Best Selling Books by Edward Gorey

An umbrella is missing. A man is distressed. A thief scampers over rooftops. A child is in danger. A Harangued salesclerk weeks. A dog saves the day. The intriguing story of The Sopping Thursday is unlike any other Edward Gorey book, both because of its unique gray-and black illustrations and because it has a happy ending (if one is to dismiss any worry about the child featured inthe last frame). In just thirty imags and thirty short lines of text, Gorey manages to create a complex tableau of characters and a plot worthy of film noir. Long out of print, this new edition is faithful to the size of Gorey''s original drawings and wisely refrains from offering any editorial commentary...except to say this Gorey jewel is--to quote the eminent literary critic Edmund Wilson---A brilliant discovery.

With his typically dark, droll humor, Edward Gorey presents the transformation of Maudie Splaytoe, a girl prone to staring at dead birds, into Mirella Splatova, a chic and mysterious prima ballerina. This woeful tale chronicles an ascent to the peak of fame, followed by an unexpected and dreadful demise. Gorey''s exquisitely crafted illustrations of magical ballets, elegant drawing rooms, and stark apartments set the stage for this melodrama starring a slightly peculiar heroine. Faithfully re-released in this superb new edition, The Gilded Bat is one of the hundred or so eerily fanciful illustrated tales created by Edward Gorey (1925-2000) to the delight of his adoring fans. Gorey was also a playwright, an award-winning set and costume designer, and the creator of the animated introductions to the PBS series Mystery!

Called "a small masterpiece" by the "Times Literary Supplement, " this book, originally published in 1953, takes a look at the literary life and its attendant woes: isolation, writer''s block, professional jealousy, and plain boredom. Illustrations.

Miss D. Awdrey-Gore, renowned 97-year-old writer of detective stories, is found murdered; then a mysterious hidden packet is discovered. Addressed to her publisher, it contains what appear to be notes and drawings related to a literary work in progress. The contents "in their entirety—though certain things are patently missing" comprise clues about the who, what, when, where, and how of Awdrey-Gore''s demise. Or do they? Edward Gorey takes us on a rollicking ride in this merry murder mystery, but whether or not the killer is revealed is open to speculation. As one scrap of paper in the packet states, "The smallest clue may be (or not) / The one to give away the plot."Like his fictional dame novelist, Gorey (1925–2000) was a prolific author. Creator of more than one hundred works, he was also an artist, playwright, award-winning set and costume designer, and creator of the animated introduction to the PBS series Mystery! First published in 1972, The Awdrey-Gore Legacy remains one of Gorey''s most treasured tales, satisfying the sleuth in each of us.

A happy, naive family enters the Evil Garden (free admission!) to spend a sunny afternoon in its inviting landscape, lush with exotic trees and flowers. They soon realize their mistake, as harrowing sounds and evidence of foul play emerge. When humongous hairy bugs, famished carnivorous plants, ferocious fruit-guarding bears, and a sinister strangling snake take charge, the family''s ominous feelings turn to full-on panic but where''s the exit? Edward Gorey leads us through this nefarious garden with a light step. His unmistakable drawings paired with engaging couplets produce giggles, not gasps. Perhaps "The Evil Garden" is a morality tale; perhaps it''s simply an enigmatic entertainment. Whatever the interpretation, it''s a prime example of the iconic storytelling genius that is Edward Gorey.

"An artist and writer of genius" (New Yorker) gives us a small-format edition of one of his favorite tales-a deliciously twisted comedy of manners.

Using an orange and a flashlight, a father explains to his children why the sun goes down.

When the circus train is wrecked scattering the performers and props, two friends, a cat and a doll, help the circus owner.