Graveyards, cemeteries, ossuaries, and crypts — all places of reverence where the living can pay their respects to those who’ve crossed over before us.

But that wasn’t always the case.

In the Middle Ages, graveyards were far more raucous, home to fairs, markets, and even grazing cattle. In the 19th century, some cemeteries were the place to see and be seen, possibly with a well-stocked picnic basket in tow.

In 1860, The Green-Wood Cemetery in New York rivaled Niagara Falls (!) as the most popular tourist attraction in the US.

In this episode, we take leisurely strolls through Pére Lachaise and Greyfriars Kirkyard, learn about the one-way train for the dearly departed, and visit a cheery Romanian cemetery. Then we share five books we love that explore these often peaceful, sometimes eerie ‘museums of people,’ including a 19th-century classic mystery tale, a how-to for death, two beloved fantasy novels, and a Gothic thriller set in 1980s Barcelona.

• The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins


• Advice for Future Corpses (and Those Who Love Them) by Sallie Tisdale


• A Fine and Private Place by Peter S. Beagle


• Lincoln in the Bardo: A Novel by George Saunders


• Marina by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

For more on the books we recommend, plus the other cool stuff we talk about, visit show notes.

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Transcript of Cemetery: Celebrate Life, Honor the Dead

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