<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: A fun and informative book
Review: After the Funeral is an amusing if somewhat macabre narrative of the fate of some of the mortal remains of famous people. As the author puts it himself, the funeral is not necessarily the end of the story for many historic individuals.
To some extent the book simply makes a play to natural morbid curiosity about death and the dead. After all who doesn't enjoy a good old fashioned ghost story now and again? But it also showcases the amazing hold that the people who make history have over the average person, even after the former have gone the way of all flesh. The anger that they elicited from foiled rivals continues, as in the case of Cromwell, whose body was subjected to a belated public "execution" and whose head was kept as a souvenir for generations. The love that they engendered continues beyond the grave, as in the case of Shelley and his wife Mary (and perhaps his friend Trewlany). Who is not still amazed by the brilliant mind of Einstein, though he has been gone since 1955, and would not perhaps enjoy stealing a glance at the brain that once produced those amazing thoughts?
Probably the most scandalous issue taken up by the book is the commercial value that famous dead people have. The resting places of the likes of Daniel Boone, Buffalo Bill, Sitting Bull, Moliere and Marx have all been turned into tourist attractions and, believe it or not, some have given posthumous endorsement of eternal real estate (plots in private cemetaries)! The fight over the remains of some of them by those who would make a profit makes for amusing reading. The quarrels among the citizens of North Platte, Nebraska, Cody, Wyoming, and Denver, Colorado over the body of Buffalo Bill are particuly funny. I understand that the fight between Cody and Denver has only recently been resolved.
While the fate of the bodies and body parts of history's famous are often up for grabs, according to the author, not even cremation seems to be a safe way of avoiding the vagaries of eternity. The misadventures of the ashes of the writers D. H. Lawarence and Dorothy Parker attest that point.
All in all a fun and informative book.
Rating: 
Summary: Great research, writing only so-so
Review: I picked up this book because of its unusual and intriguing subject matter. I figured it would be a nice diversion to read about some of the crazy adventures and mishaps that befall famous corpses after the funeral (so to speak). In that, I was not disappointed. Murphy obviously did his research, and he was honest enough to list various accounts when the facts were in doubt. He also wrote with a nicely wry sense of humor befitting the subject. However, I found the writing to lack a certain polish, as if I was reading a third draft instead of the finished product. I found enough awkward sentences, paragraphs with more than one subject, and other poorly constructed phrases to dampen my enjoyment of the book somewhat. I suspect this may not be the fault of the author so much as the editors involved in the project, but in any case, the book suffered as a result.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting and funny!
Review: I really enjoyed this book--it was entertaining, VERY interesting and funny without losing tact or being disrespectful of the subjects involved. I agree that the writing style is a little different in some places, but i think different authors have different styles, and to me it doesn't detract from the interesting subject matter--plus to me it seemed easy to read and personable. It's amazing what people will do with the remains of folks they've loved (or hated)! I hope the author goes on to do another volume like he mentioned in the intro.
Rating:
Summary: Rest in peace, if you can.
Review: Just exactly what does happen to a corpse after the funeral? Well, for the most part the remains are allowed to rest in peace, but not always. Exhumations are not all that uncommon. Whether it be for law enforcement purposes, DNA testing, or just simply because the next of kin have decided to move the body to another cemetery. Generally it is pretty mundane stuff. However, if the corpse just happens to be the remains of a famous person, then things can sometimes get interesting. The next question that would occur to most people is; why would anyone want to move around a dead body or any part thereof? That is what this book is all about. Each of the corpses covered in this book has a completely separate entry to avoid confusion. Each of those entries starts with a brief history of the deceased's life so that if the reader is not familiar with Lord Byron for example they are given a little information to start off with. Usually within this short biography one finds the reason for the posthumous travels of their body, or the above mentioned parts thereof. The reasons range from a somewhat warped but deep love or admiration, to politics, to obsessive hate, to tourism and even practical jokes. The adventurous bodies in this book run the gambit from Oliver Cromwell to Thomas Paine and from Voltaire to Sitting Bull. In short, the subject is fascinating. Edwin Murphy writes in a clear manner and with a witty style. I found a few historical errors but all in all, this book seems to be very well researched. Also, when there are conflicting stories he presents both tales. For example, was it director Raoul Walsh or Peter Lorre who put the corpse of John Barrymore in Errol Flynn's living room? Just that question alone should make most people want to read this book. I thoroughly enjoyed my evenings with this book and I think you will too.
Rating:
Summary: Rest in peace, if you can.
Review: Just exactly what does happen to a corpse after the funeral? Well, for the most part the remains are allowed to rest in peace, but not always. Exhumations are not all that uncommon. Whether it be for law enforcement purposes, DNA testing, or just simply because the next of kin have decided to move the body to another cemetery. Generally it is pretty mundane stuff. However, if the corpse just happens to be the remains of a famous person, then things can sometimes get interesting. The next question that would occur to most people is; why would anyone want to move around a dead body or any part thereof? That is what this book is all about. Each of the corpses covered in this book has a completely separate entry to avoid confusion. Each of those entries starts with a brief history of the deceased's life so that if the reader is not familiar with Lord Byron for example they are given a little information to start off with. Usually within this short biography one finds the reason for the posthumous travels of their body, or the above mentioned parts thereof. The reasons range from a somewhat warped but deep love or admiration, to politics, to obsessive hate, to tourism and even practical jokes. The adventurous bodies in this book run the gambit from Oliver Cromwell to Thomas Paine and from Voltaire to Sitting Bull. In short, the subject is fascinating. Edwin Murphy writes in a clear manner and with a witty style. I found a few historical errors but all in all, this book seems to be very well researched. Also, when there are conflicting stories he presents both tales. For example, was it director Raoul Walsh or Peter Lorre who put the corpse of John Barrymore in Errol Flynn's living room? Just that question alone should make most people want to read this book. I thoroughly enjoyed my evenings with this book and I think you will too.
Rating:
Summary: Unique Book
Review: This is one of the most unique books I have ever read. It is informative, interesting, amusing, and well written. You would have trouble beliving some of the fantastic "posthomous adventures famous corpses" that the author meticulously recounts, except that he provides a full bibliography so you can check the facts yourself. How about the Portugese lady who was exhumed five years after death to be crowned queen. Or Oliver Cromwell, who was exhumed from Westminister Abbey to be executed for treason (hung, then decapitated) and whose severed head became a museum exhibit and prop for lectures on phrenology. Or Daniel Boone, whose neglected body was hijacked from Missouri as part of a plan to promote a new cemetery in Kentucky? Mr. Murphy has apparently invented a new literary category that he calls "Necrobiography," of which his book is the only example so far. I can't wait for the sequel which he promises, especially if it is as enjoyable as the original. I heartily recommend this book. It is not morbid or sensational in the least, but holds your interest(tastefully illustrated too).
Rating:
Summary: Unique Book
Review: This is one of the most unique books I have ever read. It is informative, interesting, amusing, and well written. You would have trouble beliving some of the fantastic "posthomous adventures famous corpses" that the author meticulously recounts, except that he provides a full bibliography so you can check the facts yourself. How about the Portugese lady who was exhumed five years after death to be crowned queen. Or Oliver Cromwell, who was exhumed from Westminister Abbey to be executed for treason (hung, then decapitated) and whose severed head became a museum exhibit and prop for lectures on phrenology. Or Daniel Boone, whose neglected body was hijacked from Missouri as part of a plan to promote a new cemetery in Kentucky? Mr. Murphy has apparently invented a new literary category that he calls "Necrobiography," of which his book is the only example so far. I can't wait for the sequel which he promises, especially if it is as enjoyable as the original. I heartily recommend this book. It is not morbid or sensational in the least, but holds your interest(tastefully illustrated too).
<< 1 >>
|
