I was just on a Hubski call, and was stunned to find out that no one in the crew had read Edward Gorey. Thanks to the thenewgreen who found this brainpickings post.
I've always been more inclined to the work of his alter-ego, Ogdred Weary. Are you familiar with The Curious Sofa?
I am an absolute fanboy of Edward Gorey. I love all of his work, have all the Amphigorey collections at home, have a version of T.S. Eliot's Odd Possum's Book of Practical Cats illustrated by him, a collection of his favorite horror stories illustrated by him called The Haunted Looking Glass, and somewhere in the recesses of my mind, I know I have something signed by him. That said, my absolute favorite thing ever written and drawn by him is undoubtedly The Inanimate Tragedy, and absurdly surrealist story with inanimate objects such as pins and buttons making social commentary in his unique style of storytelling. There's something about it that's so striking that. If you can find a copy of Amphigorey Too, definitely pick it up.
These are absolutely fantastic. Thank you very much for the introduction. Aside from poor Kate and a few others, almost all of them show images of impending doom and aren't themselves violent images. They're beautiful, creepily innocent and full of villainy. I love it.
This book looks amazing. I'm going to purchase it for my niece like, right this second (she's only 18 months, but I don't have to give it to her right away; really I want it for myself). My mom, a retired elementary school teacher, used to always have her kids make alphabet books about a subject they liked. It was their big project every year, and something she really took a lot of pride in. I think she'll get a big kick out of this, too.
Poor Neville. And a bummer for Winnie. Thanks for the beautiful imagery mk!
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I first stumbled across this a long time ago, and it's one of those artistic and literary treasures in the macabre I seem to always forget about, and get a wave of goodness seeing it all over again. I think I know what my nieces are getting for Xmas this year! (Ok, so my sister will get it, I don't need the guilt of causing adolescent nightmares/therapy sessions on my back).