New Books in History Allison Christine Meier, "Grave" (Bloomsbury, 2023)
Nov 28, 2025
Allison C. Meier, a writer and cemetery tour guide, dives into the evolving perspectives on burial sites and death in her book, Grave. She shares insights into how graves have become markers of social divisions, reflecting class and race disparities. Allison discusses emerging practices like cremation and human composting, and envisions accessible, community-focused burial options for the future. With her extensive experience leading cemetery tours, she highlights how these spaces can serve the living while honoring the dead.
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Graves Mirror Social Inequality
- Graves reflect social inequalities: class, race, and economics shape monuments and care.
- Even in progressive cities like New York, segregation and uneven maintenance persist across cemeteries.
Volunteer Tends Neglected Jewish Cemetery
- Meier describes Bayside in Queens, a small Jewish cemetery that was abandoned by its synagogue.
- A volunteer, Anthony Pichota, now tends it daily despite having no relatives buried there.
Cemeteries Should Serve The Living
- Cemeteries ideally serve the living by providing places to mourn and remember, but many are inaccessible or stigmatized.
- Thoughtful design could balance respect for the dead with welcoming public use and ‘respectful recreation.’
