The Secret Life of a Cemetery - by Benoît Gallot (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

From the head curator of the most famous cemetery in the world--a moving story about a place where joy, grief, and wild nature converge in unexpected and inspiring ways.

"Père-Lachaise in Paris, whose tombs of Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison, Édith Piaf and many other artistic icons have made it a popular tourist draw, has become a haven for wildlife."--from the New York Times profile of author Benoît Gallot

For Benoît Gallot, Père Lachaise is best explored without a guide: You're guaranteed to lose your way. You'll feel as though you've stepped out of time, out of Paris, and into another place entirely. In his debut memoir, Gallot, head curator of Père Lachaise and son of a grave stonemason, pulls back the curtains on his otherworldly workplace--a cemetery crammed with tourists in the high season and mourners year round, but also a natural paradise, where foxes roam, birds flit between trees, and wildflowers and moss encroach onto tombstones.

In elegant, engrossing chapters, Gallot reveals the secret world of Père Lachaise--its Napoleonic origins, its unusual graves and monuments--alongside touching stories from his working life in the cemetery. Born into a family of undertakers, Gallot was named curator of Père-Lachaise in his early-thirties, inheriting the complex job of managing over 100 acres of green space, overseeing 70,000 graves, and arranging burials and cremations, all while contending with millions of tourists--plus film crews, birdwatchers, ghost hunters, and the occasional nude performance artist. Gallot, who also lives on the cemetery grounds with his wife and young children, demystifies his unusual and often misunderstood profession, which in reality requires much more contact with living people than dead ones. In doing so, he provides insight into the history of graveyards and our evolving relationship with death.

Gallot also shares vivid descriptions of flora and fauna, which have reemerged in recent years thanks to a huge rewilding effort. Initially unsure about the idea, he embraced it as the cemetery alleys blossomed and birdsong proliferated. Then in April 2020, with the city in lockdown, Gallot took an early-morning stroll and crossed paths with a fox--in the middle of Paris! He snapped a picture and posted it, unwittingly setting off a media frenzy. Gallot's daily photographs of Père-Lachaise's flourishing animal and plant life have attracted followers from around the world, helping to change the public perception of cemeteries, which ultimately exist as places for the living.

A bestseller in France, lauded as "a superb book ... full of humor, empathy, and great sweetness" by the French literary press, The Secret Life of a Cemetery is a life-affirming read that will stand the test of time.

Review Quotes

"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

About the Author

Benoît Gallot has been the curator of Père Lachaise Cemetery since 2018 and was born into a family of grave stonemasons. His Instagram account, @la_vie_au_cimetiere, has attracted a growing community of followers captivated by his photographs of the animals that have made the Parisian landmark their home. He lives on the grounds of the cemetery with his family.

Arielle Aaronson is a French-to-English translator of books, films, TV, and more. Her translations have been shortlisted for the 2023 Governor General's Literary Award and longlisted for the 2021 Canada Reads book of the year. She lives in Montreal, Quebec, with her family.