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E Is for Edward: A Centennial Celebration of the Mischievous Mind of Edward Gorey
- GenresNonfictionArtBiography
384 pages, Hardcover
Published September 23, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 24, 2025
Edward Gorey fans rejoice! On this occasion of the 100th anniversary of his birth, this gorgeously sumptuous book by the curator of the Edward Gorey House delivers a career retrospective of one of the most eccentric and productive artists of 20th century America.
It discusses his passions: Music, dance [specifically the New York City Ballet under George Ballanchine], fabric art, and of course drawings - lots of lots of drawings. Also long fur coats. Also cats. You get the idea.
In addition to excerpts from his many (116!) books, there are examples of early draft art, postcards, lists of various things (another obsession, keeping lists), and a few photos of the man himself, before and after the full Edwardian beard that he cultivated. Also, many of the anagrams of his name that he used, often as credited in his book's title pages. (The curator's favorite, and probably mine as well, is Ogdred Weary.)
He also designed theatrical performances, especially a production of Dracula that ran on Broadway and finally gave him a comfortable income stream.
Gorey fans, you know who you are. Do NOT miss this book. For others - first go to your nearest library or independent bookstore and demand to see some Gorey books before you plunge into this massive tome, so you can see whether this is something that would appeal to you. If it does....welcome to Gorey country. There's nothing like it.
It discusses his passions: Music, dance [specifically the New York City Ballet under George Ballanchine], fabric art, and of course drawings - lots of lots of drawings. Also long fur coats. Also cats. You get the idea.
In addition to excerpts from his many (116!) books, there are examples of early draft art, postcards, lists of various things (another obsession, keeping lists), and a few photos of the man himself, before and after the full Edwardian beard that he cultivated. Also, many of the anagrams of his name that he used, often as credited in his book's title pages. (The curator's favorite, and probably mine as well, is Ogdred Weary.)
He also designed theatrical performances, especially a production of Dracula that ran on Broadway and finally gave him a comfortable income stream.
Gorey fans, you know who you are. Do NOT miss this book. For others - first go to your nearest library or independent bookstore and demand to see some Gorey books before you plunge into this massive tome, so you can see whether this is something that would appeal to you. If it does....welcome to Gorey country. There's nothing like it.
September 22, 2025
A delightful, highly visual treat for any fan of the macabre, E Is for Edward revisits the works of Edward Gorey alongside items from the Archives. Arranged roughly thematically, the book showcases drafts and uncompleted works, diaries, an extensive trove of New York City Ballet ticket stubs; all while provided a rough biography and assumptions and possibilities for some answers that will never truly be known.
The eight chapters are thematic, aside from beginning as a biography would with Gorey's youth and formative events. Chapter is centered on animals, and the many way they are portrayed in the works of Gorey. Other chapters explore murders, the importance of discipline, unique language and the working life of Gorey.
It is largely focused on Gorey's own work, mostly his books, but some space is given to Gorey's stuffed creature creation, and set design, but little focused on his work as only an illustrator. Being able to pull from the Gorey archives gives a greater depth to Gorey's life showing his hobbies and hinted at his work / life balance. Among the items is a multi decade of all the movies Gorey saw, as well as a list of all the records and later CDs he purchased.
A mostly fun and detailed tribute to the life and works of Edward Gorey.
Recommended to readers of Edward Gorey, fans of the PBS Masterpiece Mystery animated opening sequence or are looking for soft entries to the spooky season.
I received a free digital version of this book via NetGalley thanks to the publisher.
The eight chapters are thematic, aside from beginning as a biography would with Gorey's youth and formative events. Chapter is centered on animals, and the many way they are portrayed in the works of Gorey. Other chapters explore murders, the importance of discipline, unique language and the working life of Gorey.
It is largely focused on Gorey's own work, mostly his books, but some space is given to Gorey's stuffed creature creation, and set design, but little focused on his work as only an illustrator. Being able to pull from the Gorey archives gives a greater depth to Gorey's life showing his hobbies and hinted at his work / life balance. Among the items is a multi decade of all the movies Gorey saw, as well as a list of all the records and later CDs he purchased.
A mostly fun and detailed tribute to the life and works of Edward Gorey.
Recommended to readers of Edward Gorey, fans of the PBS Masterpiece Mystery animated opening sequence or are looking for soft entries to the spooky season.
I received a free digital version of this book via NetGalley thanks to the publisher.
July 18, 2025
My thanks to both NetGalley and Black Dog and Leventhal Publishers for an advance copy of this new look at an artist whose style immediately recognizable, a mixture of the past, a bit of darkness and snark, humor and violence, but one that continues to entertain even today.
I was sixteen and working in my first bookstore when I was first introduced to the works of Edward Gorey. I was a cartoon person, comics and newspaper strips, along with works from The New Yorker, that was the extent of my art knowledge. For odd there was Charles Adams, or Bernie Wrightson, or some European comics if I wanted to show off. One of my co-workers was an artist, and a very good one. We were discussing his portfolio, while we should have been working, and he mentioned casually that he was trying to find a style that was Edward Gorery-like. I nodded, probably because being male at sixteen one doesn't admit to not knowing anything . I think Bob knew this for he went dodging a few customers and came back to cash wrap with a small book. The Gashlycrumb Tinies was my gateway drug to the world of Edward Gorey, a mix of alphabet, children being murdered, and really beautiful art. I am still surprised my father never bought this for me as a child. My mother probably had something to do with that. I was drawn to the story, the violence, and the art again, different in so many ways, like the clip art books we sold of Victorian art, and yet I never saw a child on fire in any of those. I enjoyed the art, but didn't know much about the man, something this wonderful book has amended. And has made me want to read more. E Is for Edward: A Centennial Celebration of the Mischievous Mind of Edward Gorey by Gregory Hischak, Curator of the Edward Gorey House, is a look at the man and of course the art, looking at pieces once thought lost, book covers, ballet based pieces, and the works that made him famous.
Edward St. John Gorey was born 100 years ago in Chicago. At the rip old age of 18 months Gorey began to draw pictures and taught himself to read by the age of three. Gorey's great-grandmother was a greeting card designer, and Gorey said that his artistic talent must have come from her. Gorey seemed to be attracted to people who would later become famous, going to school with Charlton Heston, attending Harvard and sharing a room with the poet Frank O'Hara. Gorey was a self-taught artist taking only a semester of art school. Starting in the 1950's Gorey began to work for Doubleday Anchor Publishing in the Art Department, working on covers for a variety of books. Gorey also illustrated the books for children by John Bellairs, a series I loved when I found them in the early 80's. Also Gorey did the illustrations for a work by T. S Eliot, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. There is no idea how many illustrations Gorey did for Anchor, but some think it must be close to a thousand. Gorey also worked on his own projects, beginning to self-publish his works at first.
The book is very complete and really well written. One gets a good glimpse of the man's life, along with an understanding of how the works came about. The best is that the author spends much time on the art, looking at all the individual works, detailing their creation, and reception. Book covers works on ballet, plays, and of course paper projects. I was surprised that Gorey was still working up until his death in the early 2000s. There is such a feeling of the art coming from a different time and place, far in the past, not in the time of Y2K. The illustrations are really well done, representing the work and the artist well and in my case, leaving me with a need to acquire a lot more books.
A book for fans of the artist, as well as fans of sequential art, especially those that wish to make a career out of art. The way Gorey worked, the pictures, the ups and downs of his career have a lot to show and to teach. A wonderful book, really well designed and written.
I was sixteen and working in my first bookstore when I was first introduced to the works of Edward Gorey. I was a cartoon person, comics and newspaper strips, along with works from The New Yorker, that was the extent of my art knowledge. For odd there was Charles Adams, or Bernie Wrightson, or some European comics if I wanted to show off. One of my co-workers was an artist, and a very good one. We were discussing his portfolio, while we should have been working, and he mentioned casually that he was trying to find a style that was Edward Gorery-like. I nodded, probably because being male at sixteen one doesn't admit to not knowing anything . I think Bob knew this for he went dodging a few customers and came back to cash wrap with a small book. The Gashlycrumb Tinies was my gateway drug to the world of Edward Gorey, a mix of alphabet, children being murdered, and really beautiful art. I am still surprised my father never bought this for me as a child. My mother probably had something to do with that. I was drawn to the story, the violence, and the art again, different in so many ways, like the clip art books we sold of Victorian art, and yet I never saw a child on fire in any of those. I enjoyed the art, but didn't know much about the man, something this wonderful book has amended. And has made me want to read more. E Is for Edward: A Centennial Celebration of the Mischievous Mind of Edward Gorey by Gregory Hischak, Curator of the Edward Gorey House, is a look at the man and of course the art, looking at pieces once thought lost, book covers, ballet based pieces, and the works that made him famous.
Edward St. John Gorey was born 100 years ago in Chicago. At the rip old age of 18 months Gorey began to draw pictures and taught himself to read by the age of three. Gorey's great-grandmother was a greeting card designer, and Gorey said that his artistic talent must have come from her. Gorey seemed to be attracted to people who would later become famous, going to school with Charlton Heston, attending Harvard and sharing a room with the poet Frank O'Hara. Gorey was a self-taught artist taking only a semester of art school. Starting in the 1950's Gorey began to work for Doubleday Anchor Publishing in the Art Department, working on covers for a variety of books. Gorey also illustrated the books for children by John Bellairs, a series I loved when I found them in the early 80's. Also Gorey did the illustrations for a work by T. S Eliot, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. There is no idea how many illustrations Gorey did for Anchor, but some think it must be close to a thousand. Gorey also worked on his own projects, beginning to self-publish his works at first.
The book is very complete and really well written. One gets a good glimpse of the man's life, along with an understanding of how the works came about. The best is that the author spends much time on the art, looking at all the individual works, detailing their creation, and reception. Book covers works on ballet, plays, and of course paper projects. I was surprised that Gorey was still working up until his death in the early 2000s. There is such a feeling of the art coming from a different time and place, far in the past, not in the time of Y2K. The illustrations are really well done, representing the work and the artist well and in my case, leaving me with a need to acquire a lot more books.
A book for fans of the artist, as well as fans of sequential art, especially those that wish to make a career out of art. The way Gorey worked, the pictures, the ups and downs of his career have a lot to show and to teach. A wonderful book, really well designed and written.
November 16, 2025
A wonderful way into the world of Edward Gorey, one of the wackiest and most inventive creators of the last century. I did have my doubts when it seemed to admit this was not a full biography, and that it was probably museum wall-notes writ up as a book, based on temporary displays in his old home. But despite the piece being split into thematic sections as befit a rotating selection of exhibitions, it's still well worth investigating.
We start with his children – meaning those juvenile characters he routinely killed off, as if to suggest in very Victorian fashion that the species was really not worth the effort of any concern. Then it's to animals, from Old Possum's Cats to his own creations, which acts as a diversion before we start killing off adults. The dance in his work (he was an avid ballet-goer) and fashion and fabrics both get good looks. Finally we have presentations of some of his more regular motifs, his quirk for lists, and his outright side-steps into nonsense writing and surrealism. There would be no place on a gallery display for the last chapter, summarising what cannot be shown of his unpublished works and his legacy.
It's not perfect – some of the writing seems to have tried too hard (this author on the nature of cats, and discussing the Figbash animal character), and the chapter on murder mysteries jumps needlessly from this work to that and back again as if trying to prove we can't follow these unsolvable crimes. But it's a great look at many books you'd have to endeavour to buy (and pay moderately richly for) – and even though some of them are exceedingly brief, and end in a death that we're told about here, it doesn't seem that any get too many spoilers on these pages.
Instead what we do gain is an appreciation for Gorey (the book routinely uses just his first name, or even its diminutive, but I can't be that chatty). Here is someone who must have put many hours into his works, with tiny details in cross-hatching making many of his pen works so intricate and moody. The focus is on the creepy and fatal and daft and unseemly, and certainly more blancmange than many a fellow author, but there are also unlikely friendships, some awfully-drawn elephants, and a dog saving a baby with the help of an umbrella.
A welter of riches, then, which these pages delightfully spread our way. This is great fun, and shares a lot of its qualities with its subject, earning a strong four stars with it.
We start with his children – meaning those juvenile characters he routinely killed off, as if to suggest in very Victorian fashion that the species was really not worth the effort of any concern. Then it's to animals, from Old Possum's Cats to his own creations, which acts as a diversion before we start killing off adults. The dance in his work (he was an avid ballet-goer) and fashion and fabrics both get good looks. Finally we have presentations of some of his more regular motifs, his quirk for lists, and his outright side-steps into nonsense writing and surrealism. There would be no place on a gallery display for the last chapter, summarising what cannot be shown of his unpublished works and his legacy.
It's not perfect – some of the writing seems to have tried too hard (this author on the nature of cats, and discussing the Figbash animal character), and the chapter on murder mysteries jumps needlessly from this work to that and back again as if trying to prove we can't follow these unsolvable crimes. But it's a great look at many books you'd have to endeavour to buy (and pay moderately richly for) – and even though some of them are exceedingly brief, and end in a death that we're told about here, it doesn't seem that any get too many spoilers on these pages.
Instead what we do gain is an appreciation for Gorey (the book routinely uses just his first name, or even its diminutive, but I can't be that chatty). Here is someone who must have put many hours into his works, with tiny details in cross-hatching making many of his pen works so intricate and moody. The focus is on the creepy and fatal and daft and unseemly, and certainly more blancmange than many a fellow author, but there are also unlikely friendships, some awfully-drawn elephants, and a dog saving a baby with the help of an umbrella.
A welter of riches, then, which these pages delightfully spread our way. This is great fun, and shares a lot of its qualities with its subject, earning a strong four stars with it.
October 4, 2025
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
E Is for Edward is a beautifully illustrated and intricately written biography/centennial celebration of Edward Gorey written by and produced under the auspices of the Gorey Charitable Trust. Released 23rd Sept 2025 by Hachette on their Black Dog & Leventhal imprint, it's 384 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
Part Edwardian sensibility, but with a definite ascerbic *twist* of the macabre, Gorey has always been wonderfully, undeniably, out of step with the mundane world. This is a comprehensive, encyclopedic, beautifully curated collection of his illustrations, his work as a playwright, author, set designer, and oddball. Apart from starting with Gorey's early life, the biographical bits are arranged quite whimsically, and can be sampled non-consecutively at whim without losing much context.
It's lavishly illustrated and is a treat to flip through. The authors have included a number of archival photos and facsimile documents as well as page after page of Gorey's sketches and drawings.
Five stars. Wonderful reference for fans of the artist as well as for readers interested in the period.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
E Is for Edward is a beautifully illustrated and intricately written biography/centennial celebration of Edward Gorey written by and produced under the auspices of the Gorey Charitable Trust. Released 23rd Sept 2025 by Hachette on their Black Dog & Leventhal imprint, it's 384 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
Part Edwardian sensibility, but with a definite ascerbic *twist* of the macabre, Gorey has always been wonderfully, undeniably, out of step with the mundane world. This is a comprehensive, encyclopedic, beautifully curated collection of his illustrations, his work as a playwright, author, set designer, and oddball. Apart from starting with Gorey's early life, the biographical bits are arranged quite whimsically, and can be sampled non-consecutively at whim without losing much context.
It's lavishly illustrated and is a treat to flip through. The authors have included a number of archival photos and facsimile documents as well as page after page of Gorey's sketches and drawings.
Five stars. Wonderful reference for fans of the artist as well as for readers interested in the period.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
November 10, 2025
This lush retrospective look at Edward Gorey's career is a thing to savor. Each chapter covers an important aspect of Gorey's iconography, exploring recurring influences and outputs. The writing is thoughtful and even for an experienced Gorey reader, offers up illumination; references to biblical attributions, a wide variety of literary and personal touchstones, and even the small tidbit that Gorey wrote over 1000 Q.R.V. couplets are SO satisfying. Hischak's access to the Gorey House's archives gives this book a depth and complexity that I was looking for.
My one quibble, and this is not unique to this book, is Edward Gorey's work is so opaque that interpreters of that work often feel compelled to 'make' something out of it, and their personal musings come into it, in ways that clash with the mystery of the thing. I found that these musings often often didn't jibe with my experience, and I felt as if the author didn't always respect Gorey's desires to let the work speak for itself. But it's a quibble, as I say, and this book is a rich and rewarding read.
My one quibble, and this is not unique to this book, is Edward Gorey's work is so opaque that interpreters of that work often feel compelled to 'make' something out of it, and their personal musings come into it, in ways that clash with the mystery of the thing. I found that these musings often often didn't jibe with my experience, and I felt as if the author didn't always respect Gorey's desires to let the work speak for itself. But it's a quibble, as I say, and this book is a rich and rewarding read.
October 26, 2025
What an absolutely fascinating 300 pages of assorted drawings, commentary, and celebrations of one of the 20th century’s most unique and inimitable authors.
Although there are minor concerns regarding the lack of page numbers on the illustrated or photograph pages, the book is overall well-designed. Sizably appropriate for coffee tables, bedsides, and other well-structured nooks or crannies to sustain this perusable tome time and time again.
Author and Gorey House curator Gregory Hischak has one of my favorite voices in modern museum curation and historical recording writing: he patiently stitches together citations and analysis of Gorey in a tone paying homage without proving inimical to Gorey’s style while simultaneously championing the incredible and varied abundance of Gorey’s work and subsequent legacy.
If you have not been to visit the Edward Gorey house, you must go.
Although there are minor concerns regarding the lack of page numbers on the illustrated or photograph pages, the book is overall well-designed. Sizably appropriate for coffee tables, bedsides, and other well-structured nooks or crannies to sustain this perusable tome time and time again.
Author and Gorey House curator Gregory Hischak has one of my favorite voices in modern museum curation and historical recording writing: he patiently stitches together citations and analysis of Gorey in a tone paying homage without proving inimical to Gorey’s style while simultaneously championing the incredible and varied abundance of Gorey’s work and subsequent legacy.
If you have not been to visit the Edward Gorey house, you must go.
October 1, 2025
I was first introduced to the artwork of Edward Gorey as a child in the 70’s and 80’s and always loved the Victorian and Edwardian style of his drawings, often poring admiringly over the images.
A wonderful tribute to the fabulous Edward Gorey, I loved looking through the pictures I grew up loving as well as reading the text. While I’ve enjoyed his art for decades, I was so thankful to be given the opportunity to learn more about him in this book.
With many pre-drawings among his illustrations and book covers I would recommend this to fans of Gorey, the goth in your life, and artists. This is a book I’ll be getting for my home.
Thank you to Black Dog & Leventhal and NetGalley for the PDF
A wonderful tribute to the fabulous Edward Gorey, I loved looking through the pictures I grew up loving as well as reading the text. While I’ve enjoyed his art for decades, I was so thankful to be given the opportunity to learn more about him in this book.
With many pre-drawings among his illustrations and book covers I would recommend this to fans of Gorey, the goth in your life, and artists. This is a book I’ll be getting for my home.
Thank you to Black Dog & Leventhal and NetGalley for the PDF
September 22, 2025
This book is a great celebration of Edward Gorey. Focusing on the breadth of his art throughout his life, this book showcases how far reaching, and full of nonsense Gorey was from start to finish. It gives insight into how the world around him impacted his art, as well as, how uncompressing he was with his style and viewpoint. E is for Edward is filled with both the images you know, and tons pulled from the achieves. Ultimately this is a must have for any Edward Gorey fan.
*I received a copy of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
*I received a copy of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 1, 2025
This is the ULTIMATE must-have for Edward Gorey fans.
This book is FILLED with Gorey's art, stories and cartoon panels. While Gorey didn't do art in colour this book is bursting with colour pages as well as colour images of book covers and even some old photos of Gorey himself.
The organization of this book is so thoughtful and flows really well.
I also love how they put Gorey's art and stories into context with other things that were popular or happening at the time. For example the book talks about the popularity of cautionary tales and how Gorey was inspired by those for his satire. It also brings up other contemporary's of Gorey's including Lewis Carroll and Hilaire Belloc, as well as influences from Virginia Woolf and Agatha Christie.
This book helped me put into words what I always found so off-putting about Gorey's stories. I was introduced to them as a child, and they do present themselves as children's stories, but there were many of his works that were actually meant as satire or for adult audiences, which eventually over time made their way to the children's section.
How can something being a children's book and horror at the same time? And yet, Gorey has managed to take the parts of childhood that are uncomfortable and really explore them in depth. Like the fear of losing a parent, of being alone, of not understanding why something is happening and yet being powerless to change it.
I learned so much from this book and will definitely be using it as a resource in the future.
This book is FILLED with Gorey's art, stories and cartoon panels. While Gorey didn't do art in colour this book is bursting with colour pages as well as colour images of book covers and even some old photos of Gorey himself.
The organization of this book is so thoughtful and flows really well.
I also love how they put Gorey's art and stories into context with other things that were popular or happening at the time. For example the book talks about the popularity of cautionary tales and how Gorey was inspired by those for his satire. It also brings up other contemporary's of Gorey's including Lewis Carroll and Hilaire Belloc, as well as influences from Virginia Woolf and Agatha Christie.
This book helped me put into words what I always found so off-putting about Gorey's stories. I was introduced to them as a child, and they do present themselves as children's stories, but there were many of his works that were actually meant as satire or for adult audiences, which eventually over time made their way to the children's section.
How can something being a children's book and horror at the same time? And yet, Gorey has managed to take the parts of childhood that are uncomfortable and really explore them in depth. Like the fear of losing a parent, of being alone, of not understanding why something is happening and yet being powerless to change it.
I learned so much from this book and will definitely be using it as a resource in the future.
November 25, 2025
Of course I read this beautiful and enormous book cover to cover! Delightfully written, the author shared thoughtful insights into Gorey's unique combination of obsessions and how they informed his prodigious artistic output.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews