Colonel Colonel's A Grave Affair prompted me to find this is my extensive catalogue of cemetery photographs. I'm fascinated by aviatrixes (aviatreaux?) and by headstones, so this grave of Maryse Bastie in Cimetiere du Montparnasse is a double pleasure.In this boneyard also lies Marguerite Duras, Serge Gainsbourg, Samuel Beckett and many others. There are flowers on the graves (naturally), but also notes, letters & small objects. On Duras', the day I was there in July last year, was a heart made of shells and stones. Some of the notes were written on metro tickets, others on scraps from pockets, others still elaborately prepared.
I noticed the phenomenon at the Parthenon also. My favourite there, on Emil Zola's tomb, was a note which read "I never finished Germinal, mais quand meme je l'aimait beaucoup. Merci partout." ("I never finished Germinal, but all the same I liked it a lot. Thanks everywhere.")
I wonder what prompts people to leave these notes.
7 comments:
My favourite eptitaph exists in Highgate Cemetery in London. It is the headstone of a famous sporting goods manufacturer and reads something like:
Here Lies John Smith, beloved husband and father and purveyor of fine sporting equipment, such as the highest quality racquets and lace-up boots. Also hard rubber balls, lawn croquet hoops, and superior quality cat gut and re-stringing supplies...
Well, not exactly those words, but an ad for his emporium anyway. It ran the full lenght of his headstone.
Those are great photos. A few years ago I took some in Mount Auburn cemetery in Cambridge. Some of the memorials and stonework there are absolutely amazing.
anaglyph: Wonderful. I'll put Highgate on my list - in September I'm doing more 'Travels With My Aunt' and London is on the itinerary. I'll find your Mr Smith.
colonel: Great image. I remain staunch in my desire to be cremated (after any useful bits have been removed) and scattered, but I do love that cemetery stonework.
It wasn't 'Smith' - can't remember the name. But if you go on a tour and ask one of the 'Friends of Highgate' (the volunteer organization that manages the cemetery) they should be able to tell you where it is.
Also look out for the grave where Bram Stoker (allegedly) came to sit and write 'Dracula', the wonderful avenue of mausoleums which appears in a number of old Hammer Horror films and the many tombstones of the various Rossettis who all seemed to find their resting places there.
Sounds like a full day (or night - oooooooo). I'll go in a fog. Or failing that, take my Portable Mist Machine for photos.
Does anyone evr leave MONEY fer them dead fokes?
They say ya cant take it wit ya, but if I found some money left on som dead guys grave, Id take it wit me!
Maybe people are leaving money, and someone like you is taking it. And will damned to hellfire for all eternity (or equivalent)
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