Eclectic Abecedarium [Hardcover]

Edward Gorey (Author)

Book Description

Edward Gorey's first miniature book, The Eclectic Abecedarium is an illustrated adventure through the English alphabet, accompanied by rhyming couplets penned by Gorey, who described his creations as "literary nonsense." Inspired by popular moral primers for children, Gorey created an updated version of Isaac Watts's alphabetic aphorisms. Part sweet songs of unseen birds and part cautionary tales, this abecedarium fully lives up to the epithet "eclectic."

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Never before available in color or in a size fit for larger-than-thimble beings, The Eclectic Abecedarium conveys life's more crucial lessons in twenty-six painless steps. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

About the Author

In addition to writing and illustrating more than one hundred works, the renowned artist Edward Gorey (1925-2000) was also a playwright, an award-winning set and costume designer, and the creator of the animated introduction to the PBS series Mystery! --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Adama Books (December 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0531097285
• ISBN-13: 978-0531097281
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,542,370 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Edward Gorey (1925-2000) wrote and illustrated such popular books as The Doubtful Guest, The Gashlycrumb Tinies, and The Headless Bust. He was also a very successful set and costume designer, earning a Tony Award for his Broadway production of Edward Gorey's Dracula. Animated sequences of his work have introduced the PBS series Mystery! since 1980.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Better Abecedarium?, January 27, 2009

By 

Glen Emil (www.goreyography.com) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Eclectic Abecedarium (Hardcover)

In this day and age, there is always a need for wise words. Some are broad and general, like the Golden Rule, while others can be very specific, as in `In Sorting Kelp, Be Quick to Help'. I can think of no better way to describe the wisdom of this gem in dealing with our associates in toil. There is always a lot of kelp to sort, and it must be done expeditiously, to avoid drying and spoilage. It is an acknowledgment of our daily tasks at hand, and in our rush to complete them, a small reminder can serve us best.

Twenty-six of these wise-words-to-live-by are found in the new, colored version of Edward Gorey's `The Eclectic Abecedarium', reprinted by Pomegranate. The cover reminds me of the Beatrix Potter books with their little green and white cover designs, and I found `Eclectic Abecedarium' just as engaging. The illustrations are enlarged just a bit, enough to give us twice the detail. And the colors are just right. It's as if I'd been watching this book on a black & white TV, and someone came and flipped on the color switch.

I've been collecting Edward Gorey books for three decades now, and am usually tepid towards Gorey reprints, but this one managed to catch my eye. In the end I was truly happy to add this one to the collection. For Gorey collectors still unsure about parting with the harder-to-come-by cash, it contains a drawing that doesn't appear in previous versions. For those who are still discovering Gorey, `Eclectic Abecedarium' goes right to the heart of his way with words. Paired with Category: Fifty Drawings by Edward Gorey and a course in wordless wit, together they prove to be a most satisfying diversion. - G.E.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Miniature Delight, November 27, 2008

By 

Edward Bradford (New York, New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Eclectic Abecedarium (Hardcover)

This reissue of The Eclectic Abecedarium makes available again a small Edward Gorey alphabet treasure that is sure to delight both young and old. The perfect holiday stocking stuffer.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful, May 25, 2009

By 

crafty lady (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Eclectic Abecedarium (Hardcover)

This is such a wonderful little book. Great for kids and adults alike. I had been trying to purchase this for a while now and was glad to see it offered on Amazon.