Epitaphs

Samuel Fanous

Epitaphs brings together more than 250 epitaphs from cemeteries, churchyards, monuments, and historical records. Some announce the cause of death with a surprisingly macabre sense of humor: "Here lies John Ross. Kicked by a hoss." Others wryly remind readers of their own impending mortality, such as a tombstone whose rhyming inscription reads "As I am now you will surely be. / Prepare thyself to follow me." In death as in life, many of the most famous writers were not at a loss for words. As tribute to a form of expression that is very much alive, Epitaphs collects some of the most intriguing examples, many of which perfectly encapsulate the person buried beneath them.