About the Author

Loren Rhoads is the author of Wish You Were Here: Adventures in Cemetery Travel, Morbid Curiosity Cures and the Blues, and the editor of Death's Garden: Relationships with Cemeteries. She is the monthly cemetery columnist at Gothic Beauty and wrote about cemetery travel for almost five years at Gothic Net. She has served as a cemetery consultant for Travel & Leisure, The Weather Channel, Mental Floss, Atlas Obscura, the Horror Writers Association, the Death Salon, the Chicago Tribune, and more. Her well-trafficked blog, Cemetery Travel, details her first-hand visits. She lives in San Francisco.

Reviews

'In the end, that might be what lingers most about 199 Cemeteries. An individual grave is a biography. An individual cemetery is a slice of history. As a whole, though-as a record of so many people who have lived in a place and then gone from it-a cemetery becomes something more contemplative. We know who we mourn. 199 Cemeteries asks us: Where do we mourn, and why?"--Genevieve Valentine, Vice

"[199 Cemeteries] has snippets of history, photos of eye-catching monuments, tips about what to look for on a tombstone - altogether a fascinating reminder of a time when more people understood that cemeteries are at least as much for the living as the dead."--John Wilkens, San Diego Union Tribune

"[Author Loren Rhoads details] burial spots around the globe, sprinkling in history and trivia that runs from the hilarious to bone-chilling. . . Halloween gift-givers take note."--Spud Hilton, San Francisco Chronicle

"[A] guide to checking out the hereafter before you check out."--John Williams, The New York Times

"For the macabre-minded traveler, Rhoads' guide takes you through the most awe-inspiring graveyards in the world."--Entertainment Weekly

"If you're like me and find cemeteries a fascinating way to view the real history of a place (or even just a nice, quiet place to eat your lunch), then Loren Rhoads's 199 Cemeteries To See Before You Die is likely to become a well-worn travel companion. The snappy descriptions and beautiful photographs are just enough to whet your appetite to pack your bags."--Megan Rosenbloom, Death Salon

"Loren's obvious affection for cemeteries is evident throughout 199 Cemeteries. Her personal appreciation gives life to places most people would consider only to be about death. A must-have book for the budding cemetery traveler and the serious taphophile."--Lenore X, Managing Editor, Gothic Beauty Magazine

"Often overlooked as tourist destinations, cemeteries deserve a new life in the eyes of the traveler. This book pays respect to the incredible architecture, stunning landscapes, and intriguing histories of those oft-ignored spaces around the globe which exist to celebrate and honor life-no globetrotter's journey is complete without it."--Blake Olmstead, AtlasObscura.com

"Once upon a time, we knew that cemeteries were meant for the living as much as for the dead. In 199 Cemeteries to See Before You Die, Loren Rhoads does much to restore the cemetery to its proper place as a location worthy of a pilgrimage. From the colorful wooden graves of Romania's Merry Cemetery to the creative granite headstones in Vermont's Hope Cemetery, 199 Cemeteries is filled with beautiful examples of posthumous humor, astonishing artistry, and natural settings that rival the world's best parks. A much-needed book for the curious explorer and budding taphophile (cemetery-lover) alike."--Dylan Thuras, Co-Founder, Atlas Obscura

"Rhoads has found the beauty of death in this elaborate graveyard encyclopedia. From celebrities of the seventies to the ancient seven wonders, this book contains a great amount of century-spanning history, fascinating culture, and beautiful sights."--GoNOMAD

"Taphophiles rejoice! This eclectic compendium is packed with history, eye-catching monuments, quirky local characters, tips on interpreting cemetery symbolism, and fascinating finds. It's both a useful trip-planning tool and a browser's delight (although it may turn idle browsers into budding cemetery explorers). Next time someone asks why you love graveyards, show them this book."--Bess Lovejoy, author of Rest in Pieces: The Curious Fates of Famous Corpses