How about a world of fantasy, macabre and just a little Gorey…Edward Gorey. His birthday is February 22, 1925. Edward Gorey had a very unusual look at life, and his illustrated books showcase a twisted sense of humor. I have a good collection of Gorey, including ‘the Gashlycrumb Tinies’ an alphabet book of 26 children who “Attain their Dreadful demises”. A few special books are first editions:
‘The Dwindling Party’ 1982, a first rate pop up book. The Macfizzit family disappearing one by one.
‘The Tunnel Calamity’ 1984, a book that pulls open like a slinky. You peer through the hole in the front of book for a three dimensional view with an “unexpected appearance of the Uluus-thought to be extinct for over 100 years”
And ‘Son of the Martini Cookbook’ 1967. This cookbook that Gorey illustrated, has “recipes perfectly balanced to the alcoholic content of the human frame. Therefore we have no recipes geared to less than three martinis.” They progress from there, “trying to avoid knives, graters, or choppers as much as possible.” This book just called out to me years ago when walking in a small used bookstore in Melbourne Florida, long before the internet. Cheers.
These three books are collections, each have 15 stories that Gorey had published separately. He was famous for little softbound books. If you want to get a handle of what his humor is, then pick up one of these. “Amphigorey” 1972; “Amphigorey, Too” 1975; “Amphigorey, Also” 1983. One story, on my wishlist of books to own separately (currently have in Amphigorey, Too) is “The Salt Herring” by Charles Cros. This is a centuries old nonsense poem that Edward Gorey illustrated. While it is nice to read “The Salt Herring in above book, I really want to see it by itself. The story is marvelous, and the ratio of printing and illustrations to the page itself, is nothing short of genius. To fully appreciate it, you must read the story in the small paperback version. Second wish list is that there are four collections books, I have three. I need to track down “Amphigory, Also”.
As well as writing his own books, Edward Gorey illustrated for a lot of other authors. He even did a cartoon introduction for Masterpiece Theater on PBS. I have a good bookshelf full of various Edward Gorey books. Many are collectable.
Even the book “Goreyography, A Divers Compendium of & Price Guide to the Works of Edward Gorey” by Henry Toledano, 1996, is hard to find. This book lists and describes all of Gorey’s work up to 1995. There are some book collectors that just collect Edward Gorey books and art.
I still look for bargains, or unusual Gorey books as I wander through used bookstores. The latest one I found is “The Curious Sofa, a pornographic work by Ogdred Weary” 1980, (pseudonym). While it is not pornographic at all, there is plenty of silly innuendo, and a sofa- “it was upholstered in scarlet velvet, and had nine legs and seven arms.”
Readings can be silly and fun, not just about history or biographies, or other serious matters. One needs to laugh to be healthy. I mean, seven days without a pun makes one weak…I have no shelf control.
Librarytomes 