Nonsense! the Curious Story of Edward Gorey

December 23, 2019
Edward Gorey worked quietly in a publisher’s art department until he began to write and illustrate small, odd books himself. A peculiar blend of Edwardian preciousness and Gothic menace, his creations appalled some and enchanted others. Mimicking, possibly, the over-the-top speaking style for which Gorey was famous, Mortensen (Away with Words) describes his childhood (“And oh, did he read!”), his time in the army and at Harvard (“Who was that ‘tall and spooky’ chap?”), his early career, and the publication of his books. Bristol (the Winterhouse series) does the heavy lifting, duplicating Gorey’s style throughout with remarkable conviction, capturing his long, rail-like human figures, their haunted expressions, and their elegant clothing. She even contributes Gorey-fied drawings of Alice (of Wonderland) and Dracula, illustrating Gorey’s seminal childhood experience of reading the two classics one right after the other. Despite its insistence that Gorey’s nonsense can’t be analyzed (“It would be the height of folly” to take it seriously, he said), the work comes off as a long and self-conscious attempt to explain what made Gorey’s work so singular. Ages 4–7. Author’s agent: Liza Voges, Eden Street.

January 1, 2020
The story of Edward Gorey and his creepy "brand of silliness." "In 1925, a boy was born / in Chicago / who loved words / and pictures, too. / A brilliant boy, / An only boy." That boy was Edward Gorey, "And oh, did he read! / He gobbled up adventures / and mysteries. / Comics and poetry. / The entire works / of French novelist / Victor Hugo, / for goodness' sake." The strange combination of whimsy and gruesomeness he found when reading Alice in Wonderland and Dracula one after the other when he was young is what he became famous for in his own books. Mortensen's poetic text with spare rhythmic lines perfectly complements Bristol's illustrations, which echo Gorey's stylistically but bring color to the tale of an artist known for his "seas of black sketchy lines" rendered in pen and ink. Together, the text and illustrations brilliantly evoke the world of Edward Gorey's books, providing young readers with just enough to know what Gorey was all about, even plaiting in key lines from The Gashlycrumb Tinies to prime the pump. A thorough author's note fleshes out Gorey's life, ending with a note about how his "sweet and sinister" style is seen nowadays in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Neil Gaiman's Coraline. A stellar biography, as creepy and fun as its subject. (sources) (Picture book/biography. 5-9)

COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from February 1, 2020

Gr 3 Up-With straightforward, rhythmic prose and deliciously atmospheric illustrations, this picture book biography of Edward Gorey distills his unconventional life and career into a format that will appeal to a wide range of readers. Gorey's individualism is celebrated without being caricatured, and the narrative traces his life from childhood through higher education and his eventual career as a writer and illustrator. Although he was sometimes criticized for the content and darkness of his work, this book assures readers, "It would be 'the height of folly' to take his work seriously," because, as the final page declares, "It was just Edward being Edward." Bristol's sepia-toned illustrations echo the Gothic sensibility of Gorey's art. Mortensen's conversational narrative is pitch perfect, evoking the rhythm and style of her subject's prose and the works inspired by him. The detailed author's note and list of sources make this book something that could work equally well as a classroom read-aloud and as a resource for an independent study. It could also serve as a mentor text for writing prompts and art exercises. VERDICT This playful picture book biography is a wonderful and unique introduction to Edward Gorey's life and work. Purchase for classroom and library nonfiction collections.-Jen McConnel, Queen's University, Ont.

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2020
Grades K-3 It seems imperative that any biography of Edward Gorey should strike the right tone and visual aesthetic if it is to capture this artist and writer's unique blend of the macabre, the unexpected, and the silly. Happily, Mortensen and Bristol are up to the task. Unfolding like a storybook itself, the conversational text describes Gorey's youth as a brilliant, artistic child with a voracious love of books. These passions follow him to college, where Bristol masterfully depicts him?now a tall, thin, bearded man?in what would become his signature look: a long fur coat paired with Converse sneakers. As Gorey's career in publishing unfolds, Mortensen maintains a playful tone, in keeping with Gorey's personality. The vintage-flavored illustrations pay homage to Gorey's sketchy and elongated style without mimicking it, and his beloved cats wend their ways through many a scene. Readers will get a good sense of this curious, imaginative man, as well as quiet affirmation that being different is interesting?and interesting stories are the very best kind. A well-written author's note concludes.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)