|
Welcome
Taphophilia (dot) Com...
A repository of morbid curiosities:
Thanatology and Taphophile Issues, Cemetery,
Funeral Industry and Death Related News.
A Taphophilia Thank You...
Taphophilia (dot) Com would not be possible without the knowledge, experience and talent of DarkestWeb. From its conception and early development, DarkestWeb was faced with many challenges; from inspiring and motivating, to providing guidance and direction. The continued dedication and support has produced results greater than ever expected, and for this, I owe a huge debt of gratitude.
Announcements
Graveyards of Chicago:
The People, History, Art, and Lore of Cook County Cemeteries
By Matt Hucke And Ursula Bielski. Discover a Chicago That Exists Just Beneath the Surface - About Six Feet Under! Take a tour of Chicago's permanent residents! Please visit the Lake Claremont Press website to purchase your copy of Graveyards of Chicago today!
Green-Wood Cemetery Arcadia Publishing announces the release of Alexandra Mosca's historic account of one of New York's most famous cemeteries. Aracdia Publishing's Images of America series has an extensive catalog of many cemetery publications! Please visit Arcadia Publishing to purchase your copy of Green-Wood Cemetery and to browse other available titles!
Men of Mortuaries Calendar
To purchase your 2008 calendar, learn more about the KAMMCARES Foundation, or to be featured in the 2009 calendar, please visit Men of Mortuaries.
Epitaphs: The Magazine for Cemetery Lovers By Cemetery Lovers
For information regarding subscriptions, single issues, submission guidelines, deadlines, classifieds or advertising for future issues, please visit The Cemetery Club.
Guardians of the Soul: Angels and Innocents, Mourners and Saints, Indiana's remarkable cemetery sculpture
with photography by John Bower and foreword by Claude Cookman is now
available. Please visit
Studio Indiana for more information.
West Springfield Massachusetts: Stories Carved in Stone by Rusty Clark features information on early New England gravestone carvers with more than two hundred photos and illustrations. Please visit the Dog Pond Press website.
|
|
A Voice for the Dead is a book to die for |
|
|
|
|
Written by DeadGirl
|
|
Wednesday, 23 February 2005 |
By TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER
So have you seen Elvis lately? According to tabloids, he's quite the traveler. Some say that Marilyn Monroe is alive, and James Dean is living in seclusion somewhere in California. Just waiting for a good time to resurrect his career, I'm sure.
Despite what you've heard about those celebrities being rather dead, there are people who believe, to paraphrase Mark Twain, the reports are greatly exaggerated.
James E. Starrs could tell you for certain, if he had access to a gravesite. In his new book "A Voice for the Dead" with Katherine Ramsland (c.2005, Putnam), he goes digging - literally - for clues about a few historic figures.
What would compel a graduate of law school and a forensic science teacher to want to exhume bodies?
Author James Starrs says that it was, in part, because he wanted answers and he wanted to set history straight. He's also a risk-taking kind of guy.
Risk Number One came in 1988. Starrs was attending a meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences in Colorado Springs, when he had a chance to do a little exploring. He ended up in Lake City, the place where Alfred Packer horrified Hindsale County when he stumbled from the San Juan Mountains - alone.
Packer had gone with five other prospectors in search of riches. The men were ill prepared for the weather and had few provisions with them.
When Packer emerged looking particularly hearty and well fed, well, you can imagine what he supposedly dined on. Starrs wanted to put the rumors to rest. Did Alfred Packer murder his fellow prospectors, or was it a matter of survival?
One of America's most famous Robin Hoods was Jesse James. Jesse was a hero in the eyes of the poor and downtrodden, and a villain in the eyes of banks and railroads. According to legend, on April 3, 1882, Jesse was at home when he was shot in the head.
He was buried in Kearney, Mo., on the James farm and later re-buried in a cemetery. These are things that history tells us, but in death - as in life - there are always complications.
Some say that the man who was shot was a dead-ringer for Jesse James, no pun intended, and that the real Jesse escaped and hid.
J. Frank Dalton, years later, claimed to be the "real" Jesse. So whose bones lie in a grave in Kearney, Missouri?
Despite the "ick factor," I liked this book. There is something fascinating about learning secrets from the grave, and author Starrs makes his enthusiasm clear when he writes about these cases, and how he solved them.
Author Katherine Ramsland (who is a forensic psychology teacher and has written some notable books herself) also adds a touch of her expertise.
If you're the littlest bit squeamish, you might want to take a pass on "A Voice for the Dead," because it contains some pretty unsavory parts. History buffs, though, as well as armchair detectives and "CSI" fans, should be dying to read this book.
Schlichenmeyer reviews books for the Pahrump Valley Times from her home in Wisconsin.
http://www.pahrumpvalleytimes.com/2005/02/23/news/bookreview.html |
|
