The Graveyard Book

Article written by Ebuka Igbokwe

Bachelor's degree from Nnamdi Azikiwe University.

‘The Graveyard Book’ by Neil Gaiman is a coming-of-age fantasy with gothic elements. It tells of Nobody Owens, a baby who takes refuge in a graveyard after escaping his parents’ murderer. He is raised by ghosts, a vampire, and a werewolf. The novel explores themes of identity, community, and friendship, making it a pleasure to read for both young and adult audiences. With its eerie and heart-warming blend, it stands out as a modern classic in the realm of fantasy literature.

Key Facts about The Graveyard Book

• Title: ‘The Graveyard Book’
• Published: 2008
• Literary Period: Contemporary
• Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
• Point of View: Third-Person
• Setting: England
• Climax: The Man Jack pursues Bod through the graveyard

Neil Gaiman and The Graveyard Book

Neil Gaiman got the idea for ‘The Graveyard Book’ while attending to his toddler riding a tricycle around a graveyard and seeing how comfortable he felt there. He thought of what it would be like to have a child raised in such a graveyard by ghosts. Gaiman began writing in 1985 but only completed and published the novel in 2008. In writing this novel, he is greatly influenced by and pays homage to Rudyard Kipling’s ‘The Jungle Book.’

Neil Gaiman was born in 1960 in the UK but emigrated to and settled in the United States in 1992. A prolific and versatile writer, Gaiman has written several collections of short stories, novels, children’s fiction, screenplays, and comic books. An early fascination with fantasy and other genres of speculative fiction, as well as comic books, is reflected in his works. He has mentioned Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and science fiction writer Robert Zelazny as literary influences.

‘The Graveyard Book’ features Bod, a toddler who miraculously escapes a killer and slips into a graveyard. He is adopted by ghosts and a vampire, the graveyard’s caretaker. The story follows his growing challenges, which include falling into the hands of irresponsible ghouls, facing up schoolyard bullies, and escaping a treacherous pawnbroker before his showdown with his nemesis, the killer who sought his life when he was a baby.

Books Related to The Graveyard Book

If you enjoyed ‘The GraveyardBook,’ you may also like these novels by Neil Gaiman.

• ‘Neverwhere‘—This dark and enchanting urban fantasy takes readers on a journey through the hidden and mysterious realms of London Below. Richard Mayhew, an ordinary man, helps a young woman named Door, who is severely wounded. She asks him to help her find someone who would get her to safety and away from her assailants. In carrying out this charge, he finds himself plunged into a world of danger and intrigue beneath the city’s surface, his life disappearing before his eyes. As Richard navigates the bizarre and fantastical landscape filled with strange characters and mythical creatures, he discovers secrets about himself and the city he thought he knew. ‘Neverwhere’ is a thrilling and immersive adventure that, per Gaiman’s tales, blurs the lines between reality and the supernatural.
• ‘Coraline‘—is a spellbinding and eerie tale that unfolds in a world just beyond our own. Coraline Jones is quickly bored with their new home when her family moves. She wanders through a door that opens into a house that mirrors her home but is inhabited by seemingly perfect versions of her parents. This version of parents, called Other Father and Other Mother, has button eyes. Curiosity quickly turns into horror as she finds that her real parents have vanished when she returns to the real world. Coraline must confront a sinister Other mother, determined to keep her in a twisted alternate reality to free her real parents. This modern fairy tale captivates readers of all ages with its dark charm and imaginative twists.

Other works by other authors exploring similar plots or themes include:

• ‘The Jungle Book’—This Rudyard Kipling classic is a collection of stories that transports readers into the heart of the Indian jungle. Mowgli, a young boy raised by wolves, braves the wild with the guidance of his foster family, including the wise panther Bagheera and the carefree bear Baloo. He has to learn to defeat Shere Khan, the Tiger, who wants to kill him, and must use his wits to escape the Bandar-log, the Monkey People, who capture him. As Mowgli encounters the jungle’s wonders and dangers, he learns valuable lessons about survival, friendship, and the delicate balance of nature. Kipling’s vivid prose and timeless themes make this book a beloved adventure enchanting generations with its rich storytelling and memorable characters.
• ‘The Castle of Otranto’— This novel by Horace Walpole is a seminal entry in gothic literature that tells the story of the ruler of Otranto, Prince Manfred, who seeks to secure his family line by arranging a marriage between his son, Conrad, and the beautiful Isabella. However, tragedy strikes on Conrad’s wedding day when a giant helmet mysteriously crushes him. Prince Manfred, driven by his obsession with maintaining his lineage, tries to force Isabella to marry him but she resists him. The appearance of a ghost foils his plan. It gives her a chance to escape, and this kicks off an adventure featuring the hallmarks of gothic literature: a romantic web of dark secrets, supernatural phenomena, and a cursed castle.

The Lasting Impact of The Graveyard Book