The Dead Beat: Lost Souls, Lucky Stiffs And The Perverse Pleasures Of Obituaries - Hardcover

Johnson, Marilyn

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0060758759 ISBN 13: 9780060758752

Publisher: HarperCollins, 2006

Synopsis

A wry study of the cult and culture of the obituary assesses what our fascination with these unique human-interest stories reveals about our feelings about death, offering a survey of the obituary, in all its diversity. 40,000 first printing.

About this title

Review:

"[Marilyn Johnson]'s written a warm, funny, appreciative book that, ironically enough, should live forever. But get it now."--Roy Blount, Jr., author of Feet On The Street: Rambles Around New Orleans

"A beautifully written, funny, and fascinating tour through the unexpectedly lively world of obituaries."--Lisa Grunwald, author of Women's Letters: America from the Revolutionary War to the Present

"A charming, lyrical book about the men and women who write obituaries... sly, droll, and completely winning."--David Halberstam

"A joyful book about obituaries? Absolutely! Marilyn Johnson pulls it off with death-defying grace, insight, charm, and wit."--Lee Eisenberg, author of The Number: A Completely Different Way to Think About the Rest of Your Life

A charming, lyrical book about the men and women who write obituaries sly, droll, and completely winning. --David Halberstam"

[Marilyn Johnson] s written a warm, funny, appreciative book that, ironically enough, should live forever. But get it now. --Roy Blount, Jr., author of Feet On The Street: Rambles Around New Orleans"

A joyful book about obituaries? Absolutely! Marilyn Johnson pulls it off with death-defying grace, insight, charm, and wit. --Lee Eisenberg, author of The Number: A Completely Different Way to Think About the Rest of Your Life"

A beautifully written, funny, and fascinating tour through the unexpectedly lively world of obituaries. --Lisa Grunwald, author of Women's Letters: America from the Revolutionary War to the Present"

From the Author:

I attended my first Great Obituary Writers' Conference in
2004, and had a marvellous time. Who knew obit writers would be such good
company? Half an hour before the end of the conference, somebody ran in
shouting that Ronald Reagan had died. There was more adrenaline coursing
through that place than you'd find in a casualty department. I spent the
next two years chasing obit writers, soaking up their energy and twisted
sense of humour, and collecting their greatest hits: professional whistler,
kitty litter inventor, confidante of the Three Stooges, "revolutionary
whore." THE DEAD BEAT is my valentine to obit writers.

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0060758759
• ISBN 13: 9780060758752
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 256