Obituaries: The Last Word on Your Legacy

Speaking for the Dead

In this excerpt from his book 'Are They Dead Yet?', Sam Roberts explores the art and impact of obituaries. He reflects on how these final stories capture an individual's legacy and, in aggregate, reveal the values of an era. From Natalie Babbitt's cautionary tale about immortality to scathing paid notices that settle scores, Roberts examines the power and pitfalls of memorializing the dead, and how local journalism's decline threatens this vital record of community life.