Elephant House: Or, the Home of Edward Gorey (Pomegranate Catalog)

by Edward Gorey (Illustrator)

Other authorsJohn Updike (Introduction), Kevin McDermott (Photographer)
Hardcover, 2004

Status

Available

Call number

NX512.G67 M33

Publication

Pomegranate (2004), 128 pages

Description

An intimate photographic tour of Edward Gorey's strange and wonderful house. Fresh biographical insights and warm reminiscences by a longtime Gorey confidant, Kevin McDermott. Includes heretofore unpublished works by Gorey. Introduction by renowned writer John Updike, an ardent Gorey fan.Relatively few people had the opportunity to visit the enigmatic Edward Gorey in his home, and among those who did, even fewer were permitted to see the entire house. Although Gorey was a kind and openhearted man, he was also a private man, usually preferring the company of his cats to that of his two-legged acquaintances.s is true for most of us, our environments reveal much about who we are. That is certainly the case with Edward Gorey. His house in Yarmouthport, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod, was filled with his multifarious collections of objects, from books and bottles to finials and rings, stuffed animals and rocks. He arranged his clutter in an order that made sense only to him.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member ljbwell
I'm not much on hero worship or cult of celebrity. That said, the closest I've come to it is Edward Gorey. I'd discovered his works early on - the opening credits to PBS's 'Mystery', ballet posters around NY, illustrations, and probably even more than I realized at the time. A long-time admirer (by
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the ripe old age of maybe 13 or 14), I had the chance to 'meet' him at the 5th Avenue Book Fair, where I bought - and he signed - a poster of [The Gashleycrumb Tinies]. I was shy and excited all at once. Here was someone who already was, and continued to be, an enormous influence on my sense of humor; style & design; dark, sardonic outlook on life; and so much more.

[Elephant House] is a quiet examination of Gorey's Cape Cod home, photographed soon after his sudden death at the age of 75. McDermott's photos capture the way Gorey lived - a collector, a cat lover, a reserved man. His anecdotes reveal much about Gorey that once again reminded me why I have been so drawn to him all these years. A book I will treasure for its homage to the man, his life, and his work.
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LibraryThing member ThomasPluck
If you can't visit this is nice to have.

Language

Original language

English

Physical description

128 p.; 11.75 inches

ISBN

0764924958 / 9780764924958

UPC

717195201548
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