Born to Be Posthumous: The Eccentric Life and Mysterious Genius of Edward Gorey

The Edwardian Ball in San Francisco is a fantastic Gorey themed ball started by the denizens of the larper/renaissance faire/gamer/goth/hacker scene of the early ‘00s.

It’s one of those special costumed events which makes San Francisco magical.

https://www.edwardianball.com/

I was a curiously depressed child. A natural reader, I was exposed to and fell in love with "the classics" during mid elementary school - about 3rd grade. Reading material far to mature for my age, "great literature" is typically a deep evaluation of tragedy, failure and betrayal. By the tail end of 4th grade I has in a sophisticated depression that drove away adults, school councilors, therapists and local clergy. I would debate them as they tried to advise me, and I would lead them into my depression and they'd be captured too. But one girl two grades beneath me thought I was hilarious. It first I thought she was insane, as no matter what I said or did she had some type of hilarious reaction. In anger on day I asked her what her problem was, and she (confused) thought I was a huge Edward Gorey fan and was playing his characters. I'd not heard of Edward Gorey before, so she takes me to the children's library and shows me his books. It was like meeting a mirror of my attitude. Reading those and finding the satire side of literature saved my life.

This article really opened my eyes to Gorey’s work! When I was growing up I knew Gorey as an older, somewhat eccentric local author who was something like a family friend. Until now I ever realized he was famous.

I never really understood his books as a 6-12 year old, but whenever he released a new book or edition I would receive a copy with some macabre note/illustration on the inside. My mother somehow managed to keep them safe so I held onto the books into adulthood, but I’ve never revisited them. Maybe I can appreciate them more now.

As much as he disliked Henry James, he seems not to have minded making cover art for HJ's books.

  O is for Olive run through with an awl.
  P is for Prue trampled flat in a brawl.

I used to have (was given) The Epiplectic Bicycle, not sure where it's gotten to.

But I mostly associate (and probably first encountered) Gorey with John Bellairs' books.