One Hundred Gorey Years

Saturday, February 22nd would have been the 100th birthday of one of my favorite nutters, Edward Gorey. Also known as Ogdred Weary, and E.G. Deadworry, and Dogear Wryde, and Ms. Regera Dowdy, and Ydora Wredge, and Wardore Edgy, and Garrod Weedy, and Addée Gorrwy, and Dedge Yarrow, and Dora Greydew, and Edgar E. Wordy, and Drew Dogyear, and Raddory Gewe, and Aedwyrd Gore, and Deary Rewdgo, Wee Graddory, and Roger Addyew, and Orde Graydew, and Gary Dredwoe, and Aedwyrd Goré, and Agowy Erderd, and Waredo Dyrge, and Dewda Yorger, and Madame Groeda Weyrd, he liked his playful pseudonyms.

When I first saw his work (pre-smart/stupid phones), I was both gob-smacked and relieved to learn that someone was still doing what the weirdos I’d loved as a child had done. Gorey reminded me of Hilaire Belloc, Roald Dahl, Dr. Seuss, and Maurice Sendak. Even as a kid, I always got the sense these guys weren’t writing strictly for children.

“To take my work seriously would be the height of folly.”

Gorey called his work ‘literary nonsense’ which he made in the vein of Edward Lear—he even looked quite a bit like him, so I’m guessing Lear was a huge source of inspiration. Gorey/Weary/Deadworry/etc. wrote for adults with a deep appreciation of the macabre and his work gave me permission to do the same; write silly, draw silly, be silly. The very things I was told daily to grow out of.

Gorey’s work continues to be a huge inspiration, and I can’t help wondering what he’d think if he were alive today to see the tattered remains of the world of publishing and illustration brought to its knees by demon techies and their destructive Satanic generative AI machines.

I’m not bitter at all and I’m definitely not projecting, but I imagine he’d be tempted to do cyanide shots.

“I have given up considering happiness as relevant.” EG

His work for PBS got him attention but not nearly as much as he deserved so if you’ve never heard of Edward Gorey, you’re in for a treat. I was hoping to share footage of him being interviewed but there’s very little to be found. Though it’s brief, you might enjoy this funny clip of him bitching about some of the best actresses in the world, but don’t let that put you off him. He seems to have loathed Helena Bonham Carter—one of the few actors I love.

There are plenty of recorded discussions about Gorey, but I couldn’t bring myself to include links because most are so pretentious they make me want to push pencils into my ear drums.

“When people are finding meaning in things—beware.” EG

Ascending Peculiarity includes some good interviews but the truth is Edward Gorey’s hilarious lunacy and eccentricity is captured so completely in his work, it tells you everything you need to know about him.

While they’re still in print, you can find his books here at the Gorey House which, if you happen to be in Massachusetts, is well worth visiting. I was there about ten years ago and I’m fairly certain Gorey’s ghost inhabits every corner.

I made this drawing to mark Gorey’s birthday.

Happy 100th Mr. G.