Stories in Stone by Douglas Keister
Certain symbols abound in modern Western culture and are instantly recognizable, but other symbols require a bit of decoding-particularly those found in cemeteries.Cemeteries are virtual encyclopedias of symbolism. Engravings on tombstones, mausoleums and memorials tell us just about everything there is to know about a person- date of birth and death as well as religion, ethnicity, occupation, community interests, and much more. In the fascinating new book Stories in Stone: The Complete Guide to Cemetery Symbolism by noted author Douglas Keister, the secrets of cemetery symbolism are finally revealed. For instance, did you know that it is quite rare to see a sunflower on a tombstone? Did you know that the human foot symbolizes humility and service since it consistently touches the earth? Or the humble sheaf of wheat-while it is often used to denote someone who has lived a long and fruitful life, do you know other meanings it might carry?
Stories in Stone provides history along with images of a wide variety of common and not-so-common cemetery symbols, and offers an in-depth examination of stone relics and the personal and intimate details they display-flora and fauna, religious icons, society symbols, and final impressions of how the deceased wished to be remembered. Douglas Keister has created a practical field guide that is compact and portable, perfect for those interested in family histories and genealogical research, and is the only book of its kind that unlocks the language of symbols in a comprehensive and easy-to-understand manner.
Douglas Keister, a photographer and writer, has written or co-written forty critically praised books. He also contributes images and essays to dozens of journals, newspapers, books, calendars, posters, and greeting cards around the world, as well as writing and illustrating magazine pieces. Five books on Victorian homes, twelve books on bungalow homes, a book on 1920's whimsical homes (Storybook Style), a book about cemetery art and architecture (Going Out in Style), a book on Spanish architecture (Red Tile Style), four books on cottages, and a book on Courtyards are among his twenty-five books on architecture. Keister has four books on historic recreational vehicles, two of which he photographed and penned for children. He also has two monographs of his own work (Black Rock and Driftwood Whimsy) and two monographs of his personal work (Black Rock and Driftwood Whimsy). His extensive library of architecture books has earned him the reputation of America's most well-known historic architecture photographer.
Tales in the Stone: A Field Guide to Cemetery Symbolism and Iconography, his book on cemetery symbolism, has received a lot of positive feedback. A book containing his glass negative collection. The publication of Lincoln in Black and White 1910-1925 resulted in the Smithsonian acquiring a portion of his collection. In May 2010, he released his 38th book, Forever LA, which highlights cemeteries in the Los Angeles area.
Gibbs Smith Publisher published his thirty-ninth book, Tales in Stone New York: A Field Guide to New York City Cemetery and Their Inhabitants, in October 2011. Desiree (2010) and Autumn in Summer (2012) are two of his works. Tales in Stone Paris, his most recent cemetery book, will be released in September 2013. His 41st book is Heart-Land.
His cemetery books and pictures were featured on CBS Sunday Morning in October 2010. He was dubbed America's Leading Tombstone Tourist by correspondent Rita Braver. Keister has done for cemetery exploration what Audubon did for birds, according to SUNSET magazine.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781586853211 |
| ISBN 10 | 158685321X |
| Title | Stories in Stone |
| Author | Douglas Keister |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Gibbs M. Smith Inc |
| Year published | 2004-04-01 |
| Number of pages | 256 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |