Death in New York: History and Culture of Burials, Undertakers & Executions - Paperback

by Khira Krombie (Author)

Like every aspect of life in the Big Apple, how New Yorkers have interacted with death is as diverse as each of the countless individuals who have called the city home. Waves of immigration brought unique burial customs as archaeological excavations uncovered the graves of indigenous Lenape and enslaved Africans. Events such as the 1788 Doctors' Riot--a response to years of body snatching by medical students and physicians--contributed to new laws protecting the deceased. Overcrowding and epidemics led to the construction of the "Cemetery Belt," a wide stretch of multi-faith burial grounds throughout Brooklyn and Queens. From experiments in embalming to capital punishment and the far-reaching industry of handling the dead, author K. Krombie unveils a tapestry of stories centered on death in New York.

Author Biography

K. Krombie has written numerous articles for media outlets in America and the United Kingdom, in addition to film and New York theater reviews. A longtime obsessive of all things New York City, it's only right that she lives here now.