Buried Alive

Buried Alive: A History of Premature Burials and Accidental Interments | Aj Griffiths-Jones

so-so

This book looks at the topic of premature interment (a more genteel way of saying buried alive) & some miraculous escapes in the nick of time. To be honest, I'm really not sure what possessed me to read this book, I can't think of something more likely to induce nightmares! It was shocking just how many possible 'premature interments' there may have been, particularly around the time of war or disease. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf Thankfully the risk of being buried alive has lessened somewhat in more modern times although it has not disappeared completely.

It was also absolutely unfathomable to me how people could have heard shouting or knocking & instead of immediately digging it back up or opening the coffin, going off to find someone in charge. An official in one of the cases waited TWO DAYS after sounds were heard before allowing it to be opened. TWO DAYS! 4mo

OutsmartYourShelf The book itself is very readable. Rather than a linear narrative it was split into different topics (i.e. ritual, criminal, accidental, etc) & mainly consisted of a listing of cases. They were very interesting, if macabre, & there was obviously a lot of local history research completed by the author. I did notice that sometimes a death concerning a particular topic would be included in one chapter & then a later chapter would deal the topic in 4mo

OutsmartYourShelf more detail - it gave the book a repetitious feel in places even though no cases were actually repeated. If that makes sense. It also ends very suddenly with no concluding chapter which felt a little abrupt. 3⭐

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Pen & Sword, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7027284105
Read 25-27 Nov 2024

#Readaway2024 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES @andrew65 #NFN @bookwormjillk (edited) 4mo

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