Corpses, Coffins, and Crypts: A History of Burial

By Penny Colman and Penny Coleman

Book Overview

Drawing on extensive historical and anthropological research, personal accounts, and interviews with people who work in the funeral industry, Penny Colman examines the compelling subjects of death and burial across cultures and societies. The text, enriched with stories both humorous and poignant, includes details about the decomposition and embalming processes (an adult corpse buried six feet deep without a coffin will usually take five to ten years to turn into a skeleton) and describes the various customs associated with containing remains (the Igala people in Nigeria have a custom of burying people in as many as twenty-seven layers of clothing). Intriguing facts are revealed at every turn; for example, in Madagascar winter was considered the corpse-turning season.

This comprehensive book also includes a list of burial sites of famous people, images in the arts associated with death, fascinating epitaphs and gravestone carvings, a chronology and a glossary, and over a hundred black-and-white photographs, most of which were taken by the author.

Penny Colman writes with compassion and intelligence and humanizes the difficult subjects of death and burial. The result is a powerful look at an inevitable part of life-death.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 125006290X
• ISBN13: 9781250062901
• Release Date: August 2015
• Publisher: Square Fish
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 11 to 14 years
• Grade Range: Grades 6 to 9

Customer Reviews

Amazing and inspiring

This is my all time favorite book because it helped me deal with my brother's death. Each chapter contained accurate and amazing information. The fact that the author interwove her experiences made me feel that I wasn't alone. I noticed that the reviewer from River Edge did not even spell the author's name correctly and his correction about John Paul Jones's is not accurate and his comment about her caption is silly. Just because Colman didn't write about the subjects he wanted to read about, he should not trash her book. He should keep looking for those subjects in another book, or write about them himself.

A Fascinating Read for Kids and Adults Alike

I purchased this book for my 8th grade students to use in a historical research project regarding burial customs throughout history. They LOVED it. The information is presented in understandable terms and avoids scaring young readers. The only flaw I found with this book is the lack of organization. It was difficult for the students to look up information. I would have preferred more information on catacombs as well. However, the purpose of this book, I believe, was to entertain and stimulate interest. It achieved its purpose. Highly recommended.

This was a good book.

I think that this book was exceptionally good, though, I think it would have been alot better if the writer wrote alittle more about what happens after you die and not what the family goes through after you die. We all know that it is very upsetting when a loved one or someone you know dies. So I think the writer should have focused alittle more on that. Other than that i would recommened this book to any reader out there.

Making a Difficult Topic Interesting

A seemingly morbid topic to many is rendered fascinating and informative in this finely written and beautifully designed volume. The author expertly incorporates both historical and multicultural facts and anecdotes to clearly and sensitively present various topics surrounding burial. The topics follow a logical progression from a discussion of death, to what happens after death, to rituals surrounding burial and, finally, burial sites of famous people and various interesting epitaphs. The book includes numerous black-and-white photos with notes, informative sidebars, and an excellent glossary, bibliography and index. Reading Level: Middle school and up. Highly recommended.