Welcome to Hollywood Graveyard
where we set out to remember and celebrate the lives of those who lived
to entertain us, by visiting their final resting places.
Today we leave Los Aangeles behind to visit England,
where we'll find such stars as Shakespeare, Laurence Olivier,
Deborah Kerr, and many more. Join us won't you? With its rich history of the arts and
entertainment London is almost like an older brother
to Hollywood and Broadway. So it was inevitable that we should hop
the pond to find ourselves here in England, changing the channel from ABC to
BBC, strolling around Piccadilly Circus, or
settling in for a nice afternoon tea to remember some of our favorite British
entertainers. In a way this is a sort of continuation
of part four of our Viewers Special, where you'll recall we visited many
stars throughout the UK and Ireland, like Alec Guinness and Amy Winehouse. So
if you haven't done so already be sure to check out that video as well
for more famous graves here in England. We've got a lot of ground to
cover, so we'll be breaking up this tour into three parts. England's known for producing great
writers: poets, playwrights, novelists, etc. So how about we begin our tour
remembering some of history's most storied writers. And in the annals of
great English writers one name rises above them all:
the Bard of Avon, William Shakespeare. The 16th century poet and playwright is
considered by many as the greatest English writer,
and the world's greatest dramatist. We find ourselves in the town where
Shakespeare was born, Stratford-Upon- Avon. And here in the
chancel of Trinity Church is where the bones of Shakespeare rest.
He began his career as an actor in London with his playing company, The
King's Men. In the late 1500s he began to work as a
playwright, with comedies like A Midsummer Night's
Dream, and The Merchant of Venice, and historical dramas like Richard III.
He then shifted to tragedies and some of his best-known work like
Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and Macbeth. The works of Shakespeare
have been translated into every living language
and have been performed more often than any other playwright in history.
And of course filmmakers have mined the riches of Shakespeare's work,
adapting all his place hundreds of times making him the most
filmed author ever. Shakespeare died from unknown causes at the age of 52
and in true dramatically shakespearean style his grave contains a curse
against moving his bones from this site. "Good friend
for Jesus's sake forebear, to dig the dust enclosed here.
Blessed be the man spares these stones,
and cursed be he that moves my bones." Fast forwarding a couple centuries we
find ourselves now at Winchester cathedral.
Upon entering this Gothic 11th century cathedral it becomes immediately clear
who the star is here. Fans of Jane Austen, this one's for you.
There's an exhibit here to the early 19th century British novelist.
And here along these stone corridors is the grave of Jane Austen.
She's known for her novels which explored the social conditions of women
in the late 18th early 19th centuries, this social condition ironically
extending to the publication of her books as well.
At the time married British women did not have the legal power to sign
contracts, and Austen had to publish her books
anonymously, as here: Sense and Sensibility, by A Lady.
Sense and Sensibility, published in 1811 marked her first success as an author.
She would go on to write other classics which include Pride and Prejudice,
and Emma, all of which have been made into films.
In 1816 Jane began to fall ill, dying a year later from what historians believe
was Addison's disease. She was 41. If you saw part four of our Viewers
Special, you'll recall our visit to Bram Stoker, author of Dracula. Here in Bournemouth a seaside town in the south of England,
at St. Peter's churchyard, is another legend of Gothic horror,
Mary Shelley. It was from Mary Shelley's 1818 novel that the world was introduced
to Frankenstein's monster. Mary grew up surrounded by writers, and
even married one, the poet Percy Shelley. This instilled in
Mary a desire to write from an early age. While on a trip with her husband, her
sister, and Lord Byron to Geneva, Byron proposed a contest to see who
could write the best ghost story. What Mary came up with on those rainy
summer nights on Lake Geneva, in the grim terrors of a waking dream,
was Frankenstein. She was just 18 at the time.
Frankenstein's monster has been a mainstay in horror now for two centuries,
brought to life in everything from the 1931 film starring Boris Karloff,
to Herman Munster in the 60s. Mary Shelley died in 1851 at the age of 53
of what physicians believe was a brain tumor. She's laid to rest here with her
family. In East Coker, Summerset, is Saint Michael
and All Angels Church. This is the final resting place of T. S.
Eliot. He's considered one of the 20th
century's major poets. Among his best-known works are,"The Love
Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,' "The Wasteland," "The Hollow Men," and "Ash Wednesday." He also
wrote a number of plays, including "Murder in the Cathedral." And it
was his collection of poems, "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats," that served as the source for
Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, Cats. In 1948 Eliot was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature.
He died from emphysema at the age of 76, after which he was cremated at Golders
Green, his ashes laid to rest here. His epitaph,
"In my beginning is my end, in my end is my beginning,"
is from his work For Quartets. From Saint Michael to St. Mary... we're in
Twickenham, in the London area. In the garden of remembrance in Saint
Mary's churchyard is a humble marker to P. L. Travers. Young
Pamela began writing as a teenager, and even performed briefly as a
Shakespearean actress. But it was her 1930s children's book series about a
magical nanny for which he would be best known. Mary Poppins was published in 1934,
followed by seven sequels. Disney's daughters loved the book and encouraged
him to make Mary Poppins into a film. Travers initially refused to grant the
rights, believing a film adaptation would not do her creations justice,
nor did she want it made into a cartoon. It took 20 years for Disney to procure
the rights. The film was released in 1964 starring
Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins. "As i expected. Mary Poppins, practically
perfect in every way." The film was considered
Disney's crowning achievement in live action
and was a pioneer in the hybrid live-action animation style.
It would go on to garner 13 Oscar nominations.
Despite the success of the film, Travers disliked the adaptation and refused any
further film adaptations, but she did give her blessing to the
West End musical. The story of the making of Mary Poppins
was dramatized in the film Saving Mr Banks, starring Emma Thompson as P. L. Travers. She lived to be 96. This is another
Saint Michael's churchyard, this one in Stinsford outside Dorchester.
Here lies poet Cecil Day-Lewis. He was appointed poet laureate in 1968.
He also wrote crime and detective novels under the pseudonym Nicholas Blake.
Cecil was the father of actor Daniel Day-Lewis, considered one of the greatest
actors in the history of cinema. He died from cancer, his own poetry
inscribed here on his stone. We head north now to Swindon and a small
village of Sevenhampton. This is St James churchyard. In this
humble graveyard rests one of the greats of spy literature,
Ian Fleming, known for creating British agent 007.
Fleming worked for British intelligence during World War II, his experiences
served as the perfect background for this James Bond series of novels.
The first in the series, Casino Royale, was published in 1953.
The series would grow to 12 novels and a collection of short stories
becoming one of the best-selling series in history.
The series was first adapted on TV in 1954,
and the first film adaptation of James Bond was Dr. No
in 1962 starring Sean Connery. Since then Bond has appeared on screen
some two dozen times, making it one of the highest grossing
film series behind Harry Potter and the Marvel universe. Fleming died at the age of 56 after suffering a heart attack. From spy thrillers to literature
inspired by theology, this is Holy Trinity churchyard in
Oxfordshire, just outside the city of Oxford,
where we find the grave of C.S. Lewis. His best-known works of fiction include The
Screwtape Letters. The Space Trilogy, and his popular fantasy series, The
Chronicles of Narnia, which consists of seven books beginning
with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe in 1950. The Chronicles of Narnia would
become classics of children's literature,
selling over 100 million copies, and being adapted on stage film and
television. Lewis also served on the English faculty
at Oxford University. He died from kidney failure at the age
of 64. C.S. Lewis was close friends with our
next legendary wordsmith. We're in Oxford and Wolvercote Cemetery.
Here lies the father of modern high fantasy J.R.R. Tolkien,
known for his middle-earth series of novels. He published The Hobbit,
a children's fantasy novel, in 1937. It tells of the journeys of a hobbit
named Bilbo Baggins. Tolkien followed up with a sequel, The
Lord of the Rings, which was published in three volumes as The Fellowship of the
Ring, The Two Towers, and to The Return of the
King. It would become one of the best-selling books ever written.
Tolkien's stories from middle-earth would be adapted for radio, film, and
television, perhaps most notably Peter Jackson's
adaptation of the trilogy beginning in 2001,
becoming one of the highest grossing and most awarded film series of all time. "I will take the ring to Mordor. Though, I do not know the way." Tolkien died at
age 81. After his death his son Christopher
published additional material based on Tolkien's unpublished manuscripts
including The Silmarillion. If you've watched our videos in the past
you'll know that from time to time we visit major historical figures who
weren't entertainers, but who certainly have forged their
place in the annals of history. Take for example Roger Bannister, who's
also here at Wolvercote. He calls to mind high school gym class
where in order to pass the class we had to run four laps around the track,
the distance of one mile, without keeling over dead.
Once a proud young Arthur crossed the finish line, winded to the point of
blacking out, in an earth-shattering time of 7 minutes
42 seconds. Afterwards whispers would circulate
around the locker room of an unbeatable mile pace:
the sub 4 minute mile. "Why, that's impossible," I thought. "That's a sprinter's pace for four
straight laps!" But in 1954 Roger Bannister proved that it was not
impossible, becoming the first man to break the four minute mile,
in a time of three minutes 59 seconds. He would go on to become a neurologist,
pioneering research into the autonomic nervous system. He died from Parkinson's
disease at the age of 88. We're at St Martin's churchyard in
Bladon, Oxfordshire. Here lies the man who led England to
victory through the second world war, Winston Churchill. In the 1930s Churchill
spearheaded the effort to rearm Britain to counter the growing threat of Nazi
Germany. At the outbreak of world war ii he was
appointed first lord of the admiralty, then in 1940 became prime minister. He
was instrumental in coordinating efforts with the Allies,
including the US and the Soviet Union to defeat the Axis powers,
ending the war in 1945. Among his many accomplishments in life,
as an author, Churchill was awarded the Nobel prize in literature
for his mastery of historical and biographical description.
He's widely considered one of the 20th century's most significant figures.
He died after suffering a stroke in 1965 at the age of 90. "We shall fight with growing confidence
and growing strength in the air. We shall defend our island, whatever
the cost may be. Back to the world of entertainment we're
in Alfold cemetery in Surrey. Here lies the legendary Deborah Kerr. The
Scottish-born actress began performing on stage in London as a youth before
launching a film career in the 1940s. She would go on to become one of the
most nominated actresses in the history of the Academy Awards,
with six nominations for best actress. Though she never won she did receive an
honorary Academy Award, recognizing her as "...an artist of
impeccable grace and beauty, a dedicated actress whose motion picture
career has always stood for perfection, discipline, and, elegance." Among her best
known films are An Affair to Remember, and The King and I. "Your Majesty, I beg of
you don't take revenge on this girl. This girl hurt your vanity, that is all.
She didn't hurt your heart. You have no heart!" She also had a lead
role in From Here to Eternity, sharing one of Hollywood's most iconic
love scenes with Burt Lancaster. She died from complications of
Parkinson's disease at age 86. Most of the sites we visited so far
today have been in churches and church yards,
as was tradition here for centuries, and often the only option for burial outside
of private land. But in the Victorian era, the early 1800s,
population growth in London began to outpace
both its burial space and its understanding of urban public health.
Unsanitary conditions led to a cholera epidemic
and inner city graveyards began to literally overflow.
The city wreaked of death and decay. "The dead are killing off the living,"
they said. London faced a real reckoning with what
to do with their dead, not just for space considerations but
also public health. This led to the closure of inner city
burials and the establishment of large suburban cemeteries on the outskirts of
the city. These cemeteries became known as "the
magnificent seven," which included Highgate cemetery,
sometimes called the Victorian Valhalla. Highgate opened in 1839 and is notable
for its winding paths through lush landscaping,
and Gothic tombs mingling with Egyptian architecture.
We visited a number of stars here in Highgate in our Viewers Special,
but let's pick up where we left off and see who else we can find in these
historic grounds. You'll recall that Highgate is divided
into an east and west section. Let's begin in the east section, which is
where we find actor Roger Lloyd-Pack. He's known to BBC
television audiences for his roles as Trigger on the sitcom Only Fools and
Horses, and as Owen on the Vicar of Dibley, as
well as appearances on Doctor Who. But to international audiences and fans
of the Harry Potter series, he's known as Barty Crouch in Harry
Potter and the Goblet of Fire. He died from pancreatic cancer at age
69. The inscription on the bottom of his
marker reads "Find me at the crossroads where old ghosts meet,
love of my life, on hooky street." A poem by Jehane Markham, Roger's wife. Next we find the grand artificer of
mysteries Anthony Shaffer. As a playwright his most notable work is
the 1970 play Sleuth, which was made into a film starring
Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine. The screenplay earned Shaffer a BAFTA
nomination. Other major screenplays include
Hitchcock's thriller, Frenzy, and The Wicker Man, which would become a
horror cult classic. He died from a heart attack at age 75. Anthony's brother, Peter, is also here at
Highgate East. He too was a renowned writer and
playwright. He wrote a number of award-winning
plays, several of which were made into films. His 1973 play Equus
won him the Tony award for best play. The 1977 film adaptation
starred Richard Burton. He followed up that success with Amadeus
which tells the story of Mozart. It too won Shaffer the Tony,
and the 1984 film adaptation would go on to win eight
Oscars and four BAFTA awards. "Do you have it?" "You go too fast, one moment please! One
moment!" "Yes." "Good. Show me the whole thing, from
the beginning." Shaffer lived to be 90 and rests here
with his partner, Robert. Our next find here at Highgate East is
Max Wall. The comedic actor is perhaps best
remembered for music hall appearances as the hilarious and ludicrously attired
Professor Wallofski, whose eccentric performances and funny
walks would inspire the next generation of british comedians, like
Monty Python alum, John Cleese. He would also often appear in the plays
of Samuel Beckett, including Waiting for Godot in 1979.
And on film he's seen as an inventor in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,
and as King Bruno the Questionable in Jabberwocky.
He died at the age of 82 from injuries sustained in a fall.
His epitaph reads, "I believe that since my life began,
the most I've had is just a talent to amuse. Moving on to another section of Highgate
East we find actor Tim Pigott-Smith. He's perhaps best remembered for his
BAFTA-winning role as Ronald Merrick in the TV drama The Jewel
in the Crown. Other shows he appeared in include
Doctor Who and The Vice. And on film Tim can be seen in V
for Vendetta, and Gangs of New York. On stage his lead
role in the West End and Broadway productions of King Charles III
would earn him both Tony and Olivier award nominations.
He was also a writer, publishing an anthology of poetry and prose titled Out
of India, and a pair of children's books. He died
at age 70 from natural causes.
Near the western end of Highgate East, along Swain's Lane,
is one of the early pioneers of moving pictures, William Friese-Greene.
Recollections of the early days of moving pictures conjure up names like
Edison, Dixon, Lumiere, and Muybridge.
But another figure, less remembered today, was William Friese-Greene. He was an inventor and photographer who,
on June 21, 1889, patented one of the early cameras capable of taking multiple
pictures per second. And while it may not have produced the
same sense of motion of that of the Edison/Dixon kinetograph,
which came a few years later, it was a step in the right direction.
He also experimented with early examples of stereoscopic and color film.
In 1921 Friese-Greene attended a meeting called to discuss the poor state of
British film distribution. After giving a speech he returned to his
seat, and moments later collapsed, dying of
heart failure. He was 65. Let's move on now to Highgate West. It's easy to get distracted by the
beauty of this place. But hidden amongst the countless
tombstones here at Highgate West are some of history's most beloved
entertainers. These include actor Bob Hoskins. He was
nominated for an Oscar for his performance in the 1986 film
Mona Lisa. The role won him the BAFTA and Golden Globe.
He also played the lead in one of my all-time favorite films,
as Eddie Valiant in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? "How much do you know about
show business, Mr. Valiant?" "Only there's no business like it,
no business I know." Other notable roles include The Long Good Friday, and Smee
in Hook. He retired from acting in 2012 due to Parkinson's disease,
and died from pneumonia in 2014 at the age of 71. Strolling further along these winding
paths we find actress Jean Simmons, not to be confused with the member of
Kiss of the same name. She made a name for herself as an
actress in British war-era films, and in 1948 Laurence Olivier chose her
for the role of Ophelia in the film adaptation of Hamlet. She was
nominated for an Academy Award for her performance. "I never gave you aught." "My honored Lord, you know right well you
did. And with them, words of so sweet breath
composed has made things more rich." Two decades later she would be nominated again for her lead role in the film The
Happy Ending. Other notable film roles include Guys
and Dolls in 1955, and Spartacus in 1960. And on television
she's known for the mini-series The Thorn Birds.
She continued to perform into her golden years including as the voice of Grandma
Sophie in Howl's Moving Castle. Dhe died from lung cancer at age 80. Her
epitaph reads, "Swift as the light i flew my faery
flight, ecstatically i moved and feared no
night." From the Thomas Hardy poem, "Regret not Me." Across from a row of private mausoleums
we find Beryl Bainbridge. She was a writer, known for her works of
psychological fiction. Two of her novels were made into films:
Sweet William, and An Awfully Big Adventure. Later she
shifted to historical fiction, including the award-winning books, Every
Man for Himself, about the Titanic disaster,
and Master Georgie. You may have seen, and will see again, DBE, CBE, or OBE on
these tombstones. These are Orders of the British Empire,
Dame in this case, which she was appointed in 2000. She
died in 2010 from cancer at age 77. Before there was Julia Child there was
Philip Harben, generally considered television's first
celebrity chef. He hosted a BBC program, Cookery, from
1946 to 1951. The first ever televised recipe was
lobster vol-au-vent. He also introduced audiences to
the then novel concept of cooking with frozen food. He lived to
the age of 63. Nearby we find Patrick Wymark. He began
his career on stage in a number of Shakespearean roles.
On television he's known for playing John Wilder in the series The Plane
Makers. And on film he's known for multiple
portrayals of Winston Churchill, including in The Finest Hours. Other film
credits include Children of the Damned. In 1970 while in
Australia he was due to perform in the play Sleuth,
but died suddenly of a heart attack in the hotel room where he was staying.
He was just 44. This dark freestanding vault is home to
Lucian Freud. He was an artist, considered to be one of
the great figure and portrait painters of his era.
Lucian was the grandson of psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud,
and his family fled to England to escape their eyes of Nazism.
Among his notable muses as a painter are Kate Moss,
and Queen Elizabeth. Several of his paintings have sold for tens of millions
of dollars. He died in 2011 at age 88. Our next star was not an artist, but one of the great scientific minds in history,
Michael Faraday, whose discoveries and innovations with electricity shape all
of our lives today. He began studying electrochemistry,
discovering benzene. Faraday then broadened his efforts
studying electromagnetism, establishing the concept of the electromagnetic field,
and demonstrating underlying principles that would lead to the electric motor,
and electric generators, He even has a scientific unit named after him,
the Farad, which is the ability to store an electrical charge.
Faraday would lay the groundwork for and inspire future scientific minds
including Einstein. He died at age 75, and having turned down
internment at Westminster Abbey, was laid to rest here. We find ourselves now at the Rossetti
family plot, wherein rests Christina Rossetti. She was
a poet, known for works like Goblin Market,
published in 1862. She also wrote one of my favorite
Christmas carols, "In the Bleak Mid-winter." And her poem, "Remember," is hauntingly
apropos we stand here at Highgate: "Remember me when I am gone away, gone far
away into the silent land, when you can no more hold me by the hand." She died from cancer in 1894 at age 64. For our last stop here at Highgate West
we pay our respects to a legend of pop music,
one who, like so many talented artists, left us too soon.
This is where George Michael is laid to rest He rose to fame as half of 80s pop duo, Wham! with Andrew Ridgeley.
Their hits include "Careless Whisper," and "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go." George Michael later embarked on a solo career, and would become one of the best
selling artists of all time, with hits like "Freedom 90," and "Faith." George's music would become the
soundtrack to the lives of millions in the 80s.
He would use his wealth and fame for philanthropic causes.
After coming out as gay he actively promoted LGBT rights,
raised funds for aids research, and donated millions to charities throughout
his life, often anonymously. Another of his hits
with wham was "Last Christmas." The song would take on a
tragic new meaning after George Michael died early on Christmas morning in 2016. At just 53 his death shocked and
saddened the world, the tragedy compounded by a lack of
understanding of just how he died. The cause of death was eventually listed
as natural causes, as a result of heart disease and a fatty
liver. He's laid to rest here with his mother. One of the greatest honors that can be bestowed upon citizens of Great Britain
is burial in London's Westminster Abbey. In these halls kings and queens have
been crowned, royals have been wed, and many of history's greats -- from
monarchs, to scientists, and artists -- have been buried.
Around the abbey are tombs with effigies to the likes of Henry III
and Mary Queen of Scots. There's a section of the abbey in the south
transpet known as Poet's Corner. This is where many artists, musicians,
writers, and actors are laid to rest. When thinking of truly
great actors a few names spring to mind. Among them, Laurence
Olivier whose ashes rest here beneath these
stones. Olivier is considered by many as a high
water mark for acting excellence,on both stage and screen,
particularly in Shakespearean roles. His big break on stage came in 1935
in a production of Romeo and Juliet, in which he alternately played
Romeo and Mercutio. Subsequently he would perform in other works of Shakespeare,
including Hamlet and Henry V. Having established himself as one of the
preeminent interpreters of Shakespeare it wouldn't be long until he brought
those interpretations to film. He both acted in and directed film
versions of Henry V, Hamlet, and Richard III. His performance
in Hamlet won him the Oscar. "Pherchance to dream. Aye, there's the rub. For in that sleep of death what dreams
may come when we have shuffled off this mortal coil?" He would receive 10 additional nominations, including for his roles in
Rebecca and Wuthering Heights. Countless other
honors and awards were bestowed upon Olivier throughout his life and career.
The OM here stands for Order of Merit. He even has an award named after him,
The Olivier Awards, the London equivalent of the Tonys.
Laurence Olivier was married to another legend of british stage and screen,
Vivien Leigh, and they starred together in a handful of films,
including Fire Over England. Olivier died of kidney failure at age 82. Decades before Olivier the king of the
Victorian London stage was Henry Irving. He was known as an
actor-manager, as he not only performed but took
control over most aspects of producing his plays. He appeared at
West End's Lyceum Theater from 1871 to 1902,
often performing the works of Shakespeare with frequent co-star Ellen
Terry. In 1895 he became the first actor
honored with knighthood. A young Bram Stoker worked with and
befriended Irving at the Lyceum Theater. He so idolized him that Henry Irving
would serve as a principal inspiration for Stoker's later creation,
Count Dracula. After Henry Irving died from a stroke at age 67
he would also be the first notable figure to be cremated before entombment
here at Westminster Abbey. Another performer who dominated British
theater was actress Peggy Ashcroft, considered the preeminent Shakespearean
actress of the 20th century. Her portrayal of Juliet in 1935's Romeo
and Juliet, alongside Laurence Olivier and John
Gielgud, made her a star, and is considered one of
the finest portrayals of Juliet. She would spend the next half century
performing on the British stage from Old Vic to the Royal Shakespearean
Company. And though primarily a stage performer,
she did make her mark on film as well, winning an Oscar for her
performance in A Passage to India. she died of a stroke at age 83. Sing Hallelujah we've found Handel. The Baroque composer is considered one of
the greatest of the era, known for chart-topping hits
like "Music for the Royal Fireworks," "Water Music," and of course The Messiah, which features
the rousing Hallelujah chorus. He would be a major influence on
classical greats to come, from Mozart to Beethoven. George Frederic
Handel died in 1759 at the age of 74. Next we find Robert
Browning, one of the foremost poets of the
Victorian era, known for his use of dramatic monologue.
Beginning in the 1850s he would publish a series of works that would make him
a leading British poet. These included "Men and women,"
"Dramatis Personae," and the epic poem "The Ring and the Book." He became so
renowned that Browning Societies were formed to discuss his work.
He died in 1889 at the age of 77. "I hold it true whate'er befall, I feel it
when I sorrow most, 'Tis better to have loved and lost,
than ever to have loved at all." So wrote Alfred Lord Tennyson, who was
poet laureate during much of Queen Victoria's reign.
With his presence here in poet's corner it should come as no surprise that he's
considered one of the greatest poets of the english language. Not only that,
but he's also one of the most frequently quoted.
His works include "Mariana," "The Lady of Shalott," "In Memoriam A.H.H," "Idylls of the King," and "Ulysses." Tennyson died in 1892 at the
age of 83. And those of you with the keen eye will
spot a cenotaph to T. S. Eliot next to Tennyson. One cannot discuss
great Victorian-era writers without remembering this man:
Charles Dickens. He was Britain's great novelist of the era,
having created some of the literary world's most famous and enduring stories
and characters: Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Great
Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities. His writings were a window into the life
of Victorian London, a medley of biting social commentary and
wit, which shined a light on the plight of
the poor. And his novella A Christmas Carol would serve to define many of our
modern conceptions and traditions of Christmas. His work made
him a bona fide celebrity in his day. And with every one of his works being
made into countless film, television and stage, productions over the decades,
his celebrity has not diminished... not one wit. He died at the age of 58
after suffering a stroke, and despite his wishes to be buried at Rochester
Cathedral, he was laid to rest here. Cenotaphs to
Dickens can be found at Rochester Cathedral
as well as Highgate. Next to Dickens is another name familiar to
you avid readers out there: Rudyard Kipling. He was born in India,
which would inspire much of his work, including his best known work of fiction,
The Jungle Book, published in 1894. It would be adapted on film several
times including the 1942 version starring Sabu,
and of course, The Disney Versions. Kipling is known as
an innovator of the short story, like "The Man Who Would be King." De died from a
perforated ulcer at the age of 70. And finally, all these talented men and
women here are in good company with novelist
and poet Thomas Hardy. His first literary success was the 1874 novel
Far From the Madding Crowd. His 1891 novel, Tess of the D'Urbervilles,
challenged the sexual norms of late Victorian England,
and is considered his fictional masterpiece. He reached his poetic prime
late in life, after the death of his wife in 1912, his
elegies described as the finest and strangest celebrations of the dead
in English poetry. You'll recall that a poem by Hardy appears on Jean Simmons'
tombstone. He died at age 87, his ashes entombed here... though, not all of Thomas Hardy is here.
Hardy had expressed a desire to be buried in Stinsford with his first wife
Emma, but his estate executor wanted him at
Westminster Abbey. As a compromise, before cremation,
Thomas Hardy's heart was removed, and buried here alongside
his beloved. And that concludes our tour. What are
some of your favorite memories of the stars we visited today?
Share them in the comments below and be sure to like, share,
and subscribe for more famous grave tours. Thanks for watching!
We'll see you on the next one.
