Edward Gorey

Edward St. John Gorey (February 22, 1925–April 15, 2000) was an artist noted for his wry, macabre pen and ink drawings. Born in Chicago, he attended a variety of local grade schools and then the Francis W. Parker School, spent 1944–1946 in the Army at Dugway Proving Ground, and then attended Harvard University from 1946 to 1950 where he studied French and roomed with future poet Frank O'Hara.

Related Topics:
February 22 - 1925 - April 15 - 2000 - Artist - Chicago - Francis W. Parker School - 1946 - Army - Dugway Proving Ground - Harvard University - 1950 - French - Frank O'Hara

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Although he would frequently state that his formal art training was "negligible", Gorey studied art for one semester at the Chicago Art Institute in 1943 eventually becoming a professional illustrator. From 1953 to 1960 he lived in New York City and worked for the Art Department of Doubleday Anchor, illustrating book covers. His first work, The Unstrung Harp, was published in 1953. He also published under pen names such as Ogdred Weary, an anagram of his first and last names.

Related Topics:
Chicago Art Institute - 1943 - 1953 - 1960 - New York City - Doubleday - Anagram

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Gorey's books of illustrated stories and drawings, with their constantly ominous air in Victorian and Edwardian settings, had a cult following, but Gorey became well known through his animated introduction to the PBS series Mystery! in 1980 and his designs for the 1977 Broadway production of Dracula, for which he won the Tony Award for Best Costume Design and was also nominated for Best Scenic Design.

Related Topics:
Victorian - Edwardian - PBS - Mystery! - 1980 - 1977 - Broadway - Dracula - Tony Award

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In later years, Gorey lived year-round in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod, where he wrote and directed numerous evening-length entertainments, often featuring his own papier-mâché puppets, in an ensemble known as La Theatricule Stoique. His major theatrical work was the libretto for an "Opera Seria for Handpuppets", The White Canoe, to a score by the composer Daniel James Wolf. Based on the Lady of the Lake legend, the opera premiered posthumously. On August 13, 1987, his play "Lost Shoelaces" premiered in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

Related Topics:
Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts - Cape Cod - Papier-mâché - Libretto - Daniel James Wolf - Lady of the Lake - 1987 - Woods Hole, Massachusetts

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He was noted for his fondness for ballet (for many years, he religiously attended all performances of the New York City Ballet) and cats, of which he had many. Both figure prominently in his work. His knowledge of literature and films was unusually extensive, and in his interviews, he names as some of his favorite artists Jane Austen, Francis Bacon, George Balanchine, Balthus, Louis Feuillade, Ronald Firbank, Lady Murasaki Shikibu, Robert Musil, Yasujiro Ozu, Anthony Trollope, and Vermeer.

Related Topics:
Ballet - New York City Ballet - Cat - Jane Austen - Francis Bacon - George Balanchine - Balthus - Louis Feuillade - Ronald Firbank - Murasaki Shikibu - Robert Musil - Yasujiro Ozu - Anthony Trollope - Vermeer

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From 1996 to his death in April 2000, the normally reclusive illustrator was the subject of a documentary directed by Christopher Seufert. This has yet to be released. His Cape Cod house is called Elephant House and now serves as a gallery and museum of sorts.

Related Topics:
1996 - 2000 - Documentary - Directed - Christopher Seufert - Elephant House

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He wrote more than 100 books including:

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• The Unstrung Harp, 1953
• The Doubtful Guest, 1957
• The Object-Lesson, 1958
• The Curious Sofa: a Pornographic Tale by Ogdred Weary, 1961
• The Hapless Child, 1961
• The Willowdale Handcar: or, the Return of the Black Doll, 1962
• The Beastly Baby, 1962
• The Gashlycrumb Tinies, 1963
• The Insect God, 1963
• The West Wing, 1963
• The Gilded Bat, 1967
• The Epiplectic Bicycle, 1969
• The Iron Tonic: or, a Winter Afternoon in Lonely Valley 1969
• The Awdrey-Gore Legacy, 1972
• The Glorious Nosebleed, 1975
• Gorey Stories, 1983
• The Haunted Tea Cosy, 1998
• The Headless Bust: A Melancholy Meditation for the False Millennium, 1999
• The Other Statue, 2001

Many of Gorey's works were published obscurely and are hard to find or expensive. However, the following four omnibus editions collect together much of his material. Because his original books are rather short, these may contain as many as 15 or more in each volume.

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• Amphigorey 1972 (ISBN 0399504338) - contains The Unstrung Harp, The Listing Attic, The Doubtful Guest, The Object-Lesson, The Bug Book, The Fatal Lozenge, The Hapless Child, The Curious Sofa, The Willowdale Handcar, The Gashlycrumb Tinies, The Insect God, The West Wing, The Wuggly Ump, The Sinking Spell, and The Remembered Visit
• Amphigorey Too, 1975 (ISBN 0399504206)
• Amphigorey Also, 1983 (ISBN 0156056720)
• Amphigorey Again, 2004 (ISBN 0151011079)

He also illustrated 60 other works by other authors, such as Samuel Beckett, Edward Lear, John Bellairs, and John Ciardi.

Related Topics:
Samuel Beckett - Edward Lear - John Bellairs - John Ciardi

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