The Theatrical Adventures of Edward Gorey: Rare Drawings, Scripts, and Stories

The definitive, deluxe art book about Edward Gorey’s theater work--from the Tony Award-winning Broadway production of Dracula to the wildly creative productions to which he devoted the last decade of his life.

Edward Gorey (1925-2000) was a prodigious and original artist who published more than one hundred beloved works, including The Gashlycrumb Tinies, The Doubtful Guest, and Amphigorey, and illustrations that appeared regularly in such publications as The New Yorker and The New York Times and books by authors ranging from Charles Dickens and T.S. Eliot to John Updike and Virginia Woolf, among many others. His animated credits for the PBS Mystery! series introduced him to millions of television viewers. In addition to his intricate pen-and-ink drawings and darkly humorous storybooks, Gorey also nurtured a lifelong passion for the performing arts. This volume is the first to showcase his extensive theatrical work, including his transition from designing major productions to crafting original community theater pieces on Cape Cod.

Written by his friend and collaborator Carol Verburg, this handsome hardcover edition is filled with annotated scripts, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and over two hundred images, including archival photos and previously unpublished artwork. It unveils Gorey at work and play, drawing back the curtain on his enigmatic genius, which continues to inspire artists and collectors today.

BELOVED ARTIST: Edward Gorey’s art is instantly recognizable. Storytellers such as Tim Burton and Daniel Handler cite him as an inspiration, and his influence is visible in the works of illustrators ranging from Tom Gauld to Stephanie von Reiswitz. With an oeuvre that ranges widely from storybooks to the stage, Gorey is a major artist of the 20th century.

RARE AND UNPUBLISHED CONTENT: This is the first book focused on Gorey’s theater work and includes previously unpublished and rarely seen archival photos, illustrations, and scripts--some annotated in Gorey’s own hand. It is an essential read for collectors and fans.

THE INSIDE STORY: Carol Verburg was Gorey’s close friend and creative comrade-in-arms all through the last decade of his life, and she writes with insight and a personal touch. She intersperses her own reminiscences with quotes from actors and other collaborators to weave a vivid narrative.

EXQUISITE GIFT: With rich visuals, engaging writing, and a luxurious hardcover package featuring a red velvet spine, this is a beautiful volume to display on a coffee table and the perfect gift for Gorey fans and theater buffs.

Perfect for:

• Fans and collectors of Edward Gorey’s books and illustrations
• Lovers of theater, theater history, and theatrical design and production
• Art students and collectors
• Readers of memoirs and biographies

Edward Gorey, known for his unsettling pen-and-ink drawings with a Victorian flair, wrote and illustrated such books as The Gashlycrumb Tinies, The Evil Garden, and The Haunted Tea-Cosy, and animated sequences of his work have introduced the PBS series Mystery! since 1980. He was also a devoted dramatist. His work on the 1977 Broadway revival of Dracula won him a Tony Award for Best Costume Design and a nomination for Best Scenic Design, and he spent the last thirteen years of his life writing and staging community theater in Cape Cod.

Carol Verburg is an editor and writer, and the author of the Edgar Rowdey Cape Cod mystery novels. She lives in San Francisco.