Cities of the Dead: The World’s Most Beautiful Cemeteries (2022) By: Yolanda Zappaterra
As a librarian, I have learned not to judge a book by its cover. At the same time, I judge books by their cover all the time! For taphophiles, any book with a cemetery on the cover is bound to attract our attention, as this one did mine. My coworker and reference librarian may or may not have had me in the back of her mind when she made the purchase, and for that, I am forever grateful.
The interior of this book was as beautiful as the exterior, and the content had me in awe. Zappaterra has done an incredible amount of research to each cemetery she has visited in addition to her skillful photography. I am a huge fan of cemetery photography, and I follow some impressive users on Instagram who specialize in cemetery photography. However, at the end of the day, I’m a historian and a librarian. I crave information and stories. My tagline, every burial is a story, is more than just a phrase for me. Every burial truly is a story, and so is every cemetery. But the stories aren’t just lying there on the ground waiting to be read, they are in documents and sources. You must discover the stories through research. I think that’s why I loved this book so much: I found someone else who is as much in love with the stories of cemeteries as I am.
My biggest takeaway from this book was learning about the diverse environments around the world which all play a role in how cemeteries are preserved. Even across the US alone, the climate changes from one coast to another. I live in the foothills of the North Carolina mountains. Summers here are humid, and we see an adequate amount of rainfall throughout the year. Our headstones accumulate lichen, moss, and other materials that thrive in wet environments and grow under the shade of trees. I know someone who recently visited a cemetery in New Mexico and showed me photos of wooden crosses from the 1880s. Any wooden markers in our area have long since decayed and rotted away, but the southwest sees dry conditions throughout the year, allowing wooden crosses to remain intact. This book talked a lot about the different climates and the role they play in the preservation of their cemeteries.
I was so intrigued by the cemeteries that served dual purposes: resting places for the dead and designated natural habitats and arboretums. Preserving history and nature all at the same time. It was amazing to learn that some cemeteries are home to unique and even rare species of insects and plants. This is a double layer of protection for the survival of these cemeteries, and I absolutely love that.
Many cultures embrace the symbolism of the location of the cemetery, and this creates a spiritual atmosphere for visitors. Diving into the history of the city, country, or region in which a cemetery is located, allowed the author to really transport the reader to each cemetery and fully appreciate their existence. By doing this, she makes it so that the reader doesn’t have to travel to these places, but simultaneously make us want to visit anyway.
The author briefly lists some of the famous dead who are interred across the world at these cemeteries, personalizing each location. You will see some familiar names from all walks of life, including the performing arts, politics, and literature.
Although I highly recommend this book for all taphophiles, I must admit that the grandeur of these exotic locations did not make me feel inferior for chasing smaller, more intimate family graveyards. I am still in awe of the mystique behind unmarked graves and long-forgotten histories. However, knowing that it is very unlikely I will ever travel to these sites, Zappaterra’s book was a window for me, and I greatly admired her passion.
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