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Cities of the Dead: The world's most beautiful cemeteries
Discover the fascinating stories of the world’s most beautiful cemeteries, featuring spectacular photography, unique histories and famous residents.
Cities of the Dead takes us on a tour of memorial sites, ranging from monastic settlements to grand cathedrals , Shinto shrines to Gothic chapels , tombs and crypts . Enjoy tales of myths and monsters, grave-robbers, pilgrimages, spiritual retreats, remembrance and community. Marvel in cemeteries with a hundred thousand to a handful of graves which feature famous headstones, weeping angels, ocean views, woodlands, thousands of glowing lanterns and a tomb of poets.
From London's famous Highgate Cemetery, which houses famous names from Karl Marx to Malcolm McLaren, George Eliot to Christina Rosetti, to Hawaii's breathtaking Valley of the Temples, this book spans the globe to bring you the most fascinating, intriguing and evocative cemeteries across cultures and continents.
Together with evocative images , the stories behind these notable burial sites bring these sanctuaries to life , detailing the features that make them special, highlighting both similarities and differences between time periods, religions and cultures, and showing how cemeteries are about and for the living as much as the dead.
Cities of the Dead takes us on a tour of memorial sites, ranging from monastic settlements to grand cathedrals , Shinto shrines to Gothic chapels , tombs and crypts . Enjoy tales of myths and monsters, grave-robbers, pilgrimages, spiritual retreats, remembrance and community. Marvel in cemeteries with a hundred thousand to a handful of graves which feature famous headstones, weeping angels, ocean views, woodlands, thousands of glowing lanterns and a tomb of poets.
From London's famous Highgate Cemetery, which houses famous names from Karl Marx to Malcolm McLaren, George Eliot to Christina Rosetti, to Hawaii's breathtaking Valley of the Temples, this book spans the globe to bring you the most fascinating, intriguing and evocative cemeteries across cultures and continents.
Together with evocative images , the stories behind these notable burial sites bring these sanctuaries to life , detailing the features that make them special, highlighting both similarities and differences between time periods, religions and cultures, and showing how cemeteries are about and for the living as much as the dead.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published September 27, 2022
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123 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
September 30, 2022
A book of beautiful cemeteries around the world although most are in the Americas and Europe. (The third section, the rest of the world is much shorter). There’s lots of interesting facts about architecture, history and any famous inhabitants and of course the photography is spectacular.
Want to Read
September 30, 2022This book covers how various how in previous times and the present civilisation has dealt with burial and death. I knew nothing about the catacombs beneath the Vatican and found this part the most interesting. A great read to help us prepare for our inevitable end and the end of others close to us.
Thank You to Net Gallery for this Insightful Book.
Thank You to Net Gallery for this Insightful Book.
December 4, 2022
Yolanda Zappaterra’s Cities of the Dead: The World's Most Beautiful Cemeteries is a fascinating and educational book. I enjoyed the pretty and nostalgic pictures and I liked reading about the histories and architecture of these interesting cemeteries. However, I wish the book was better organised and there was less of a disparity in the locations presented.
This book is divided into regions: The Americas; Europe; and Asia, Oceania, and Africa. Many famous cemeteries are included like Lafayette Cemetery No. One in New Orleans, Al-Qarafa in Cairo, Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, Père Lachaise in Paris, and Highgate Cemetery in London. Each cemetery featured has its own entry which includes at least one picture and examines its history, architectural features, and famous residents. Most of the entries are brief and encompass one or two pages. However, there are a few of the more famous sites whose write ups are slightly lengthier and feature more pictures. There is also a great section on symbolism in cemeteries. This informative chapter briefly describes the meanings and histories behind items like cherubs, candles, and boats that are often found in cemeteries.
This book is so original and interesting! I learned so much about many different countries, and cultures. Cemeteries are undoubtedly places of sadness, nostalgia, and tragedy. They are an indelible and important record of humanity, reveal a multitude of stories, and–as this book shows–can be quite beautiful. I loved seeing the Merry Cemetery in Romania which is filled with colourful folk art depicting stories about the deceased. It is truly a unique and endearing tradition and tribute. The journey through the iconic Père Lachaise reflects a swathe of famous Western figures like Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, and Frédéric Chopin. I am in awe of the lovely Aoyama Cemetery in Tokyo where people can enjoy the beautiful springtime Sakura. Here, you can also find the grave of the famous dog Hachiko. His adorable gravesite is covered in doggie themed gifts left by adoring fans.
While this book is extremely educational and well-researched, Zapaterra’s writing is sadly quite dry and can be repetitive. The book also could have been better organised. I would have liked to see a better distribution of information as some cemeteries have a lot of pictures and information while other entries are woefully succinct. The Europe chapter is very large and so many English cemeteries are included that I thought that I was touring every cemetery that England has to offer! In comparison, the Asia, Oceania and Africa chapter is quite sad with not many entries. Furthermore, while I do appreciate the abundance of wonderfully composed and evocative pictures, the book would have benefited from a more meaningful selection of images.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion for this book in exchange for an honest review.
⚰️⚰️⚰️1/2 out of 5 coffins!
This book is divided into regions: The Americas; Europe; and Asia, Oceania, and Africa. Many famous cemeteries are included like Lafayette Cemetery No. One in New Orleans, Al-Qarafa in Cairo, Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, Père Lachaise in Paris, and Highgate Cemetery in London. Each cemetery featured has its own entry which includes at least one picture and examines its history, architectural features, and famous residents. Most of the entries are brief and encompass one or two pages. However, there are a few of the more famous sites whose write ups are slightly lengthier and feature more pictures. There is also a great section on symbolism in cemeteries. This informative chapter briefly describes the meanings and histories behind items like cherubs, candles, and boats that are often found in cemeteries.
This book is so original and interesting! I learned so much about many different countries, and cultures. Cemeteries are undoubtedly places of sadness, nostalgia, and tragedy. They are an indelible and important record of humanity, reveal a multitude of stories, and–as this book shows–can be quite beautiful. I loved seeing the Merry Cemetery in Romania which is filled with colourful folk art depicting stories about the deceased. It is truly a unique and endearing tradition and tribute. The journey through the iconic Père Lachaise reflects a swathe of famous Western figures like Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, and Frédéric Chopin. I am in awe of the lovely Aoyama Cemetery in Tokyo where people can enjoy the beautiful springtime Sakura. Here, you can also find the grave of the famous dog Hachiko. His adorable gravesite is covered in doggie themed gifts left by adoring fans.
While this book is extremely educational and well-researched, Zapaterra’s writing is sadly quite dry and can be repetitive. The book also could have been better organised. I would have liked to see a better distribution of information as some cemeteries have a lot of pictures and information while other entries are woefully succinct. The Europe chapter is very large and so many English cemeteries are included that I thought that I was touring every cemetery that England has to offer! In comparison, the Asia, Oceania and Africa chapter is quite sad with not many entries. Furthermore, while I do appreciate the abundance of wonderfully composed and evocative pictures, the book would have benefited from a more meaningful selection of images.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion for this book in exchange for an honest review.
⚰️⚰️⚰️1/2 out of 5 coffins!
August 23, 2022
A wordy picture book, or a full-colour help to armchair travelling, this looks at some of the biggest and best graveyards of the world, skipping from cemetery to cemetery in ebullient fashion. The good things about this include the fact you cannot see the seams, so whether the author has spent days in these places, or just travelled them via laptop under lockdown, you cannot really tell. Some are one double-page spread, some are three, but the written text never really outstays its welcome, however much it might mention a certain specific style of memorial that never shows in the photographic accompaniment. These visuals are top notch, presenting the mood or the grandeur as required; many of these places were for the living as much as they were for the dead and so were designed for our aesthetic above any other purpose. It’s a little frustrating the itinerary is so bonkers – Georgia, US to Rio to Chicago to Puerto Rico to Arlington – but as this is for the quick, not the dead, it’s a minor issue it gallivants so speedily. And anyway it’s in chronological order by continent, so nerr. The Americas, Europe, and the Rest of the World make up our sections, before we close with visiting details and contacts, and a quick little ‘how to read a gravestone’ guide to the symbols used more predominantly. It’s a book that never seemed to fail at its intentions, and considering how it just never felt morbid or ghoulish, I can only be optimistic for it. A strong four stars.
November 2, 2022
I’m the kind of person who, when I travel or visit different cities or states, I always pull up Google Maps before I arrive and research whether or not there are any cemeteries nearby that are of note, either because of their residents or because of their architecture or landscaping. I don’t exactly know why, but I’ve been fascinated with cemeteries and their histories for quite a while—whether it’s the feeling of visiting a deceased favorite author’s grave and feeling like you’re there in spirit with him/her somehow, or marveling at ornate cemetery statues, or wondering how the heck a stunning, gleaming mausoleum was made to appear as somber but beautiful as it is, there’s so many things in graveyards and cemeteries to dwell upon.
So, as a pretty big taphophile, I was extremely excited to get my hands on a copy of this—based on the description alone, I thought it would have everything I’m interested in regarding the worlds of cemeteries and graveyards. It’s a coffee table-style book with large photographs and histories of each cemetery represented within, and the synopsis promised gorgeous photos and sprawling stories of each unique final resting place, something every cemetery admirer loves to hear.
However, as I started to read the book, I discovered it wasn’t quite what the cover promised it to be—it’s instead a rather in-depth history and description of each cemetery/graveyard, most complete with who started it, why it was started, the kind of architectural style its founders chose and why, and then an overview of its famous or noteworthy residents. Zappaterra will oftentimes go on mini-tangents about certain monuments or styles or singular graves in a specific cemetery, and we learn a lot about them in a very cogent, detailed manner. Which, to an extent, is great, but that’s also where the problem with this book lies—there’s not enough photos.
This book suffers under the weight of ‘telling and not showing,’ that classic piece of advice all writers are given in creative writing classes. Here, it’s applied differently than fiction from the get-go, but the point of it's still the same—I don’t just want these unique features and tombstones and styles described to me for a full paragraph with text alone. I want that description and detail along with photos actually showing me what’s being described together on the page. There were so many times where I had to pause what I was reading, pull my phone out, and go onto Google and search for what the author was describing that it eventually interrupted the overall flow of the book itself, and I found myself growing a little frustrated.
I struggle to understand what the goal of this book was accordingly—was it supposed to be a detailed but surface-level historical introduction to several notable cemeteries and graveyards from around the world with a few pictures thrown in here and there, or was it supposed to be a coffee table book that one could set out and let his/her/their relatives or friends browse through while lounging about on a lazy Sunday or during halftime of a football game? If it was supposed to be the former, the styling, formatting, and marketing for the book don’t make sense, as it’s essentially marketed as a travel- and photography-based book about the world’s most beautiful cemeteries, yet each cemetery only gets about two or three photos, with a handful getting maybe two or three more (even more confounding is the fact that almost none of the photos appear to be actually taken by the author herself, despite the introduction setting the scene in the sense where she talks about traveling to many of the cemeteries listed within). If it was supposed to be the latter, the book would’ve benefitted from cutting down on some of the descriptions and histories of the cemeteries and instead focusing more on adding ten to twenty photos per cemetery, with little details about them specifically in the style of captions, and a basic history/architecture style guide could’ve been included at the introduction of each cemetery.
The book struggles to understand what it’s supposed to be, but it is very well written. It’s dense, sometimes to the point where I found myself wondering why I was reading so much about certain monuments or crypts or specific styles set within the cemetery without being able to physically see said things, but it succeeds in at least allowing taphophiles to learn the basics about some of the world’s most beautiful cemeteries, with the information accompanied by a few gorgeous photographs for each site.
Thanks to NetGalley, Quarto Publishing Group, and Yolanda Zappaterra for the digital ARC of Cities of the Dead in exchange for an honest review.
So, as a pretty big taphophile, I was extremely excited to get my hands on a copy of this—based on the description alone, I thought it would have everything I’m interested in regarding the worlds of cemeteries and graveyards. It’s a coffee table-style book with large photographs and histories of each cemetery represented within, and the synopsis promised gorgeous photos and sprawling stories of each unique final resting place, something every cemetery admirer loves to hear.
However, as I started to read the book, I discovered it wasn’t quite what the cover promised it to be—it’s instead a rather in-depth history and description of each cemetery/graveyard, most complete with who started it, why it was started, the kind of architectural style its founders chose and why, and then an overview of its famous or noteworthy residents. Zappaterra will oftentimes go on mini-tangents about certain monuments or styles or singular graves in a specific cemetery, and we learn a lot about them in a very cogent, detailed manner. Which, to an extent, is great, but that’s also where the problem with this book lies—there’s not enough photos.
This book suffers under the weight of ‘telling and not showing,’ that classic piece of advice all writers are given in creative writing classes. Here, it’s applied differently than fiction from the get-go, but the point of it's still the same—I don’t just want these unique features and tombstones and styles described to me for a full paragraph with text alone. I want that description and detail along with photos actually showing me what’s being described together on the page. There were so many times where I had to pause what I was reading, pull my phone out, and go onto Google and search for what the author was describing that it eventually interrupted the overall flow of the book itself, and I found myself growing a little frustrated.
I struggle to understand what the goal of this book was accordingly—was it supposed to be a detailed but surface-level historical introduction to several notable cemeteries and graveyards from around the world with a few pictures thrown in here and there, or was it supposed to be a coffee table book that one could set out and let his/her/their relatives or friends browse through while lounging about on a lazy Sunday or during halftime of a football game? If it was supposed to be the former, the styling, formatting, and marketing for the book don’t make sense, as it’s essentially marketed as a travel- and photography-based book about the world’s most beautiful cemeteries, yet each cemetery only gets about two or three photos, with a handful getting maybe two or three more (even more confounding is the fact that almost none of the photos appear to be actually taken by the author herself, despite the introduction setting the scene in the sense where she talks about traveling to many of the cemeteries listed within). If it was supposed to be the latter, the book would’ve benefitted from cutting down on some of the descriptions and histories of the cemeteries and instead focusing more on adding ten to twenty photos per cemetery, with little details about them specifically in the style of captions, and a basic history/architecture style guide could’ve been included at the introduction of each cemetery.
The book struggles to understand what it’s supposed to be, but it is very well written. It’s dense, sometimes to the point where I found myself wondering why I was reading so much about certain monuments or crypts or specific styles set within the cemetery without being able to physically see said things, but it succeeds in at least allowing taphophiles to learn the basics about some of the world’s most beautiful cemeteries, with the information accompanied by a few gorgeous photographs for each site.
Thanks to NetGalley, Quarto Publishing Group, and Yolanda Zappaterra for the digital ARC of Cities of the Dead in exchange for an honest review.
September 24, 2022
I inherited my Nan’s fascination for cemeteries. She instilled in me a reverence for the people whose tombstones I was reading. Horror movies gave me my dread/hope that one day I’ll witness a hand rising from a grave or hear some grave bells ringing.
This book introduces you to a selection of beautiful cemeteries from around the world. For some, their beauty lies in their location, overlooking the ocean or surrounded by trees. Some hold unique cultural or historical significance. Many are the final resting place of people who found fame in life.
Bonaventure (meaning ‘Good Fortune’) Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia
Each entry includes the history of the cemetery and photos that made me want to visit most of them, but there are also tales of the horror of being buried alive and bodysnatching. If you know me, you know I love fun facts. This book has plenty. Some of my favourites are:
🪦 The headstone of Susan B. Anthony is covered with plexiglass around election time because there’s a tradition of people placing their ‘I Voted’ stickers on it.
🪦 The Sophie Calle installation at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York is a “twenty-five-year artwork entitled Here Lie the Secrets of the Visitors of Green-Wood Cemetery in which people can write down their thoughts or secrets and place them in a white marble ‘tombstone’.”
Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York
🪦 During summer, movies screenings are held on the Douglas Fairbanks Lawn at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. Movies shown there include Night of the Living Dead.
🪦 Amongst the tombstones in Okunoin Cemetery, Mount Kōya, Japan, you’ll see some more unusual memorials:
I found the section at the end of the book that explored symbolism in cemeteries particularly interesting.
Okopowa Jewish Cemetery in Warsaw, Poland
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln, an imprint of Quarto Publishing Group, for the opportunity to read this book.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
This book introduces you to a selection of beautiful cemeteries from around the world. For some, their beauty lies in their location, overlooking the ocean or surrounded by trees. Some hold unique cultural or historical significance. Many are the final resting place of people who found fame in life.
Bonaventure (meaning ‘Good Fortune’) Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia
Each entry includes the history of the cemetery and photos that made me want to visit most of them, but there are also tales of the horror of being buried alive and bodysnatching. If you know me, you know I love fun facts. This book has plenty. Some of my favourites are:
🪦 The headstone of Susan B. Anthony is covered with plexiglass around election time because there’s a tradition of people placing their ‘I Voted’ stickers on it.
🪦 The Sophie Calle installation at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York is a “twenty-five-year artwork entitled Here Lie the Secrets of the Visitors of Green-Wood Cemetery in which people can write down their thoughts or secrets and place them in a white marble ‘tombstone’.”
Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York
🪦 During summer, movies screenings are held on the Douglas Fairbanks Lawn at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. Movies shown there include Night of the Living Dead.
🪦 Amongst the tombstones in Okunoin Cemetery, Mount Kōya, Japan, you’ll see some more unusual memorials:
a giant termite’s nest that acts as a pest control company’s memorial to all the termites their products have exterminated. Puffer fish that have fallen foul of chefs’ knives, a giant coffee cup, a large space rocket erected by aerospace company ShinMaywa Industries and memorials to the staff of companies such as Nissan, Toyota and Kirin beer all form part of the curious mix.If you’re superstitious, you may want to avoid this cemetery all together.
Nearby, housed in a small wooden cage near the Gobyobashi Bridge, the equally curious Miroku Stone supposedly weighs one’s sins as you try to lift it from a lower to an upper platform, but more scary is the Sugatami-no-Ido, or Well of Reflections, found just beyond the Nakanohashi Bridge, close to the shrine to the bodhisattva Asekaki Jizo. Legend has it that if you look into this tiny wooden well but don’t see your reflection, you’re fated to die within three years. Probably best to stay on the safe side and avoid it - which might also be good advice for the Zenni Jochi stone memorial to a Buddhist nun of which it is said, if you place your ear you can hear the cries of people in Hell.Naturally, this is the cemetery I most want to explore.
I found the section at the end of the book that explored symbolism in cemeteries particularly interesting.
Okopowa Jewish Cemetery in Warsaw, Poland
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln, an imprint of Quarto Publishing Group, for the opportunity to read this book.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
September 16, 2022
Cemeteries speak volumes. They teach us about tradition, culture, religion, architecture, history and even politics. They memorialize the dead and also honour the living. Burial sites can be humble wood crosses, stone slabs, ostentatious shrines flaunting wealth or luxurious marble mausoleums riddled with sculptures. They can be crowded, up to twelve people deep with slabs jammed every which way to fit; isolated, spread out in expansive woodlands and gardens; or laid out with perfect precision such as those honouring soldiers. Author and taphophile Yolanda Zappaterra explores her favourites and details them in words and remarkable photography. She also includes a helpful glossary of symbolism in cemeteries.
Burial sites include prehistoric necropoli, ancient tombs (Absolom's Tomb in the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem), white crosses honouring soldiers (Verdun Memorial in France, for example), evocative crowded Jewish cemetery in Prague (one of the most moving I've seen), Okopowa Jewish Cemetery in Poland, esthetically beautiful Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 in New Orleans, peaceful and magnificently landscaped Bonaventure Cemetery in Georgia (America) with its stellar statuary, stacked "lockers" in Rio de Janeiro, Santa Maria's stunning sea location in Puerto Rico, Glendalough Graveyard in Ireland with its achingly pretty landscape, Highgate in England where greats like Karl Marx and George Eliot are buried and the architecturally modern Gubbio Cemetery in Italy.
My favourite cemeteries around the world are numerous (I've been to several in this book) but include ancient virtually unknown Roman necropoli, tiny atmospheric medieval church yards dripping with mosses and twisty pathways and those in woodland areas. So many in this book intrigue me but especially City of the Dead in Russia and Issyk-Kul Cemeteries in Kyrgyzstan which I did not know existed. I have added others to my list to wander on my travels.
Whether you are a fellow cemetery enthusiast or simply wish to learn more about peoples through cemeteries, this book should not be missed.
My sincere thank you to Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion and NetGalley for the privilege of learning more about cities of the dead in general. Truly inspirational!
Burial sites include prehistoric necropoli, ancient tombs (Absolom's Tomb in the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem), white crosses honouring soldiers (Verdun Memorial in France, for example), evocative crowded Jewish cemetery in Prague (one of the most moving I've seen), Okopowa Jewish Cemetery in Poland, esthetically beautiful Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 in New Orleans, peaceful and magnificently landscaped Bonaventure Cemetery in Georgia (America) with its stellar statuary, stacked "lockers" in Rio de Janeiro, Santa Maria's stunning sea location in Puerto Rico, Glendalough Graveyard in Ireland with its achingly pretty landscape, Highgate in England where greats like Karl Marx and George Eliot are buried and the architecturally modern Gubbio Cemetery in Italy.
My favourite cemeteries around the world are numerous (I've been to several in this book) but include ancient virtually unknown Roman necropoli, tiny atmospheric medieval church yards dripping with mosses and twisty pathways and those in woodland areas. So many in this book intrigue me but especially City of the Dead in Russia and Issyk-Kul Cemeteries in Kyrgyzstan which I did not know existed. I have added others to my list to wander on my travels.
Whether you are a fellow cemetery enthusiast or simply wish to learn more about peoples through cemeteries, this book should not be missed.
My sincere thank you to Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion and NetGalley for the privilege of learning more about cities of the dead in general. Truly inspirational!
September 17, 2022
I love cemeteries and visiting graves of famous people. This book focuses on cemeteries with sections broken into The Americas, Europe, and the rest called Asia, Oceania & Africa. This is a photo book where each cemetery is given one to two pages of history, location, uniqueness and mentions if famous people buried there. I’ve been to many featured. And others I’ve been to the cities but not thought to visit their cemeteries. For example, I never thought about visiting a cemetery in Venice.
The photos are all in color and I love that they feature different seasons. A few favorite shots were with lantern or candle lit headstones. But the photos are stock images and while some are stunning others are only average. It is interesting to see graves in different locations like islands or other cultures where traditions are different.
I would have preferred if North America had it’s own section as it is odd to have four eastern USA cemeteries, than jump to Brazil then back to Illinois than Puerto Rico and back to the USA etc. If felt random in layout. It might have been better to either go north to south or the opposite. The same could probably be said for breaking Europe from England. Also the selection of cemeteries featured seems haphazard. Of course there are historic ones like the Jewish cemetery in Budapest but a few I wasn’t sure why they made the list to be included.
This is a book I would checkout from a library but wouldn’t need to own. There also wasn’t any mention if cemeteries were open to the public, free or pay a for a charge enter. It is an interesting book and I enjoyed looking through the pages and reading about individual cemeteries. Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion for a temporary ARC in exchange for an honest review. (3.5 stars)
The photos are all in color and I love that they feature different seasons. A few favorite shots were with lantern or candle lit headstones. But the photos are stock images and while some are stunning others are only average. It is interesting to see graves in different locations like islands or other cultures where traditions are different.
I would have preferred if North America had it’s own section as it is odd to have four eastern USA cemeteries, than jump to Brazil then back to Illinois than Puerto Rico and back to the USA etc. If felt random in layout. It might have been better to either go north to south or the opposite. The same could probably be said for breaking Europe from England. Also the selection of cemeteries featured seems haphazard. Of course there are historic ones like the Jewish cemetery in Budapest but a few I wasn’t sure why they made the list to be included.
This is a book I would checkout from a library but wouldn’t need to own. There also wasn’t any mention if cemeteries were open to the public, free or pay a for a charge enter. It is an interesting book and I enjoyed looking through the pages and reading about individual cemeteries. Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion for a temporary ARC in exchange for an honest review. (3.5 stars)
September 13, 2022
This stunningly gorgeous book is now available and I can't wait to receive a hardcopy of it. I received an advance ebook of CITIES OF THE DEAD to read and review. The result? Well, I have now added many of the graveyards shown in this book to my Bucket List of places I want to visit before I join the Cities of the Dead permanently.
The photographs are beautiful and perfectly described so that readers cannot fail to see the radiance and magnificence of the various monuments to the dead.
CITIES OF THE DEAD: The World's Most Beautiful Cemeteries by YOLANDA ZAPPATERRA illustrates the fact that beauty and even tranquility can be found in the most unexpected of places.
Readers of this book will quickly realize that burial monuments exist for the living as much, if not more than as a way to honor the dead.
One of the things that struck me were the similarities between cemeteries all over the world, a fact that demonstrates that people everywhere have much more in common with residents of other countries than they might have originally thought.
This magnificent book deserves a rating of 5 out of 5 Stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Although the digital version of this book is lovely, I highly recommend pre-ordering it's print version. I have already pre-ordered my copy and I am excited to be able to hold this exquisite book in my hands.
*** Thank you to #NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book. ***
To see some of the AMAZING photographs visit my blog at:
https://bit.ly/CitiesOfTheDead
(Link is case sensitive)
The photographs are beautiful and perfectly described so that readers cannot fail to see the radiance and magnificence of the various monuments to the dead.
CITIES OF THE DEAD: The World's Most Beautiful Cemeteries by YOLANDA ZAPPATERRA illustrates the fact that beauty and even tranquility can be found in the most unexpected of places.
Readers of this book will quickly realize that burial monuments exist for the living as much, if not more than as a way to honor the dead.
One of the things that struck me were the similarities between cemeteries all over the world, a fact that demonstrates that people everywhere have much more in common with residents of other countries than they might have originally thought.
This magnificent book deserves a rating of 5 out of 5 Stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Although the digital version of this book is lovely, I highly recommend pre-ordering it's print version. I have already pre-ordered my copy and I am excited to be able to hold this exquisite book in my hands.
*** Thank you to #NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book. ***
To see some of the AMAZING photographs visit my blog at:
https://bit.ly/CitiesOfTheDead
(Link is case sensitive)
March 20, 2024
I’ve never been interested in cemeteries until the beautiful cover of this book convinced me to check it out. What a decision! The photography is awe-inspiring and I appreciate the author’s choice to highlight some smaller, unique cemeteries. My favorite is the Merry Cemetery in Romania.
November 4, 2022
Cities of the Dead: The World's Most Beautiful Cemeteries by Yolanda Zappaterra is a nonfiction book and collection of photography. Readers will discover the fascinating stories of the world’s most beautiful cemeteries, featuring spectacular photography, unique histories and famous residents. The book invites readers on a tour of memorial sites, ranging from monastic settlements to grand cathedrals, Shinto shrines to Gothic chapels, tombs and crypts. Enjoy tales of myths and monsters, grave-robbers, pilgrimages, spiritual retreats, remembrance and community. Marvel in cemeteries with a hundred thousand to a handful of graves which feature famous headstones, weeping angels, ocean views, woodlands, thousands of glowing lanterns and a tomb of poets. From London's famous Highgate Cemetery, which houses famous names from Karl Marx to Malcolm McLaren, George Eliot to Christina Rosetti, to Hawaii's breathtaking Valley of the Temples, this book spans the globe to bring you the most fascinating, intriguing and evocative cemeteries across cultures and continents. Together with the photographs, the stories behind these notable burial sites bring these sanctuaries to life, detailing the features that make them special, highlighting both similarities and differences between time periods, religions and cultures, and showing how cemeteries are about and for the living as much as the dead.
Cities of the Dead is a fascinating read and visually captivating. I thought the information provided for each site was well researched and written, with just enough information to give readers an understanding of the location, and perhaps inspire some further research for the locations that really speak to them. I have to admit that I was much more interested in the photography, but that is more on my personal preference and visual nature than any lack on the author's part. It was nice to see the beauty ad dignity of these locations, rather than the focus of dark and spooky that I mostly see particularly this time of year. The serenity and magnitude of some of the locations was interesting and I liked the variety of locations and seasons and time of day in which the pictures seemed to be taken. I found some of the images sad, like the cramped crowd of tombstones of Beth-Chaim in Prague, and some of the less well tended expanses, however other locations seems so restful and carefully tended that they exude peace. The contrasts of how history and people shape these things is important, and too often forgotten. I like that the author included a guide to the symbolism in cemeteries, visitor information on the featured locations, an index and the full list of photograph credits. These important details too often are lost in the process, and I love digging into these kids of details at the end of a nonfiction book. I think my only complaint is that the number of photographs per cemetery seemed a bit uneven, some locations only had one while others had several pages. I understand that this is partially because of image availability and cemetery size and accessibility, but it still bothered me in the end.
Cities of the Dead is a fascinating read and visually captivating. I thought the information provided for each site was well researched and written, with just enough information to give readers an understanding of the location, and perhaps inspire some further research for the locations that really speak to them. I have to admit that I was much more interested in the photography, but that is more on my personal preference and visual nature than any lack on the author's part. It was nice to see the beauty ad dignity of these locations, rather than the focus of dark and spooky that I mostly see particularly this time of year. The serenity and magnitude of some of the locations was interesting and I liked the variety of locations and seasons and time of day in which the pictures seemed to be taken. I found some of the images sad, like the cramped crowd of tombstones of Beth-Chaim in Prague, and some of the less well tended expanses, however other locations seems so restful and carefully tended that they exude peace. The contrasts of how history and people shape these things is important, and too often forgotten. I like that the author included a guide to the symbolism in cemeteries, visitor information on the featured locations, an index and the full list of photograph credits. These important details too often are lost in the process, and I love digging into these kids of details at the end of a nonfiction book. I think my only complaint is that the number of photographs per cemetery seemed a bit uneven, some locations only had one while others had several pages. I understand that this is partially because of image availability and cemetery size and accessibility, but it still bothered me in the end.
October 6, 2022
Cities of the Dead, by Yolanda Zappaterra, is an attractive and informative look at some of the great and well-known graveyards in the world.
Like so many people I enjoy visiting and exploring cemeteries. I used to think this was unusual but several times I would mention to people that I wanted to visit one and with only one exception they all said they wanted to come along. I guess some people think of it as peculiar to themselves, but it is actually a decent part of the tourism industry. This book will offer suggestions for future trips or, for places you won't be going, a chance to visit from home. I have only been to six of the cemeteries in the book and probably won't get to more than maybe a handful more. But there are still plenty in areas I will be going to keep me happy.
While I would have liked a few more photographs, that is more about me just being greedy than it is a negative about the book. I found the descriptions to be just about ideal for this type of book. Basic history, some key monuments and graves, then back to the photographs. I went online for a few that I wanted to know more about, but I wouldn't have wanted that much information about every single graveyard in the book.
One thing that really made me happy with the selections was the inclusion of some graveyards that might not meet some definitions of "beautiful." Part of the beauty of these is the history and the lack of pristine upkeep. I find old, neglected cemeteries to often be the most moving when I visit them, so seeing some here that are less immaculate made me happy.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
Like so many people I enjoy visiting and exploring cemeteries. I used to think this was unusual but several times I would mention to people that I wanted to visit one and with only one exception they all said they wanted to come along. I guess some people think of it as peculiar to themselves, but it is actually a decent part of the tourism industry. This book will offer suggestions for future trips or, for places you won't be going, a chance to visit from home. I have only been to six of the cemeteries in the book and probably won't get to more than maybe a handful more. But there are still plenty in areas I will be going to keep me happy.
While I would have liked a few more photographs, that is more about me just being greedy than it is a negative about the book. I found the descriptions to be just about ideal for this type of book. Basic history, some key monuments and graves, then back to the photographs. I went online for a few that I wanted to know more about, but I wouldn't have wanted that much information about every single graveyard in the book.
One thing that really made me happy with the selections was the inclusion of some graveyards that might not meet some definitions of "beautiful." Part of the beauty of these is the history and the lack of pristine upkeep. I find old, neglected cemeteries to often be the most moving when I visit them, so seeing some here that are less immaculate made me happy.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
November 6, 2022
According to the author's opinion these are the most beautiful cemeteries in the whole world. Calling many of these the most beautiful is a stretch even though they are all pretty. The author chose many famous, popular cemeteries and then added a few that many never knew existed. Of course I understand the popular cemeteries but I would like to know how she chose the other cemeteries and why she considered them the most beautiful out of so many other choices.
The problem is that I tried reading this cover to cover but it will take forever to finish. I expected a photo book but there's more text for each cemetery then there are photos. The text can range from a single page up to three pages because the author tried cramming the whole history and notable graves into the pages. The writing was dry and boring and after a few pages I had to put the book down and do something else. I don't recommend reading this cover to cover considering it's more of a coffe table book that you're expected to read instead of flipping through to look at the photos.
It's a decent book and I learned a bit about cemeteries around the world that I never heard of. I just wished there was more photos to enjoy and less text to actually read.
The problem is that I tried reading this cover to cover but it will take forever to finish. I expected a photo book but there's more text for each cemetery then there are photos. The text can range from a single page up to three pages because the author tried cramming the whole history and notable graves into the pages. The writing was dry and boring and after a few pages I had to put the book down and do something else. I don't recommend reading this cover to cover considering it's more of a coffe table book that you're expected to read instead of flipping through to look at the photos.
It's a decent book and I learned a bit about cemeteries around the world that I never heard of. I just wished there was more photos to enjoy and less text to actually read.
September 18, 2022
I love cemeteries. I grew up next to one and love visiting cemeteries when I travel. I really enjoyed flipping through this book taking me through cemeteries around the world. The book is divided into the Americas, Europe, and the rest of the world. It highlights predominant cemeteries providing a page or two of text with the history of the cemetery or something unique about its architecture as well as full color photographs. I loved the photos and seeing how the styles varied by country. I do think the organization of the book was a bit haphazard. It needed to either be divided into smaller geographic regions or move from country to country in a more logical pattern. The highlight of the book was definitely the photographs. Some were absolutely stunning while other seemed to be generic stock photos. I was happy that they included pictures from various seasons and times of day. This book added to my list of cemeteries I need to visit, but I don't necessarily need to own a copy of the book.
September 16, 2022
As an avid cemetery walker, I had to read this book and gather ideas about potential cemeteries to visit. This book was full of beautiful pictures of grave markers and landscapes. Some of the cemeteries I've had the fortune of visiting in the past, and the book describes them well. I was a little disappointed as a Canadian to see that we only merited one entry in the book, when we have lots of interesting and historical cemeteries here to explore. The one chosen (Mt Pleasant) is a wonderful place to walk, but Toronto has several other beautiful cemeteries, as does Ottawa, Kingston or many other places in Ontario. It would have been nice to see other provinces highlighted as well. This book focuses on America in it's North American section too heavily, so I don't know if the other areas of the world are equally uneven in their coverage. The cemeteries have beautiful pictures, and helpful descriptions; I just wish there the coverage of cemeteries was a bit more even.
September 19, 2022
This book taught me a new word to describe myself: taphophile. It's an inspiration - a travel guide even - for goths like me, who try to visit as many historical cemeteries during each city vacation as humanly possible and take cute pictures of their favourite headstones. Yes, we have favourites.
Zappaterra provides plenty of background information for each of those sites (though of course limited to only a few examples per country), explaining the politics and reasoning behind many a final resting place's location. Could the text be a bit more detailled? Of course. But you only have this much room for minute descriptions when there are so many beautifully macabre photos to put in your coffee table book.
I was actually surprised how many of the European cemeteries listed in Cities of the Dead I have already seen - but plenty remain to be explored. (black heart eyes)
***I received a digital copy from the publisher through Netgalley & Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.***
Zappaterra provides plenty of background information for each of those sites (though of course limited to only a few examples per country), explaining the politics and reasoning behind many a final resting place's location. Could the text be a bit more detailled? Of course. But you only have this much room for minute descriptions when there are so many beautifully macabre photos to put in your coffee table book.
I was actually surprised how many of the European cemeteries listed in Cities of the Dead I have already seen - but plenty remain to be explored. (black heart eyes)
***I received a digital copy from the publisher through Netgalley & Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.***
April 4, 2023
An interesting book which could have an eclectic audience. A massive tome detailing various cemetaries and headstones and basically anything death related. I would say it is an interesting coffee table book because of the fabulous photography, however I found the narrative a bit like the authors' personal travelogue, which is a little short on detail outside of her own interests. I would have liked more detail on areas other than Europe as the South American, African and Caribbean cultures and traditions are very interesting. In saying that, it is a beautifully presented book and will appeal to many, I'm sure. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advance copy of Cities of the Dead.
December 22, 2022
An absolute gem. Beautiful photography and diverse settings are a treat for the eyes. This is a lovely look at the world's most beautiful places of burial and some of their residents. It's heavy on the design and history of the place itself, rather than a topical look at the history of the region or a salaciously dark look at it's residents. A reader heading in for a dark and spooky book might be disappointed, this book removes the spook and focuses on the locations and their inception more than the ghosts that may lie there.
July 17, 2025
Full review to come.
I can't in good conscience give Cities of the Dead 5 stars (as much as I really want to). There are only 10 cemeteries outside Europe or the Americas. Of those 10, two are in Russia (7 Asian, 2 African and 1 Australian). It is the only place to book feels a little lazy, I have no issues with the cemeteries included, but the world feels unbalanced here, there are some beautiful cemeteries is South East Asia and likely in Africa too, though I know less about that because of geography. I feel the book could have been a bit longer and included more variety.
I can't in good conscience give Cities of the Dead 5 stars (as much as I really want to). There are only 10 cemeteries outside Europe or the Americas. Of those 10, two are in Russia (7 Asian, 2 African and 1 Australian). It is the only place to book feels a little lazy, I have no issues with the cemeteries included, but the world feels unbalanced here, there are some beautiful cemeteries is South East Asia and likely in Africa too, though I know less about that because of geography. I feel the book could have been a bit longer and included more variety.
March 11, 2023
Illustrated with spectacular photographs, this book which looks at some of the world’s most beautiful cemeteries, from London's Highgate Cemetery to memorial sites in Kyrgyzstan and Chile.
Included are stories of the famous people buried in these spots and discussion of the different styles of markers, symbols and landscape design. The author believes cemeteries are for the living as well as for the dead and make an interesting stop for any traveler.
Included are stories of the famous people buried in these spots and discussion of the different styles of markers, symbols and landscape design. The author believes cemeteries are for the living as well as for the dead and make an interesting stop for any traveler.
September 28, 2022
This is wonderful. I am completely obsessed by visiting graveyards and am glad to see that a few of the ones I love are featured in this book. It has beautiful photographs of each site and a short history with highlights of each place to explain why the author chose it. There are sites here from all around the world and it has made me want to go to each and every place. It's splendid.
September 12, 2022
This book contains pictures and information about beautiful cemeteries across the world.
It is easy to forget how beautiful cemeteries are and this book shows that in a respectful way.
There is a nice balance between the photographs and information.
It is easy to forget how beautiful cemeteries are and this book shows that in a respectful way.
There is a nice balance between the photographs and information.
November 17, 2022
This was such an interesting read. I have always had a morbid fascination with graveyards and cemetaries and wondered about the people buried there and the lifes and loved ones they left behind. I found it so introguing to read and look at the pictures.
September 6, 2025
It’s difficult to describe beauty without pictures. This book demonstrates that point. Some the most beautiful cemeteries are filled with art and nature. This book talks about that but words are not enough.
September 16, 2022
Would of been higher rated if there had been more photos of each cementary. Otherwise I liked having so many great cementaries in one book.
October 8, 2022
Wonderful book bring to life the history within most morbid parts of life,
The parts we should treasure as they are history amd author honours this
The parts we should treasure as they are history amd author honours this
October 30, 2022
Hauntingly beautiful. I would never have thought to find beauty in a cemetery but it’s there. It’s amazing how old some of the places are.
March 15, 2024
such a good book about some truly gorgeous cemeteries
I do wish there was more photos of the cemeteries as I know I won't visit most, specifically the one on Hawaii
I do wish there was more photos of the cemeteries as I know I won't visit most, specifically the one on Hawaii
January 2, 2023
I've been to my share of cemeteries over the years, locally and internationally; military and civilian; famous and off the beaten path. This book brings many of those to mind, and inspires me to visit some new ones.
(That sounds a little bit macabre, or maybe moribund, doesn't it? Well, Halloween is coming up in a month and a half? LOL. Or I'm just primed to read some more of Jaime Jo Wright's books, haha. The latter is certainly the case after this read.)
The book is beautifully presented, with scads of pictures and plenty of text to fascinate many a reader, no matter where your interest lies--architecture, literature, burial styles across countries/regions/XYZ anthropologic designation, and more. The author is quick to note that everyone's list of places to visit (cemetery or otherwise, if I may clarify/add) looks different, and I would echo that; some that appealed to her wouldn't to me, at least not for the same reasons (and what appealed to her sometimes off-put me).
Not all cemeteries get an equal spread of photographs, and I'll admit the organization felt a little haphazard; while the cemeteries were grouped by region to a point, one could read about a Chicago cemetery on one page and Puerto Rico the next. I didn't quite see the logic behind it. But, that didn't stop me from reading on and thoroughly enjoying.
I especially enjoyed a number of Captain America-style "I understood that reference" moments, whether because I'd visited the cemetery myself or saw a familiar name/book title/etc.
A fascinating look at an interesting topic that spans all time and all people, and "the debt that all men pay" (_National Treasure 2_).
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
(That sounds a little bit macabre, or maybe moribund, doesn't it? Well, Halloween is coming up in a month and a half? LOL. Or I'm just primed to read some more of Jaime Jo Wright's books, haha. The latter is certainly the case after this read.)
The book is beautifully presented, with scads of pictures and plenty of text to fascinate many a reader, no matter where your interest lies--architecture, literature, burial styles across countries/regions/XYZ anthropologic designation, and more. The author is quick to note that everyone's list of places to visit (cemetery or otherwise, if I may clarify/add) looks different, and I would echo that; some that appealed to her wouldn't to me, at least not for the same reasons (and what appealed to her sometimes off-put me).
Not all cemeteries get an equal spread of photographs, and I'll admit the organization felt a little haphazard; while the cemeteries were grouped by region to a point, one could read about a Chicago cemetery on one page and Puerto Rico the next. I didn't quite see the logic behind it. But, that didn't stop me from reading on and thoroughly enjoying.
I especially enjoyed a number of Captain America-style "I understood that reference" moments, whether because I'd visited the cemetery myself or saw a familiar name/book title/etc.
A fascinating look at an interesting topic that spans all time and all people, and "the debt that all men pay" (_National Treasure 2_).
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
September 30, 2022
This gorgeous book takes us to some of the world's most beautiful cemeteries.
The book is divided into geographical areas and is amply illustrated with stunning photographs of don't-miss cemeteries. The description of each site includes the graveyard's history and focus (religion, war) as well as legends, tales, and specific graves to visit (because of the headstone or the person interred).
When I travel, I often visit cemeteries because of their beauty and peace and because they often give me a unique perspective on the country or city. Some of the cemeteries in the book were included for their beautiful setting; others because of the landscaping, the sculptures, and/or the overall atmosphere.
The back of the book includes important information for visiting each cemetery.
Consult Cities of the Dead before your next vacation or work trip. This book would make a great gift for someone with wanderlust. It's also a lovely coffee table book.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
The book is divided into geographical areas and is amply illustrated with stunning photographs of don't-miss cemeteries. The description of each site includes the graveyard's history and focus (religion, war) as well as legends, tales, and specific graves to visit (because of the headstone or the person interred).
When I travel, I often visit cemeteries because of their beauty and peace and because they often give me a unique perspective on the country or city. Some of the cemeteries in the book were included for their beautiful setting; others because of the landscaping, the sculptures, and/or the overall atmosphere.
The back of the book includes important information for visiting each cemetery.
Consult Cities of the Dead before your next vacation or work trip. This book would make a great gift for someone with wanderlust. It's also a lovely coffee table book.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
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