Published November 26, 2019
8 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Campbell
1 book1 followerCarolyn Campbell was born in Washington, DC, has lived in Paris, and is now a resident of Los Angeles. A bestselling author and an exhibited photographer, her fascination with Père-Lachaise Cemetery was kindled on a first visit to Paris in 1981. With the support and encouragement of her mentor, John Russell--the late New York Times art critic--she embarked on her research and photo documentation of the cemetery. A summa cum
laude graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art, she has been working as an arts and communications specialist for over thirty years. She has held executive positions with the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the American Film Institute, and the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture, where she was also editor of UCLA Arts magazine.
laude graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art, she has been working as an arts and communications specialist for over thirty years. She has held executive positions with the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the American Film Institute, and the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture, where she was also editor of UCLA Arts magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 2, 2020
I love old, artful or historical cemeteries. I've never been and probably will never be to the creme de la creme, Pere-Lachaise. I was very excited to find this book that seemed like it would be page after page of beautiful photos of the sculptural grave art and architecture of the final resting places of the famous and the not, and the landscaping organic to the tombs and art pieces that makes Pere-Lachaise so very special. Unfortunately this book is many things at once and only two of them work for me: the photos (and there are issues with those) and a small number of the stories behind the monuments.
I think Carolyn Campbell, despite enclosing a mini-guide to tours of three different sections of the cemetery, intends her readers to bring the book along too, perhaps so one can look at her oddly cropped photographs, back again at the actual graves or monuments or sculptures in front of them and I wouldn't be surprised if she believes one would then look down and refer back to her book while in the presence of the real thing. There is no one that would do so and if there is I don't want to know.
Certainly she intends the reader to savor the section in which she has written random, foolish, often tasteless yet simultaneously boring completely made-up conversations she "has" with a selection of artists at their graves. I bought this book to see artistic photos of Pere-Lachaise and learn important information about it and its occupants, famous or otherwise, and there is some......and also utterly wasted pages devoted to these "discussions."
There's the one in which Carolyn Campbell pretends to inform Modigliani that "Tragically, Jeanne, who was eight months pregnant with your second child, flung herself from the window of her parents' sixth-floor apartment the day after you died." This followed by, "May I ask how your two funerals were handled?"
Of Oscar Wilde, whose tomb is famous, infamous and poorly depicted, I need only quote from her hallucination, I mean "conversation": "Amazing that [Jacob, sculptor] Epstein's creation channeled my flamboyance!" Amazing that she thinks Oscar Wilde might have said that -- and to her.
Here's a sample (I have a headache) of what Isadora Duncan "says" to her:
"My movements have sprung from the great nature of America, from the Sierra Nevada, the Yosemite Valley, from the Pacific Ocean. They have sprung from what Walt Whitman calls 'the flashing golden pageant of California, the sudden and progressive drama' -- the creative spirit of the West."
:faceplant:
And again, the monument is not fully visible in the photo but CC goes into detail but how Duncan changed dance costumes completely, forever. This was a remarkable achievement and has not one thing to do with Pere-Lachaise other than that Isadora's dead there. Lacking a competent editor this book needed a moderator to frequently scrawl "off topic!"
Too much of it is devoted to the author's life, her accomplishments, her jobs. A word of it would be too much of it for me but it comes up several times to the exclusion of more photos and info. And in her delusional chats with the dead; she discusses her background with some of them. She claims to love the cemetery but not so much she can silence the sound of herself talking about herself.
It wasn't long before I began to wonder if the superb sculpture on the cover -- which is also not identified -- is that of some poor woman who was stuck listening to Carolyn Campbell's endless inane prattle, couldn't take another word and died of boredom on her feet. I'd like to "ask" her -- no, I would not. I don't fake-talk to dead people or disrespect them, let alone while simultaneously eliminating important portions of their monuments that would provide perspective or in some cases important art.
Because it's so many pages there are some lovely photos, some even full pages. But not enough and certainly none should be unidentified. Reading it, I longed more than ever to spend a lot of time in what must be the largest, most diverse and remarkable sculpture garden on earth. How I longed for more of that from the book and less about the (yawn) graffiti on tombs near Jim Morrison's. Yes, we know the full story or no, because we don't care to.
Chopin turns up, like some others, multiple times because the book is so unorganized. A ludicrous conversation here, a medallion there, more of his tomb over there. In the fake-conversation section she :cough cough: "says" to Chopin "I read that you were a real charmer" and contrives a response about his sex life with George Sand and eventual lack of same. Why am I even repeating these absurdities? Am I turning my review into the Pere-Lachaise Page Six? Of Chopin what I found interesting, because it relates to his life AND to the cemetery, is that Chopin's funeral was delayed because Mozart's Requiem was performed and it took two weeks to get permission for women to sing in the church. Interesting. Still, I could have learned it any number of places and instead not had to turn to multiple pages to see and mentally piece together the entirety of his monument.
Since it opened many of the world's finest sculptors and architects and even a painter or two created tombs and works for Pere-Lachaise. My favorite sculptured tomb, which happens to be photographed beautifully, is unidentified, as many are. It depicts a beautiful version of a classic subject, a mourning woman atop and draped over the tomb, and I could not find out whose tomb or who did the sculpture. It's ludicrous, particularly from someone who makes multiple mentions of her credentials in the art world at the expense of space spent on the cemetery. Even if it was a minor sculptor and an unknown dead person it would have been reasonable to expect enough information to let the reader do their own research.
Among the fine, striking, unidentified and oddly cropped photos are lovely ones by landscape photographer Joe Cornish -- who gets no cover credit -- of the gorgeous garden layout. In painterly shots he shows the cemetery's paths, stairs and lanes, places where it's quite crowded, in others not so much, and he showcases the landscaping of the world's first garden cemetery: the lemon trees, maples, trees which form arches, bushes and millions of flowers replenished by bequest, fans and families. For me his photos were the best of the book and though there aren't many, the best part of the book.
Certainly it wasn't when SHE refers to Proust as a "recluse." Googled that, did you? Because I just did and read that. :whispering: He was a bit more complicated. Actually everyone was than as they're presented here.
Among welcome, relevant background information are strewn ridiculous things. That small map she includes is probably very helpful -- but I can't see the point of carrying the full book around Pere-Lachaise and can easily imagine testy, non-imaginary conversations along the lines of "You hold it for a while!" "No, you! You're the one who wanted to bring it!"
Seriously: I'm truly disappointed. The only other photo book I could locate is self-published, uses gelatin filters, has no preview, and it too has "Guide" in the title. I'm not in a gambling mood so Google it is. It was good enough for the author, apparently. I found a web site but cosmic joke, it turns out to be hers, promoting the book. I'm kind of crushed. I expected so much more and better. I thought this was a photo book, a history book, an art book and art history book.
It's not all bad and it's certainly not worthless. Dear reader, having read this far, and if you're going to be visiting Pere-Lachaise for the first or tenth time (but perhaps have forgotten), there is one worthwhile, perhaps crucial information I can pass on to you from "City of Immortals": There are three bathrooms. One consistently runs out of toilet paper. Carolyn says to bring tissues.
I think Carolyn Campbell, despite enclosing a mini-guide to tours of three different sections of the cemetery, intends her readers to bring the book along too, perhaps so one can look at her oddly cropped photographs, back again at the actual graves or monuments or sculptures in front of them and I wouldn't be surprised if she believes one would then look down and refer back to her book while in the presence of the real thing. There is no one that would do so and if there is I don't want to know.
Certainly she intends the reader to savor the section in which she has written random, foolish, often tasteless yet simultaneously boring completely made-up conversations she "has" with a selection of artists at their graves. I bought this book to see artistic photos of Pere-Lachaise and learn important information about it and its occupants, famous or otherwise, and there is some......and also utterly wasted pages devoted to these "discussions."
There's the one in which Carolyn Campbell pretends to inform Modigliani that "Tragically, Jeanne, who was eight months pregnant with your second child, flung herself from the window of her parents' sixth-floor apartment the day after you died." This followed by, "May I ask how your two funerals were handled?"
Of Oscar Wilde, whose tomb is famous, infamous and poorly depicted, I need only quote from her hallucination, I mean "conversation": "Amazing that [Jacob, sculptor] Epstein's creation channeled my flamboyance!" Amazing that she thinks Oscar Wilde might have said that -- and to her.
Here's a sample (I have a headache) of what Isadora Duncan "says" to her:
"My movements have sprung from the great nature of America, from the Sierra Nevada, the Yosemite Valley, from the Pacific Ocean. They have sprung from what Walt Whitman calls 'the flashing golden pageant of California, the sudden and progressive drama' -- the creative spirit of the West."
:faceplant:
And again, the monument is not fully visible in the photo but CC goes into detail but how Duncan changed dance costumes completely, forever. This was a remarkable achievement and has not one thing to do with Pere-Lachaise other than that Isadora's dead there. Lacking a competent editor this book needed a moderator to frequently scrawl "off topic!"
Too much of it is devoted to the author's life, her accomplishments, her jobs. A word of it would be too much of it for me but it comes up several times to the exclusion of more photos and info. And in her delusional chats with the dead; she discusses her background with some of them. She claims to love the cemetery but not so much she can silence the sound of herself talking about herself.
It wasn't long before I began to wonder if the superb sculpture on the cover -- which is also not identified -- is that of some poor woman who was stuck listening to Carolyn Campbell's endless inane prattle, couldn't take another word and died of boredom on her feet. I'd like to "ask" her -- no, I would not. I don't fake-talk to dead people or disrespect them, let alone while simultaneously eliminating important portions of their monuments that would provide perspective or in some cases important art.
Because it's so many pages there are some lovely photos, some even full pages. But not enough and certainly none should be unidentified. Reading it, I longed more than ever to spend a lot of time in what must be the largest, most diverse and remarkable sculpture garden on earth. How I longed for more of that from the book and less about the (yawn) graffiti on tombs near Jim Morrison's. Yes, we know the full story or no, because we don't care to.
Chopin turns up, like some others, multiple times because the book is so unorganized. A ludicrous conversation here, a medallion there, more of his tomb over there. In the fake-conversation section she :cough cough: "says" to Chopin "I read that you were a real charmer" and contrives a response about his sex life with George Sand and eventual lack of same. Why am I even repeating these absurdities? Am I turning my review into the Pere-Lachaise Page Six? Of Chopin what I found interesting, because it relates to his life AND to the cemetery, is that Chopin's funeral was delayed because Mozart's Requiem was performed and it took two weeks to get permission for women to sing in the church. Interesting. Still, I could have learned it any number of places and instead not had to turn to multiple pages to see and mentally piece together the entirety of his monument.
Since it opened many of the world's finest sculptors and architects and even a painter or two created tombs and works for Pere-Lachaise. My favorite sculptured tomb, which happens to be photographed beautifully, is unidentified, as many are. It depicts a beautiful version of a classic subject, a mourning woman atop and draped over the tomb, and I could not find out whose tomb or who did the sculpture. It's ludicrous, particularly from someone who makes multiple mentions of her credentials in the art world at the expense of space spent on the cemetery. Even if it was a minor sculptor and an unknown dead person it would have been reasonable to expect enough information to let the reader do their own research.
Among the fine, striking, unidentified and oddly cropped photos are lovely ones by landscape photographer Joe Cornish -- who gets no cover credit -- of the gorgeous garden layout. In painterly shots he shows the cemetery's paths, stairs and lanes, places where it's quite crowded, in others not so much, and he showcases the landscaping of the world's first garden cemetery: the lemon trees, maples, trees which form arches, bushes and millions of flowers replenished by bequest, fans and families. For me his photos were the best of the book and though there aren't many, the best part of the book.
Certainly it wasn't when SHE refers to Proust as a "recluse." Googled that, did you? Because I just did and read that. :whispering: He was a bit more complicated. Actually everyone was than as they're presented here.
Among welcome, relevant background information are strewn ridiculous things. That small map she includes is probably very helpful -- but I can't see the point of carrying the full book around Pere-Lachaise and can easily imagine testy, non-imaginary conversations along the lines of "You hold it for a while!" "No, you! You're the one who wanted to bring it!"
Seriously: I'm truly disappointed. The only other photo book I could locate is self-published, uses gelatin filters, has no preview, and it too has "Guide" in the title. I'm not in a gambling mood so Google it is. It was good enough for the author, apparently. I found a web site but cosmic joke, it turns out to be hers, promoting the book. I'm kind of crushed. I expected so much more and better. I thought this was a photo book, a history book, an art book and art history book.
It's not all bad and it's certainly not worthless. Dear reader, having read this far, and if you're going to be visiting Pere-Lachaise for the first or tenth time (but perhaps have forgotten), there is one worthwhile, perhaps crucial information I can pass on to you from "City of Immortals": There are three bathrooms. One consistently runs out of toilet paper. Carolyn says to bring tissues.
February 21, 2022
With all the historical figures buried at Pere Lachaise -- and all the years (40!) Carolyn Campbell has been visiting the cemetery, I was surprised to discover that this book is so slim. Some of that is because it doesn't include a photograph of every gravesite she writes about, which I found disappointing. The photos that are included, however, are lovely.
Campbell does a nice job of discussing the artists behind some of the grave monuments in the cemetery, but that made me wish there was a book solely dedicated to the cemetery artworks.
Like everyone else who has reviewed the book here on Goodreads, I was mystified by the fanciful interviews with a handful of dead folks. At first I wondered if Campbell was psychic, but no, she's merely imaginative. I found the postmortem interviews in poor taste (especially the one with Oscar Wilde) and skipped over them. That 40-page chapter would have been better used to add more graves to the cemetery tours that follow.
My favorite part of the book was the final chapter, with its side-by-side comparisons of grave monuments before and after conservation. Again, I would read an entire book on that topic.
I don't know of a good, comprehensive English-language guidebook to Pere Lachaise. I guess I'm still looking for one.
Campbell does a nice job of discussing the artists behind some of the grave monuments in the cemetery, but that made me wish there was a book solely dedicated to the cemetery artworks.
Like everyone else who has reviewed the book here on Goodreads, I was mystified by the fanciful interviews with a handful of dead folks. At first I wondered if Campbell was psychic, but no, she's merely imaginative. I found the postmortem interviews in poor taste (especially the one with Oscar Wilde) and skipped over them. That 40-page chapter would have been better used to add more graves to the cemetery tours that follow.
My favorite part of the book was the final chapter, with its side-by-side comparisons of grave monuments before and after conservation. Again, I would read an entire book on that topic.
I don't know of a good, comprehensive English-language guidebook to Pere Lachaise. I guess I'm still looking for one.
October 11, 2022
Who greenlit the big section in the middle where Campbell roleplays discussions between herself and famous Père-Lachaise residents? Reading her playing armchair-therapist to Jim Morrison’s ghost was excruciatingly cringeworthy.
January 12, 2023
Pere Lachaise, the setting for City of Immortals, is one of the four most visited sites in the City of Paris. Carolyn Campbell presents enchanting photographs of the garden cemetery in all seasons, The book is a convenient size to accompany the visitor and guides the reader through the legendary resting place of writers, artists, dancers, actors and musicians. City of Immortals introduces us to these luminaries via imaginative interviews in their own authentic voices that reflect their personalities. More than a guidebook, City of Immortals is a multi-dimensional experience.
January 18, 2021
I can see why Carolyn Campbell's debut book, "City of Immortals" was named #2 on the Los Angeles Times Bestsellers List and #1 Hot New Release on Amazon. I am a veteran taphophile (one who loves cemeteries) so my standards are pretty high. I did a bit of research before I purchased this book as my library is already full to overflowing. So, I went to her web site where I found glowing reviews from leading art, travel and lifestyle press, as well as videos of her many lectures from her City of Immortals YouTube channel. In addition, the book features exceptional color images by Campbell and her British colleague, Joe Cornish, plus the text is engrossing.
Pere-Lachaise Cemetery is BIG, so when I visit I like to be strategic. Campbell took care of that by designing three separate tour options featuring thumbnail bios on 84 artists, writers and musicians explaining in detail the challenges each area presents. It rises to a 1,000' elevation in some places. The alphabetical grid map tucked into the back pocket of the book is in French, Chinese and English. The author/photographer went to extra lengths to make the experience accessible to all.
Speaking of experience, the biggest surprise and delight were eight "Conversations with the Immortals" (Colette, Chopin, Morrison, Balzac, Duncan, Piaf, Modigliani and Wilde) in the center of the book between chapters on the cemetery's fascinating history, the meanings of funerary symbols and architecture and the three tours. Campbell's experience is vast. Not only was she given extraordinary access over her 30+ years of research by officials in Paris, but she interviewed individuals who knew intimate facts about the interred, including Oscar Wilde's grandson and close friends of Jim Morrison as well as The Doors keyboard player Ray Manzarek. She incorporates these interviews and well researched biographical material in her lively and touching "Conversations." She achieves her intention of making these characters come alive for the reader.
Suffice is to say, I highly recommend this book to anyone who is planning a visit and/or is fascinated by Paris, history, celebrity grave sites, the arts and architecture. It gave me great pleasure to make this my go-to holiday gift for all my friends. The best news is she just launched a GPS tour app of the cemetery in French and English to complement the book. Magnifique!
Pere-Lachaise Cemetery is BIG, so when I visit I like to be strategic. Campbell took care of that by designing three separate tour options featuring thumbnail bios on 84 artists, writers and musicians explaining in detail the challenges each area presents. It rises to a 1,000' elevation in some places. The alphabetical grid map tucked into the back pocket of the book is in French, Chinese and English. The author/photographer went to extra lengths to make the experience accessible to all.
Speaking of experience, the biggest surprise and delight were eight "Conversations with the Immortals" (Colette, Chopin, Morrison, Balzac, Duncan, Piaf, Modigliani and Wilde) in the center of the book between chapters on the cemetery's fascinating history, the meanings of funerary symbols and architecture and the three tours. Campbell's experience is vast. Not only was she given extraordinary access over her 30+ years of research by officials in Paris, but she interviewed individuals who knew intimate facts about the interred, including Oscar Wilde's grandson and close friends of Jim Morrison as well as The Doors keyboard player Ray Manzarek. She incorporates these interviews and well researched biographical material in her lively and touching "Conversations." She achieves her intention of making these characters come alive for the reader.
Suffice is to say, I highly recommend this book to anyone who is planning a visit and/or is fascinated by Paris, history, celebrity grave sites, the arts and architecture. It gave me great pleasure to make this my go-to holiday gift for all my friends. The best news is she just launched a GPS tour app of the cemetery in French and English to complement the book. Magnifique!
February 29, 2020
A book like no other, the author uses the final resting place of various luminaries in this greatest of cemeteries in this greatest of cities—Paris—to illuminate; to give us a glimpse of what made these people great—from a myriad of different worlds of accomplishment. It acts as a kind of jumping off point, not into the abyss of death, but into a lexicon of the living; of what is possible when one dares to defy convention—in life, and in death and to appreciate why we should celebrate them and, in turn, these monuments. They are more than mere crumbling edifices, but works of art and singular tributes to legends, in and of themselves.
August 8, 2022
Overall, I did enjoy this book. Especially now, during a pandemic, it’s a great way to travel without leaving the comfort of my couch. It also is a good starting point for planning a future trip when things return to a more comfortable state of normal. I would say this is a great addition to any cemetery or travel library and would be a valuable resource as a guide to visiting Père-Lachaise Cemetery.
To read my full review, visit http://chantallarochelle.ca/2022/02/2...
To read my full review, visit http://chantallarochelle.ca/2022/02/2...
July 21, 2022
I appreciated the history of the cemetery and many of its monuments, and I read with interest the symbolism of the funerary iconography. The biographical sketches of many of Père Lachaise’s inhabitants were also welcome. That said, I was very disappointed in the copious photographs of busts, medallions and the like, to the great exclusion of so many of the more artistic and heartfelt statuary commemorating well known and beloved departed. I will need to find a book that focuses more on these.
January 18, 2021
Old cemetaries intrigue me. When I lived in Oakland I went to walk in Mountain View Cemetary every week. And when I visit Paris, I go to Pere-Lachaise, and wander around. Next time - post pandemic - I'm taking this book with me. I get such a sense of place from the writing and the photographs. I love it.
November 9, 2021
This book tries to be three different things (and doesn't completely succeed at any of those): a history of Père-Lachaise, a set of imagined interviews with people interred there, and a traveler's guide. The "interviews" are superficial and unnecessary. The history is interesting. The guide book (and accompanying map) might be useful to some. Unfortunately, the author provides two cemetery tours, each with a group of graves that she thinks you should see. And they do include the usual "highlights" (if such a thing can be said about a cemetery). However, if you're interested in a specific historical figure not on her list then you're out of luck. I wish the author had just given an extensive list of historical and interesting people so that readers could pick and choose to construct their own personal tour. Oh, and this book doesn't really serve as a souvenir or coffee table book because the photos are small and not as interesting as you'd expect. Perhaps it was a financial limitation imposed by the publisher? If you're planning to visit Père-Lachaise then I'm sure there are other, better guides out there, you would do well to seek out those.
March 21, 2024
I loved the history and photos in this book. If you were planning to visit, it would be wonderful to read this first and the map included would be very helpful. I so enjoy visiting old cemeteries and this would be amazing to see. I didn’t care for her “interviews” of a few of the famous people interred there, just the information on them would have been better.
July 9, 2022
I’ve been here twice, but now I know what to look for. Before this book, we randomly walked around and went only to the famous people we know about. Next time, I will go knowing more of the people buried there, and their history.
March 1, 2021
Would have loved a photo with every entry. Great book for taphophiles and francophiles.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews