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A review by paperbacksandpines
Born to Be Posthumous: The Eccentric Life and Mysterious Genius of Edward Gorey by Mark Dery
4.0
The only thing I knew about Edward Gorey before reading this book was that he wrote and illustrated [b:The Gashlycrumb Tinies|47558|The Gashlycrumb Tinies (The Vinegar Works, #1)|Edward Gorey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327933644l/47558._SX50_.jpg|3211551], a book I had spotted years before at a tiny shop. I loved the dark sense of humor and his tiny, detailed drawings. Fast forward many years later and after seeing this title, I purchased it without even reading the synopsis.
Gory was part of an influx of designers who transformed cover art and pushed the boundaries. Yet as much as he was known as an artist, I was surprised to discover that he would always think of himself as "first a writer, then an artist."
Dery paints a picture of Gorey as an intellectual savant, someone who seemed to know about everything and be inspired by everything he consumed. His books, like himself, are uncategorizable. He too, went on to inspire famous men such as Neil Gaiman, Tim Burton, and Lemony Snickett.
Gorey was a study in opposites, someone who actively worked not to become famous while also achieving a cult status amongst followers. He kept his friends and acquaintances at arm's length, keeping them in boxes so that different groups didn't overlap with others. Yet he craved companionship and closeness with others, while eventually pushing people who got too close to him away. People in his life only got to see the parts of him that he chose to share.
Unlike the last "biography" I tried to read by DNF'd (Ahem [b:Truman Capote: In Which Various Friends, Enemies, Acquaintances, and Detractors Recall His Turbulent Career|20351|Truman Capote In Which Various Friends, Enemies, Acquaintances, and Detractors Recall His Turbulent Career|George Plimpton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386924447l/20351._SY75_.jpg|21544]), this book wasn't just an amalgamation of reminiscences from former acquaintances and friends. This book was thoroughly researched and provides readers with a fascinating glimpse into the life of a notoriously private man. It was well researched and well written.
My only qualm about the book is that Dery continually implied throughout the book that Gorey was gay, despite the fact that Gorey publicly identified as asexual, when pressed. Dery's agenda to out Gorey as gay flies in the face of the assumption of the impartial biographer. Had Gorey been alive to read this book, I think he would not be accepting of Dery's attempts to out him, which could be interpreted as character maligning.
Despite this limitation, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would recommend this to anyone who values dark humor and art.
Gory was part of an influx of designers who transformed cover art and pushed the boundaries. Yet as much as he was known as an artist, I was surprised to discover that he would always think of himself as "first a writer, then an artist."
Dery paints a picture of Gorey as an intellectual savant, someone who seemed to know about everything and be inspired by everything he consumed. His books, like himself, are uncategorizable. He too, went on to inspire famous men such as Neil Gaiman, Tim Burton, and Lemony Snickett.
Gorey was a study in opposites, someone who actively worked not to become famous while also achieving a cult status amongst followers. He kept his friends and acquaintances at arm's length, keeping them in boxes so that different groups didn't overlap with others. Yet he craved companionship and closeness with others, while eventually pushing people who got too close to him away. People in his life only got to see the parts of him that he chose to share.
Unlike the last "biography" I tried to read by DNF'd (Ahem [b:Truman Capote: In Which Various Friends, Enemies, Acquaintances, and Detractors Recall His Turbulent Career|20351|Truman Capote In Which Various Friends, Enemies, Acquaintances, and Detractors Recall His Turbulent Career|George Plimpton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386924447l/20351._SY75_.jpg|21544]), this book wasn't just an amalgamation of reminiscences from former acquaintances and friends. This book was thoroughly researched and provides readers with a fascinating glimpse into the life of a notoriously private man. It was well researched and well written.
My only qualm about the book is that Dery continually implied throughout the book that Gorey was gay, despite the fact that Gorey publicly identified as asexual, when pressed. Dery's agenda to out Gorey as gay flies in the face of the assumption of the impartial biographer. Had Gorey been alive to read this book, I think he would not be accepting of Dery's attempts to out him, which could be interpreted as character maligning.
Despite this limitation, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would recommend this to anyone who values dark humor and art.