The Graveyards and Cemeteries of Edinburgh by Charlotte Golledge Amberley Publishing

The Graveyards and Cemeteries of Edinburgh
Charlotte Golledge
96 pages fully illustrated
Amberley Publishing
Published 15th February 2020
“The Graveyards and Cemeteries of Edinburgh” by Charlotte Golledge is the follow-up to the author’s 2018 book, “Greyfriars Graveyard”.
This new book covers the history of a small number of Edinburgh’s burial places, with an emphasis on the older graveyards and cemeteries, including some of the notable people buried there, and is well illustrated throughout, with much of interest for anyone interested in graveyards and local history. However, for a book which is limited in its size, I felt there was too much space given over to the history and background of some of the people and events included, rather than the actual graveyards and cemeteries of the title.
Although the author undoubtedly knows her subject, which was clear from “Greyfriars Graveyard”, this book feels a bit impersonal and somehow doesn’t capture the relevance and interest that these graveyards and cemeteries still have today.  I also have to admit that too many errors in spelling and grammar, especially the confusion between interment and internment (which admittedly may not have been the author’s error) were very distracting, and I found myself at times paying more attention to these than to the actual content of the book.
Having said all that, however, I am sure this book will be a good introduction to the subject for many readers, both locals and visitors to Edinburgh.

Review by Lisa Sibbald (c) 2020