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The Evil Garden
The Evil Garden
32 pages, Hardcover
First published October 15, 1997
1 person is currently reading
638 people want to read
About the author
Edward Gorey
485 books2,033 followersBorn in Chicago, Gorey came from a colourful family; his parents, Helen Dunham Garvey and Edward Lee Gorey, divorced in 1936 when he was 11, then remarried in 1952 when he was 27. One of his step-mothers was Corinna Mura, a cabaret singer who had a brief role in the classic film Casablanca. His father was briefly a journalist. Gorey's maternal great-grandmother, Helen St. John Garvey, was a popular 19th century greeting card writer/artist, from whom he claimed to have inherited his talents. He attended a variety of local grade schools and then the Francis W. Parker School. He spent 1944–1946 in the Army at Dugway Proving Ground in Utah, and then attended Harvard University from 1946 to 1950, where he studied French and roomed with future poet Frank O'Hara.
Although he would frequently state that his formal art training was "negligible", Gorey studied art for one semester at The School of The Art Institute of Chicago 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 and in some cases adding illustrations to the text. He has illustrated works as diverse as Dracula by Bram Stoker, The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells, and Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot. In later years he illustrated many children's books by John Bellairs, as well as books in several series begun by Bellairs and continued by other authors after his death.
Although he would frequently state that his formal art training was "negligible", Gorey studied art for one semester at The School of The Art Institute of Chicago 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 and in some cases adding illustrations to the text. He has illustrated works as diverse as Dracula by Bram Stoker, The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells, and Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot. In later years he illustrated many children's books by John Bellairs, as well as books in several series begun by Bellairs and continued by other authors after his death.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
January 20, 2019
This book really tickled me. It is back to Edward’s fine form. I laughed and laughed. I also love the introduction. He made his own verso and spoke of the “75th anniversary of the next to the next to the last time he threw himself out a window”. I lost it there.
A family finds a free garden to visit and they are excited until the garden begins to attack them. This is fairly benign and I read this to my niece and nephew. At first they were a bit confused and then the nephew begin to laugh and the niece was laughing and they loved this story. The niece gave it 4 stars and the nephew 5 stars and I had to read it again so we could laugh again, which I did.
A family finds a free garden to visit and they are excited until the garden begins to attack them. This is fairly benign and I read this to my niece and nephew. At first they were a bit confused and then the nephew begin to laugh and the niece was laughing and they loved this story. The niece gave it 4 stars and the nephew 5 stars and I had to read it again so we could laugh again, which I did.
October 1, 2019
This is the second book I’ve read by this author and it was even better than the first. Maybe that’s because this is an actual story rather than „just“ a funny way to describe the alphabet.
Once again, the book can be read by children - if you dare letting them read it. *evil grin*
We are following a family that goes to a garden one day as admission is free. But not only should you be suspicious of any such offer, things are also not always what they seem. Something this family soon discovers when plants and animals start „saying hello“. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Once again, a very macabre adventure, deliciously evil and wonderfully illustrated in the author’s signature style that can be seen in the examples above. The kind of humor might not be for everyone, but it definitely is spot on for me - especially for a chilly October read.
Once again, the book can be read by children - if you dare letting them read it. *evil grin*
We are following a family that goes to a garden one day as admission is free. But not only should you be suspicious of any such offer, things are also not always what they seem. Something this family soon discovers when plants and animals start „saying hello“. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Once again, a very macabre adventure, deliciously evil and wonderfully illustrated in the author’s signature style that can be seen in the examples above. The kind of humor might not be for everyone, but it definitely is spot on for me - especially for a chilly October read.
July 17, 2021
Purportedly a translation of a German work, Der Böse Garten, by Eduard Blütig. Of course "Blütig" translates into English as "gory." And the translator's name, Regera Dowdy, is an anagram of Edward Gorey …
A group of visitors enter the garden in question. One by one, they disappear, their presumed demises merely hinted at. There is a sense of gathering gloom and oppression. Gorey's drawings are surprisingly spare, with lots of white space. Of course darkness gradually creeps in and night falls …
The one image that always sticks with me from this book, is the one accompanying the line, "Some tiny creature, mad with wrath,/Is coming nearer on the path." The creature is indeed both tiny and wrathful. It's a lovely drawing.
Gorey's work always rates highly with me. I'm admittedly besotted with it. Highly, highly recommended!
A group of visitors enter the garden in question. One by one, they disappear, their presumed demises merely hinted at. There is a sense of gathering gloom and oppression. Gorey's drawings are surprisingly spare, with lots of white space. Of course darkness gradually creeps in and night falls …
The one image that always sticks with me from this book, is the one accompanying the line, "Some tiny creature, mad with wrath,/Is coming nearer on the path." The creature is indeed both tiny and wrathful. It's a lovely drawing.
Gorey's work always rates highly with me. I'm admittedly besotted with it. Highly, highly recommended!
December 28, 2019
The Evil Garden - Edward Gorey This is my jam: Rhymed couplets about visitors to an Evil Garden being picked off, one at a time, with circumspect yet detailed illustrations. This is exactly the kind of thing I love as a Christmas present. I also received an Edward Gorey calendar to hang up at work. I really hope light verse makes a comeback one day.In the spring I have been invited to come up and visit the Offspring at college and take her off to visit The Edward Gorey House museum. Other book-related tourist inducements: the Eric Carle museum, The Yiddish Book Center, Antonio's Pizza (from The Penderwicks!), the inflatable polar bear from Iver & Ellsworth, and numerous used book stores. Yes, it would be a very simple thing to lead me into a trap.Personal copy
December 18, 2021
Classic Gorey...
A delightful visit to the botanical gardens leads to death, homicide, moth mauling and bear attack, and the realisation that once entered within, there is no way out... ☠🗡🦋🐻🚫
A delightful visit to the botanical gardens leads to death, homicide, moth mauling and bear attack, and the realisation that once entered within, there is no way out... ☠🗡🦋🐻🚫
September 9, 2023
A family enters an evil garden and slowly all get picked apart by the giant bugs and other dangers.
October 23, 2025
The brilliance of Edward Gorey shines through in this little gem of a book! You never quite know what to expect when you open one of his books. Therein lies the magic!! Perfect October read to set the mood for spooky season. Love love love it!!
April 12, 2013
Is there anything by Gorey that isn't delicious? I read this to the 9yo at bedtime. She'd asked for a picture book; it came to hand.
The drawings are less cross-hatchy and more art nouveau, but as darkly delightful as ever.
The drawings are less cross-hatchy and more art nouveau, but as darkly delightful as ever.
November 26, 2017
I love that I haven't all of Edward Gorey's "children's" books so receiving them as gifts is always a pleasure.
Another ghastly demise book with a family visiting a deadly, evil garden.
LOVE! A perfect DOB gift from my sister, niece, and nephew.
Another ghastly demise book with a family visiting a deadly, evil garden.
LOVE! A perfect DOB gift from my sister, niece, and nephew.
February 17, 2013
There is a sound of falling tears;
It comes from nowhere to the ears.
Fall down or scream or rush about-
There's no way of getting out!
evil devil!
It comes from nowhere to the ears.
Fall down or scream or rush about-
There's no way of getting out!
evil devil!
May 16, 2023
gardens are so gothic, especially when they're evil.
how exciting! a lovely garden and admission is free!! but as the garden picks off each visitor, what's supposed to be a fun family outing turns into a nightmare. we love that.
how exciting! a lovely garden and admission is free!! but as the garden picks off each visitor, what's supposed to be a fun family outing turns into a nightmare. we love that.
May 9, 2025
Nothing good ever happens from entering a garden with that name.
March 31, 2021
Edward Gorey takes a road
The one of which you were forebode
To travel on when you were young
But a new day has sprung
You follow him
Cautious, intrigued, and on a whim
He beckons you, come and play
You are with him all day.
But now the road is dark and murky
You're feeling ill, unwell, less perky
The garden swallows you up whole
And Edward Gorey won't tell a soul.
The one of which you were forebode
To travel on when you were young
But a new day has sprung
You follow him
Cautious, intrigued, and on a whim
He beckons you, come and play
You are with him all day.
But now the road is dark and murky
You're feeling ill, unwell, less perky
The garden swallows you up whole
And Edward Gorey won't tell a soul.
May 29, 2017
Delightfully deranged.
June 20, 2017
Read in Amphigorey Too, wanted to separately rate the story.
February 20, 2023
I had one more unread Edward Gorey book sitting around from last time I visited the museum, and as I was procrastinating on reading something heavier, I picked up The Evil Garden. This one has a little more of a coherent story than some of the other Gorey’s I’ve read recently; in it, a nice-seeming family visits the titular evil garden, and amusingly bad things happen, like a big swarm of bugs carrying off the baby. It’s very cute.
Originally posted at There is no way of getting out.
Originally posted at There is no way of getting out.
July 10, 2023
"Qué elegancia, qué alegría, una tarde soñada...:
September 12, 2025
I have a shrine for Edward Gorey.
November 2, 2025
a cute little short story <3 reads it in the gardens 10/10 experience
October 15, 2024
Short and spooky. I feel I could analyze this and the moral lessons provided, as this is considered a children's Gothic poetry story . Love the illustrations and it's the perfect spooky read for the season!
December 3, 2015
On the text:
Just to set the record straight, I LOVE Edward Gorey! His art and text are a touch spooky, a touch funny and totally off- the-wall! The Evil Garden is nominally for children (as are most of his books) but find me an adult who won't enjoy it too. As far as I'm concerned it's a classic!
The story starts with Free Admission(!) to a lovely garden for a dapper Edwardian family. What a lovely treat, eh? Or maybe not.... There is that remnant of a human foot peeking from under a large boulder.
And as the story progresses... insects large enough to carry off a family member or two, an uncle-squeezing boa constrictor, an aunt-eating plant, quicksand that swallows a dear nanny, Such dire happenings!
The absurd, fantastic and presumably deadly doings look as if they provoke at most,, an "oh my" or "dear me" from the various family members. Gorey's illustrations and his verse are the very definition of deadpan humor. I adore it.
It amuses me to imagine The Eagles using the 1965 edition of this title as the inspiration for the last lines in their 1977 Hotel California...
"You can checkout any time you like,
But you can never leave!"
On the edition:
Pomegranate did a very nice job on this re-issue. Sturdy hardcover with dustjacket and illustrated endpapers. One couplet per page is matched with a full page illustration. A keeper!
[Disclaimer. Book received as an Advance Reading Copy in exchange for an honest book review]
Just to set the record straight, I LOVE Edward Gorey! His art and text are a touch spooky, a touch funny and totally off- the-wall! The Evil Garden is nominally for children (as are most of his books) but find me an adult who won't enjoy it too. As far as I'm concerned it's a classic!
The story starts with Free Admission(!) to a lovely garden for a dapper Edwardian family. What a lovely treat, eh? Or maybe not.... There is that remnant of a human foot peeking from under a large boulder.
And as the story progresses... insects large enough to carry off a family member or two, an uncle-squeezing boa constrictor, an aunt-eating plant, quicksand that swallows a dear nanny, Such dire happenings!
The absurd, fantastic and presumably deadly doings look as if they provoke at most,, an "oh my" or "dear me" from the various family members. Gorey's illustrations and his verse are the very definition of deadpan humor. I adore it.
It amuses me to imagine The Eagles using the 1965 edition of this title as the inspiration for the last lines in their 1977 Hotel California...
"You can checkout any time you like,
But you can never leave!"
On the edition:
Pomegranate did a very nice job on this re-issue. Sturdy hardcover with dustjacket and illustrated endpapers. One couplet per page is matched with a full page illustration. A keeper!
[Disclaimer. Book received as an Advance Reading Copy in exchange for an honest book review]
March 12, 2015
A while back, I mentioned The Awdrey-Gore Legacy, an Edward Gorey book republished by Pomegranate that I had received as an Early Review book from LibraryThing. Now, again as an Early Review book, I received The Evil Garden, another fascinating short work by the famed author/illustrator. In this, a happy extended family enters The Evil Garden because admission is free and they think they'll have a fine time among all the beautiful and exotic plants. Unknown to them, the garden is truly evil, and one by one they are taken off by huge bugs, carnivorous plants, ferocious guardian bears and wicked snakes, among other frights. Will anyone get out alive???? Well, any reader of Gorey will know the answer to that, so I won't mention it. As before, the quality of the book production is exquisite, beautiful thick paper, thread-bound pages and high-quality print; the black-and-white illustrations are spare but dense with the contrast of the family members drawn in outline while the plants are detailed in crosshatch density; and the story itself is typical Gorey ghoulish fun. If you're a fan of his work, check out the Pomegranate reprints, they are truly worthy of your attention; and even if you're not a fan, seeing this book might just turn you into one. Recommended!
March 18, 2011
In typical understated Gorey fashion, we have the story of a family who ventures into a free garden looking for an afternoon's adventure, only to find that everything has a price. The illustrations are wonderful and minimalist and the characters as unique and odd as any Gorey fan would expect.
Pomegranate continues to impress with their masterful production values. Their Gorey books are beautiful objects, full of mystery and delight and morbid humor. I for one, wouldn't have it any other way.
Pomegranate continues to impress with their masterful production values. Their Gorey books are beautiful objects, full of mystery and delight and morbid humor. I for one, wouldn't have it any other way.
November 14, 2020
The art here is sparser than Gorey's usual, with thin illustrations on white progressing to inky black panels. The structure and tone is familiar, a vaguely-period banality meeting the bizarre and morbid. It's not-unpleasantly samey--samey, that is, within in the context of Gorey, who is a reliable delight. And sometimes what makes a particular Gorey work is just that it appeals to one's personal aesthetic, and I sure am a sucker for an overgrown and weirdly malicious garden.
July 13, 2015
A group of people step into the titular Evil Garden, from which "Fall down, or scream, or rush about - There is no way of getting out". While it's all fairly standard-issue Edward Gorey, this story in particular reminds me of Roald Dahl's playful cruelty and how he likes picking off his characters one by one.
May 21, 2012
With a title like this you know the story won't be a happy one. Made for kids but not really, I compare this book to a poor man's Tim Burton or Maurice Sendak work. Strange, cramped black and white drawings kept me reading until the very end.
March 12, 2017
A very quick yet eerie read. Gorey truly was one of the fine masters of noir; his drawings simple while maintaining an avant-garde and gothic feel. Highly recommended as a coffee table book as well as for the fans of Gorey. It only costed $5.
July 1, 2011
There is a sound of falling tears;
It comes from nowhere to the ears.
It comes from nowhere to the ears.
October 28, 2012
creepy and fun right before Halloween!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews