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Necropolis
Necropolis: London and Its Dead | Catharine Arnold
8 posts | 6 read | 12 to read
From Roman burial rites to the horrors of the plague, from the founding of the great Victorian cemeteries to the development of cremation and the current approach of metropolitan society towards death and bereavement -- including more recent trends to displays of collective grief and the cult of mourning, such as that surrounding the death of Diana, Princess of Wales -- NECROPOLIS: LONDON AND ITS DEAD offers a vivid historical narrative of this great city's attitude to going the way of all flesh. As layer upon layer of London soil reveals burials from pre-historic and medieval times, the city is revealed as one giant grave, filled with the remains of previous eras -- pagan, Roman, medieval, Victorian. This fascinating blend of archaeology, architecture and anecdote includes such phenomena as the rise of the undertaking trade and the pageantry of state funerals; public executions and bodysnatching. Ghoulishly entertaining and full of fascinating nuggets of information, Necropolis leaves no headstone unturned in its exploration of our changing attitudes to the deceased among us. Both anecdotal history and cultural commentary, Necropolis will take its place alongside classics of the city such as Peter Ackroyd's LONDON.
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Magpiegem
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Hot chocolate and the dead are my bedtime companions tonight

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Love your mug ☕️ 14mo
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review
rabbitprincess
Pickpick

An interesting look at death and burial in the city of London over the centuries, as well as society‘s attitudes toward death It‘s full of facts, and does sometimes feel like it‘s skipping around a bit, so this would be a good for reading in chunks rather than straight through. This book was published in 2006, so although it‘s not dated, it does end “early,” with the most recent historical event covered being the 7/7 bombings in London in 2005.

review
rwmg
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Pickpick

A history of the disposal of the dead in London through two millennia.

Lots of interesting detail. The main focus is on the Victorians but Roman, medieval and 20th century London all get a look in. The book ends with the funerals of Diana and of Ronnie Kray. There are definitely sections which are not for the squeamish.

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rwmg
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bthegood That is fascinating- thanks for sharing 🙂 1y
tpixie Interesting 🧐 1y
DivineDiana Amazing fact! 1y
24 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Magpiegem
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jenniferw88
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This book features at least one cemetery or #graveyard, so there might be #ghostly occurrences going on, right?

#chillingphotochallenge #screamathonphotochallenge @Clwojick @4thhouseontheleft #teamslaughter

20pts (made a comment on another post) +1 = 21pts

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julesG
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Thank you @BookwormAHN! How did you know I have a knack for cemeteries?

#LitsyPostcardExchange @Tiffy_Reads

Kaye Cool picture ! 7y
BookwormAHN Glad you like it, as I also have a knack for cemeteries 💙 7y
73 likes2 comments
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julesG
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Pickpick

This was a rather interesting non-fiction book about London's cemeteries. I am not creeped out by the dead or graveyards, I find it very interesting indeed.

I read it years ago while I was actually writing a paper on German cities and how epidemics spread within cities before sewer systems and ground water wells were introduced.

#creep #RockinMay
@Cinfhen

Cinfhen @Reviewsbylola this book seems to be calling for you!!! Sounds fascinating! 8y
Reviewsbylola Lol, it does seem like my type of book. I need to see if my library has it! 8y
61 likes5 stack adds2 comments