" The Secret Life of a Cemetery can be read as a memoir of the author, but it may be more accurately understood as a biography of Père-Lachaise--a place of rich history, lore and misunderstanding. Considering the somber subject, Mr. Gallot's jovial tone may surprise. His sprightly text, ably translated from the French by Arielle Aaronson, may crack a smile on even the most stone-faced among us." -- Wall Street Journal " The Secret Life of a Cemetery is Gallot's loving and informative paean to the 110 acre cemetery in which 1.3 million bodies are buried including many celebrities including: Frederic Chopin, Edith Piaf, Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison and Camille Pissarro. Gallot's informal, almost breezy prose lightens the weighty subject matter as he dissects the many aspects of end-of-life situations." -- The Valley Breeze "[A] kind of love letter .
Not only is this a book that answers, fact for fact, everything you ever wanted to know about Père-Lachaise but were afraid to ask, it is also a portrait of a person who truly loves his work." --Sadie Stein, The New York Times " The Secret Life of a Cemetery is a paean to the renowned Parisian cemetery, Père Lachaise.[A]s crammed with quirky facts as the 110-acre cemetery is crammed with burial plots" -- NPR " The Secret Life of a Cemetery is no maudlin reflection on death and remembrance.With its fox cubs and anecdotes (it) allows us a privileged glimpse of Gallot's world, full of wonder and life" -- The Observer "Contrasting solemn resplendence with the vibrancy of renewal, The Secret Life of a Cemetery is a historical and cultural delight." -- Foreword "[An] enchanting portrait of [Gallot's] otherworldly workplace" -- The Bookseller "[D]elightful and thoughtful . A spirited look at life inside Père-Lachaise, as told by its philosophical and funny curator." -- Kirkus Reviews "A fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the world's most famous cemetery, this book unlocks the many mysteries of Père-Lachaise. It's filled with beautiful anecdotes about the rich meaning to be found in a life caring for the dead and their families.
" --Bess Lovejoy, author of Rest in Pieces: The Curious Fates of Famous Corpses "A fascinating, witty, and delightful book about life among the Parisian dead." --Peter Ross, author of A Tomb With A View "Père-Lachaise, the second international cemetery I ever visited, made me fall in love with the history, the celebrities, the amazing sculpture. This book opened my eyes to Père-Lachaise as a living organism. As much as I've read about the cemetery, I see it in a new light now. The Secret Life of a Cemetery made me long to visit again!" --Loren Rhoads, author of 222 Cemeteries to See Before You Die "This book is full of surprises about the world's most famous resting place--from the fascinating and amusing histories Gallot reveals to the eloquent, page-turning prose. Each chapter took me on a new turn down Père-Lachaise's famed cobblestone walkways. What a delight to read! The Secret Life of a Cemetery will now occupy a cherished spot on my bookshelf." --Greg Melville, author of Over My Dead Body: Unearthing the Hidden History of America's Cemeteries "Paris's famous cemetery is as full of life and history as the city itself.
" --Stephen Clarke, author of 1000 Years of Annoying the French.