Happy 99th Birthday Edward Gorey
Edward, who loved cats and books, just like me
Today would be the 99th birthday of Edward Gorey, an American artist, writer, illustrator, and more, whose work means so much to me, and to so many others around the world, whether following him over the many decades or meeting him for the first time today. ‘Artist, writer, illustrator.’ All beautiful skills, though none of these titles seem grand or special enough to serve him. Above any label, he is ‘Edward Gorey,’ and that says enough, as his work speaks completely for itself. Whether a book cover illustration, a pen and ink drawing, or a line of text in his own handwriting, it’s unmistakably recognizable as his, and the feeling it elicits will bring mystery and levity, and sometimes maybe a little bit of loving discomfort to your day.
Not only do I cherish and admire his work as an adult, for new and refreshed reasons, but Edward Gorey drawings and books hold a very strong nostalgia for me, tied to childhood in a bittersweet way, apropos to he who wanted to make everyone as ‘uneasy as possible.’ For the best reasons I think - to be playful. Everything created with authenticity, because he liked it, simply because he wanted to do so.
When we first moved to NYC in 1996, I started 4th grade at age 9, a new girl in a new town, in a new school. Everything was new, and everything was frightening. I left my magical lakeside Michigan neighborhood where everything was based around outdoor exploration, adventures in the water, solving mysteries and making new discoveries, bike rides into neighboring towns, playing games in the street. The wildness of imagination. All I needed was my books, my toys, to go outside with my friends or on my own, disappearing until nightfall, truly independent and without fear. Everything changed after my dad died, and fear was suddenly the great overbearing shadow to my young self, the leader and prison which kept me anxious and scared, debilitated by the mysterious unknown.
We went to Manhattan and everything was different from home. Without a friend to show me the way, I had to adapt to the city, the big city. I missed everything about Michigan, but we had to navigate these new waters somehow. My mom, brother, and I were like separate ships on the dark waters, in touch with each other as we learned our new strategies, but three very different vessels with differing needs and skill sets. They were right near to me, but I missed them desperately. I missed everything.
More than anything, I needed new anchor points. Something to hold onto, to recognize, something safe and familiar. Something playful and friendly. We were all in survival mode, and as a little girl, I was desperate for slow comfort in a rushed haze that felt insurmountable.
Ironically, Edward Gorey’s work was one of the first things that brought a wisp of that comfort to me in this new city: one of my first special memories of NYC. My mom brought me with her one day to Gotham Book Mart, the Midtown bookstore, to visit Andy Brown, the shop’s owner and a friend of hers from before I was born. As they talked with each other, I explored the space on my own, running about, looking for things to do, keeping myself occupied. My imagination was my greatest resource, and I could entertain myself as long as needed. As I disappeared through the aisles of books, I suddenly found myself standing before a display of Edward Gorey items that captivated me like I could never have expected.
As I write this now, my eyes well up with tears. I’ve never shared in such detail about this exact moment before, this sacred and personal, very specific memory from such a difficult time. I’ve written extensively about this era of my life, of course about grief, about navigating the challenging tides and struggles, but this is one of those stories I’ve kept close and protected. I feel grateful to be expressing and sharing this today, on his birthday, as a form of gratitude and celebration of his life, as an example of how he has reached so many, at all different ages and moments of life.
The display on the shelves, situated at the front end of an aisle, was based on two things: Cats and Books. What a perfect pair. I loved cats. I mean I really loved them. I dreamed endlessly of having one, a feline best friend to be my sidekick through anything. I had a subscription to Cat Fancy magazine and collected any little item I could find - cat stickers, pictures, little figurines. They meant everything to me. Seeing this display here, of t-shirts, posters, coffee cups, tote bags - not only was it the subject matter, but something about the shaky style, the words and handwriting, the friendliness of the faces. I felt safe and happy somehow in that moment, being there with those things. I was captivated and held by Edward Gorey’s creations, having no idea who he was or even his name. Just the pure feeling of his work took my hand like a friend, and I felt our imaginations run wild together.
I don’t remember if my mom bought the t-shirt for me or if it was a gift from Andy Brown, but I was given a shirt, and I seldom ever changed it. So much so that the color had completely faded from a bright sky blue to a dingy and stained light grey. It was like a uniform, a security blanket, a suit of armor, all of the above. If even for a fleeting moment here and there, it's always wonderful to locate our helpful anchor points because they bring us flashes of hope. <3
As it happens sometimes with difficult eras of our lives, even with the great effort of processing and deep healing, there is still much from these years that I don’t often want to think about, that I sometimes wish I could delete from my memory. But as we know, peppered within times of anxiety and sorrow are also moments of magic, and sinking into the feeling of that store, that display, and that special shirt, I feel the sensation of all the joy and wonder of childhood at its best. <3
I ended up being given another t-shirt, a slightly different version of the first one, because mine had faded so much and was probably starting to fall apart. I still have the second one, stored away and safely wrapped in tissue. I don’t know what happened to the original one. I wish I could find it, and still have a hope that it will turn up somewhere, someday. If I look around a little bit, maybe even today. :)
As I discovered more about Edward Gorey, probably from more visits to Gotham Book Mart (it’s hard to remember the timeline or specific details), I started to read his books, and my first favorite was ‘The Doubtful Guest.’ I also have early memories of my mom watching Mystery! on PBS, and I loved the beginning sequence animation, which of course is famously based on his illustrations. I also loved ‘Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats,’ a collaboration between him and T.S. Eliot, Edward Gorey providing the accompanying drawings. Looking at these titles, my heart is gut wrenched and achy as it always is when looking at favorite things from childhood. <3
Over the years, I’ve collected other titles, and always find this sort of bittersweet comfort and nostalgia when looking at any images or words from his hand. They bring me such a blend of everything, sorrow and joy, nostalgia for the past and inspiration for new imaginings. I feel both like a little child spinning in circles with laughter, and a regal older person, curmudgeonly and longing. Who knows, maybe there’s a bit of each of his characters in all of us.
Here is a chronological bibliography of all his books
At some point, after having posted different things online, I connected with the Instagram page of the Edward Gorey Charitable Trust, the ‘official account of the estate, art, and archives of Edward Gorey, benefiting the animal welfare causes Mr. Gorey championed.’ I was so excited to talk with Eric D Sherman, one of the trustees, and William C. Baker, one of the advisors, our instant connection fueled by this mutual admiration and passion for these works that so deeply touched us in ways we could barely describe. Well, as Edward Gorey once said in an interview, "Ideally, if anything were any good, it would be indescribable.” 🙂
I was eager to meet them both, and finally I got to meet Will last year at the NY International Antiquarian Book Fair, one of my mom and my favorite NYC annual activities. Will had a booth with his own, W. C. Baker Rate Books & Ephemera, and I spent a long time hovering around the book, talking and laughing with him, sharing favorite discoveries and Edward Gorey ponderings. During the book fair weekend the year before, my mom purchased for me a copy of Figbash Acrobate, a small paper back of illustrations, numbered and signed by Edward Gorey. It sits atop my piano with other special artifacts and personal treasures.
I texted Will this morning and asked if there is anything I should share on my post, and he sent a link for a new project the trust is working on, an Oral History of interviews with people close to him. You can find them here as they continue to build the library and amass new submissions.
Here is an essay accompanying an exhibit dedicated to his book cover art and design
One of my dreams is to finally go this year to The Edward Gorey House in Yarmouth, Massachusetts. It reopens for the season on April 4th, and I think it would be the best excursion for a spring or summer weekend.
‘In 1979, Edward Gorey purchased the 200-year-old sea captain’s home at 8 Strawberry Lane on the Yarmouth Port Common on Cape Cod, MA. After his death in 2000 the house became a museum, dedicated to Gorey’s life and work and his devotion to animal welfare. Instrumental in establishing the House were the Highland Street Foundation of Newton, MA who provided funding for the purchase and renovation of the House, and the Edward Gorey Charitable Trust of New York who provide long-term loans of works and ephemera to the House. The House and its annual Gorey exhibits are open to the public from early April through December.’
Their 2024 exhibit, which will be on through December is called, ‘Exquisite Corpse: Edward Gorey’s Moveable Books,’ and the website says the show ‘promises to be a treat for both lovers of books and those who enjoy disassembling them.’ That sounds fun. :) The house and the Trust both celebrate his life, preserve his works, and honor his legacy in such wonderful and exciting ways.
A Christmas gift for my mom this year, (which I suppose was actually meant for us both), was a pack of humorous tarot cards called The Fantod Pack, that I had bought online from The Gorey Store. A present we opened right after that one, mailed to us from Vermont, had his illustrations on the front of the card. It was turning out to be an Edward Gorey Christmas. He is ever present in our lives in many ways, sometimes expected and sometimes in the form of surprise. Either way, he is always welcome.
So today is his 99th birthday. I’m thankful and celebrating him, and also thinking about the fact that next year, a year from today, will be his 100th birthday. I am sure there will be such amazing celebrations, exhibits, and activities, and I would love to be part of something great. :)
Stay in touch with the Trust if you are interested and not following along with them already. They have a special birthday newsletter going out today with a fun announcement. :) Stay tuned!
Here are some useful links:
Edward Gorey Charitable Trust Website
Edward Gorey Charitable Trust Instagram
Oral History of interviews with those close to him
SAVE THE DATE! NY Antiquarian Book Fair is April 4-7 :)
**This post went out at 2:22, the birthday of Edward Gorey, today <3
Join the Chat if you can for an exercise/discussion around some different Edward Gorey quotes :)
Thank you for remembering wonderful, whimsical Edward Gorey. He would surely adore you.