Gone to the Grave

Summary: Author Abby Burnett presents a very thoroughly researched picture of norms and customs surrounding death and burial in the Arkansas Ozarks in a 100-year period that spanned the Civil and both World Wars. These years began with the families and friends of the deceased taking care of the work that preceded and followed a death primarily in the home, and they ended with that work being typically completed by professionals in the funeral business.

The author did an excellent job of organizing and presenting the information in a logical, interesting way, including statistics and data, news reporting from the time period in question, and first-hand accounts from those who witnessed and participated in death and burial customs in the Ozarks.