E Is for Edward: A Centennial Celebration of the Mischievous Mind of Edward Gorey

(Hardback)

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Description

A sweeping, entertaining, and gorgeously produced celebration of beloved American writer, artist, and illustrator Edward Gorey on his 100th birthday. Issued by the Edward Gorey Charitable Trust and produced in creative partnership with The Edward Gorey House.

For more than seven decades Edward Gorey's work has delighted fans of all ages and inspired artists across multiple disciplines. His collection of self-authored books, which comprises more than 100 volumes including The Gashlycrumb Tinies and The Doubtful Guest, remains a profoundly radical and uncompromised body of work.Viewed either separately or in their entirety, these works represent one of the most unique voices in American arts and letters.

E Is for Edward celebrates Edward Gorey in his capacity author, illustrator, humorist, playwright, printmaker, fabric artist, and stage designer and the vast array of material he created between 1953 and his death in 2000. Curated by Gregory Hischak, Director of The Edward Gorey House, the book is organized by major themes and topics that characterize Gorey's work including hapless children, mutant menageries, the murder mystery, the ballet, sartorial elegance, stylized decor, and the many recurring motifs and latent symbolism that underlie these subjects. In addition, Hischak offers a look into the pages of the dozens of rarely-viewed notebooks kept by Gorey throughout his lifetime, revealing yet another fascinating layer of his prodigious creative output.

Illustrated with hundreds of original pieces of art and archival material, E Is for Edward is a must-have book for every fan and the most comprehensive, in-depth exploration of Gorey's art in more than a decade.

Reviews

"E Is for Edward is an absolute goldmine of exquisite Gorey artwork, fascinating ephemera, and thoughtful commentary that will not only enchant my fellow Gorey-obsessives, but also spirit lucky new readers away to his peculiar world."--Tom Gauld
"E Is for Edward is an absolute gift, an entirely unique and lavishly wondrous compendium devoted to the multifarious mind of Edward Gorey."
--Patti Smith
"At long last, an encyclopedic and precise explanation for the truly unfathomable universe of an inexplicable artist." --Daniel Handler, aka Lemony Snicket
"Edward Gorey has inspired generations of curious adults and odd children (including me), not only in his meticulous craft and macabre imagination but also in his peerless practice of the art of being wholly and unapologetically himself. E Is for Edward maps with insight, affection, and humor the singularly strange world of Gorey. Here there definitely be monsters, but this wonderful book also conjures the curious, sensitive, inspiring human who created it all."
--John Hodgman

Author Bio

The Edward Gorey Charitable Trust was created by Edward Gorey in his will, designating it as the sole owner of his intellectual property and charging it to benefit organizations "whose primary purpose is the welfare of animals." The Trust pursues its mission by licensing Mr. Gorey's intellectual property, lending his work to museums and other exhibitors, and issuing grants for animal rescue, care, and conservation. In 2019, the Trust began new efforts to organize Mr. Gorey's archive for the use of researchers and educators and to expand the reach of his work through collaborations with artists, designers, non-profit organizations, and others.

Gregory Hischak is a playwright, poet, and performer based in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts. He has curated and designed exhibits at The Edward Gorey House, which serves to preserve Gorey's life and legacy, since 2014, and been its Director since 2020.