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G is for...

...Gashlycrumb Tinies


The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where the other begins?
---Edgar Allan Poe




The Queen







I promise this year's theme wasn't JUST supposed to be morbid literature, but here I am, day 3 into the "stories". Though, I beg your indulgence for this one as The Gashlycrumb Tinies is one of my all-time FAVORITE storybooks. It's the perfect alphabet book for all your little Wednesdays and Pugsleys.

What better way to teach the little darlings their ABCs than to have them repeat each ghastly line in turn?

The Gashlycrumb Tinies, penned and illustrated by Edward Gorey (yes, Gorey is really his last name---what else would you expect from the man who also did the illustrated cartoon for Masterpiece Theater) is a delicious little collection of couplets starring 26 unsuspecting children who die in tragically mundane ways. See, perfect, right?

It's abecedarian literature at its finest!

Known for his delightfully twisted Edwardian pencil-drawings, Edward Gorey captured the imagination of many a dark-spirited soul (this soul included), and I would feel remiss not to include The Gashlycrumb Tinies in my morbid/macabre jaunt through the alphabet....


And for just a taste of the delight that is Gorey----


























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Comments

  1. Vanessa KellyApril 8, 2014 at 7:19 AM

    Oh man why did I not know of this book??? This seems so right up my alley! So cool!

    ReplyDelete
  2. David P. KingApril 8, 2014 at 9:21 AM

    Sweetness ohmighty! I've never heard of this but now I want it. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownApril 8, 2014 at 11:10 AM

    These are delightful! Every one made me laugh - so cute and macabre. :)
    I have a blog-friend named Emma who celebrates Gorey's b-day every year. Here's her page this year: http://littlegothichorrors.blogspot.com/2014/02/a-gorey-celebration.html

    ReplyDelete
  4. djinniaApril 8, 2014 at 1:51 PM

    oh my goodness glaciers! i so want to find a copy of this book!

    look at this! a whole listing of his books!

    http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/g/edward-gorey/

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousApril 8, 2014 at 3:14 PM

    Must.Find.Book.Now!!!!! LOL awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  6. cleemckenzieApril 8, 2014 at 6:02 PM

    These are appropriately macabre and meant to scare those children under their beds. Kids love to be scared, at least I did/do. A healthy dose of fear kept me on my toes after dark and especially on those trick or treat nights when I knew the spirits were on the loose.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. e.a.s. demersApril 9, 2014 at 12:11 AM

      Children really do love to be scared---and they're less likely to get freaked out and worked up over it, unlike their parents...

      Delete

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