num_pages: 224
description: A curious collection of 500 actual epitaphs, from which we learn of grieving spouses, fatal gluttony, vengeful relations, and all manner of partin commentaryPeople have wanted to have the last word from the beginning of time—and they’ve been writing their own for almost as long. Their wise, witty and often bizarre last messages have now been immortalized in Grave Matters , this wonderfully entertaining collection of epitaphs taken from headstones, church records and historical accounts in the United States and the British Isles. The epitaphs in Grave Matters span four centuries, and make memorable use of poetry, epigrams and surprising turns of phrase to make parting comments that range from the wry . . . On the 29th of November,A confounded piece of timberCame down, bang slam,And killed I, John Lamb.Huntingdon, England1700 to the satisfied. . . . THOMAS ALLEYN AND HIS TWO WIVESDeath here advantage hath of life I spye,One husband with two wifes at once may lye.Witchingham, England1650 to the short and sweet. . . .Going, But Know Not WherePutnam, CT.1918 A fascinating look at the way people lived and died in days gone by, Grave Matters is the perfect addition to any library for the literary, the learned and (especially) the living.
language: English
title: Grave Matters
titlecomplete: Grave Matters
genres: Nonfiction
ratings_count: 35
publisher: Ballantine Books