Edward Gorey

Born February 22nd 1925, passed April 15th, 2000

Education: Art Institute of Chicago for one semester, Harvard Graduated 1950

From 1953 to 1960, he lived in Manhattan and worked for the Art Department of Doubleday Anchor, illustrating book covers and in some cases, adding illustrations to the text. He illustrated works as diverse as Bram Stoker\'s Dracula, H. G. Wells\' The War of the Worlds, and T. S. Eliot\'s Old Possum\'s Book of Practical Cats. In later years he produced cover illustrations and interior artwork for many children\'s books by John Bellairs, as well as books begun by Bellairs and continued by Brad Strickland after Bellairs\' death.

His first independent work, The Unstrung Harp, was published in 1953. He also published under various pen names, some of which were anagrams of his first and last names, such as Ogdred Weary, Dogear Wryde, Ms. Regera Dowdy, and dozens more. His books also feature the names Eduard Blutig (\"Edward Gory\"), a German language pun on his own name, and O. Müde (German for O. Weary).

The New York Times credits bookstore owner Andreas Brown and his store, the Gotham Book Mart, with launching Gorey\'s career: \"it became the central clearing house for Mr. Gorey, presenting exhibitions of his work in the store\'s gallery and eventually turning him into an international celebrity.\"

Gorey\'s illustrated (and sometimes wordless) books, with their vaguely ominous air and ostensibly Victorian and Edwardian settings, have long had a cult following. He made a notable impact of the world of theater with his designs for the 1977 Broadway revival of Dracula, for which he won the Tony Award for Best Costume Design and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Scenic Design. In 1980, Gorey became particularly well known for his animated introduction to the PBS series Mystery! In the introduction of each Mystery! episode, host Vincent Price would welcome viewers to \"Gorey Mansion\".

website http://www.edwardgoreyhouse.org/

Edward Gorey History of American Illustration