The Gashlycrumb Tinies

by Edward Gorey

Book Overview

"B is for Basil assaulted by bears. C is for Clara who wasted away. D is for Desmond thrown out of a sleigh. . . "

A striking small-format illustrated edition of one of Edward Gorey's "dark masterpieces of surreal morality" (Vanity Fair)--a witty, disquieting journey through the alphabet.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0151003084
• ISBN13: 9780151003082
• Release Date: October 1997
• Publisher: Harper
• Length: 64 Pages
• Weight: 0.32 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.3" x 5.1"

Customer Reviews

Edward Gorey never disappoints

I bought this after finding The Other Statue in a used bookstore. All his books are so eerie and mesmerizing; they're like the children's book equivalent to a David Lynch movie. I am confused as to if his books are actually meant for kids or just strange adults.

Hilariously creepy

The concept behind "The Gashlycrumb Tinies; or, After the Outing," by Edward Gorey, is brilliant in its simplicity. It consists of a series of rhymes about small children who suffer various deaths. Each child has a name beginning with a different letter of the alphabet, and their grim fates are arranged alphabetically by name. Each fate is also accompanied by one of Gorey's macabre drawings. Sample lines: "E is for Ernest who choked on a peach. F is for Fanny sucked dry by a leech. G is for George smothered under a rug. H is for Hector done in by a thug."I found this book hilarious. Gorey's children have a proper Victorian look to them which makes their scenarios that much more bizarre. Most of the drawings show the unfortunate children just before their deaths; only a few of the pictures actually show explicit death or violence.One could read "Gashlycrumb Tinies" as an outrageous parody of children's books (of alphabet primers in particular), or just enjoy it for what it is. Either way, I think it's a wicked delight.

highly amusing

This is the first Gorey I have ever read. I just read it today. Here are my impressions: As my title indicates, I found it highly amusing. I found myself laughing out loud a few times while reading this very short book. The illustrations are fantastic as you can gather from most of these reviews. Most of the illustrations are funny but I might note the exception to that in the gruesome image of Kate's corpse after being struck with an ax. I think that's the only illustration taking place after the event. That proved to be an exception though. The book is very amusing and hilarious at times. It's an anti-children's book for adults. It can be a funny remedy to the insipid and happy-go-lucky kinds of children's books. That doesn't mean this is just for parents or those particularly sick with those children's books. I think anyone with a decent sense of humor, and especially a dark one, would enjoy this. It's short. I don't know why the information says it's 64 pages because there are only 26 letters in the alphabet. Anyway, my point is that it's just a little humorous diversion. This hardcover edition is really great. It's high quality and just plain nice...

My Favorite Gorey

I own most all of Gorey's titles, and though "The Doubtful Guest" is my sentimental favorite merely because it was my first, "Tinies" never fails to amuse me. For someone who otherwise would never be caught dead using the phrase 'deliciously macabre', you should allow yourself to appreciate Gorey's unabashed deliciousness, for what else can you can this volume? Inspired? Yes! Hysterical? Yes! Yet it's more than an alphabet book for adults--it's good to know in this politically correct era, that it's OK to laugh out loud when Kate is struck by an axe. If your tastes aren't quite that edgy, then you won't be saddened when Gorey's reached the end, with Zelda drinking too much gin. This material strikes a very timeless cord, and though I wouldn't read it to a toddler--unless his was a particularly developed sense of humor, this savvy tot--I would be alarmed by anyone offened by it. Gorey's great with the 'pleasant squirm', and here he's mastered it perfectly.

A Masterpiece of the not-so-subtle Macabre!!!!!!

I purchased this book after realizing that Edward Gorey was the wonderfully sinister artist behind the scary illustrations in most of the books by John Bellairs. What a pleasant (yet disturbing) surprise it was to see the alphabet written in such a memorably deranged way. The shock value alone of this book is great (just imagine an elementary school teacher handing this one out!!!) If you can appreciate anything sick and twisted and if you like any form of dark illustrations get everything ever drawn by Mr. Edward Gorey!!!!!!