After the Funeral: The Posthumous Adventures of Famous Corpses

by Edwin Murphy

Book Overview

Hardcover with Dustjacket. 244 pages. A Story that follows the postmortem exploits of the Bodies (or parts of bodies) of thirty-five Famous and Infamous People. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0760709246
• ISBN13: 9780760709245
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Barnes & Noble
• Length: 244 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A fun and informative book

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.

Rest in peace, if you can.

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.

Unique Book

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).

What a topic! What a writer! Put me in touch with him!

Author Edwin Murphy (with wife's Valerie's translation help) has written a wonderful, educational book. Knowing that many of our children are intrigued by death and the worship of the dead, it would behove many teachers to teach them that they are not alone. Adults, over the centuries, have not only been fascinated with the dead - they have used the corpses for both love and political reasons. I believe that it would facilitate a bonding between adults and teenagers if this book was put on the reading list for all high school history classes. An understanding that young people who are fascinated with death are not alone, but actually normal, would help alleviate their isolation and anger. For this reason and others, I highly recommend this book.Unfortunately I regret that it was published by Barnes and Noble who seem intent on owning every author, every subject, and every publishing company that ever existed. Barnes and Noble also do not understand that books are treasures that should not be defaced by UGLY company stickers on the cover of each jacket.My email is vmcullough@hotmail.com and I prey that Edwin Murphy contacts me. He missed the best wandering corpse tale of all and I refuse to go through his publisher to communicate with him.Virginia McCullough vmccullough@hotmail.com

Funny, witty learned, and unique: a real find, a real treat

Murphy, the obviously gifted writer, has served up not only a keenly enjoyable and witty book, but one on an entirely new topic: The incredible adventures of celebrity corpses. Not just where they are buried or how they died, but the weird odesseys of bodies, body parts and ashes left to the tender mercies of those still living. How about the concubine who was dug up and crowned queen of Portugal five years after death; or Lord Cromwell of England, also dug up but for a very different reason...to be hung, drawn and quartered; then his head became a souvenir for nine generations. Or Einstein's brain, lost for 23 years after the autopsy. The subjects are handled in a lighthearted but very well researched and wry manner. The book is a treat.