Customer Reviews

The Strange Case of Edward Gorey

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Because Theroux knew Gorey personally, he wisely restricts himself to providing a colorful character portrait, rather than pointless theorizing on Gorey's art. This is a brief book, but, because of the author's lively style, and also certainly because of his unique artistic insight (Theroux and Gorey seem to be two of a kind), much deeper than a more straightforward dissertation might have been.

Theroux is a gossipy, waspish writer who never misses an opportunity to flaunt his (admittedly prodigious) erudition or sneer at the booboisie. He name-drops with a shamelessness that would bring a blush to Capote's cheek, and score-settles with relish (especially with his more celebrated brother, for whom he nurses an undying grudge). Bitchy, affected, and too clever by half, his style aspires to Oscar Wilde but more often approximates Paul Lynde. (A compliment, even so.) All of which is what makes The Strange Case an addictively readable book, stuffed with scandalous morsels of gossip, piquant table talk (Gorey and Theroux were friends), the author's staircase wit, and his sharply perceptive insights into the mind and art of the incalcuable, eccentric Gorey. A poisoned bon-bon of a book. To be read aloud to a friend, in bed, with a glass of absinthe on the night table.

Theroux's short book delves into Gorey's persona and influences and gives us a tantalizing glimpse into the world of the much missed Edward Gorey. By limiting himself to his friendship with Gorey, Theroux preserves the air of mystery surrounding the writer and artist. This volume is a welcome addition to anyone's collection of Gorey books and collectibles.

The author uses his acquaintance with his subject to flaunt his prolix style and tiresome opinions. The best parts of the book are the Gorey drawings.

The novels, essays, and poems of Alexander Theroux are very, very dear to me and hold a very special place in my heart. You can imagine my genuine enthusiasm when I discovered that this most genuine artist and genius came out with a book about the enigmantic Edward Gorey, another favorite of mine. I devoured every written word in record time. The book deals with insights into character that only a friend could know. This is why the book is most extraordinary. Any PhD. could sit down and dissect the stories and illustrations of Gorey's and attempt to make sense of it all, in their own opinion without having ever met the subject, of course. Theroux is a PhD. who actually knew, befriended, respected, and was a little in awe of the subject. His personal insights delve into the oddities and eccentricities of Gorey's with a benevolent air of concern, and a touch of sadness. I now feel as though I was personally acquainted with Gorey, and was startled to find out how much I have in common with both the author and the subject. The Blondie and Dagwood series with Singleton and Lake, Wendy Hiller, Balanchine, Bankhead, Louise Brooks, the ballet, Sibelius..... I wept a bit while reading this book - feeling as though I was also born in the wrong era. How impossible to discuss the afore-mentioned topics with my contemporaries - its been quite lonely for me. How lonely for Theroux without his dear and kindred friend. This "fake Serbian princess" is certainly glad that Theroux is still around - for he is without question the greatest living writer in America today.

As a couple of other reviewers have stated this book is as much about the author as it is about the subject. We don't get Gorey's personality as much as we get Theroux's take on him. Gorey emerges not so much as an individual as a collection of tics and affectations...though to be fair that might be an accurate picture of the man. This doesn't claim to be a biography but a personal reminiscence and that's about it.

This is first and foremost a memoir and not a biography. Anyone expecting a biography of Gorey, as some of the other reviewers seem to have been, is going to be a little puzzled. Theroux takes a conversational approach to Gorey, the man and the artist, and riffs rather than explores. This is pleasurable and avoids the inevitable clumsy voyuerism that comes from the biographies of intensley private people. Theroux opens us up to the Gorey he knew and allows us to witness their friendship without stomping through those parts of his life that Gorey kept private. It is not always chronological but rather flows from theme to theme and person to person. Theroux highlights Gorey's importance as an American writer and artist through comparison to his contempories and heroes. It is not hagiography. Gorey's flaws are exposed but are also allowed to sit as they are the flaws of an individual who lived alone and did little harm.

It is wonderfully written and readable but the reader will get the impression that like the great John Watson MD Theroux is a little in awe of his subject and does not fully understand him. A small case in point is Theroux's attitude to TV a younger writer would have been more sumpathetic, I think, to Gorey's fascination with disposable pop-culture like Ren and Stimpy, which Theroux seems never to have watched. I suspect Gorey was enough of a realist to draw little distinction between Dallas and the victorian tripple-deckers he read while Theroux the novelist priveliges high-culture.

This is a real delight full of small pleasures like lists of cat names, descriptions of desserts, and early hollywood gossip. My one caveat would be that it is probably only of interest to the fanatic and anyone wating a more rounded view of Gorey should look at Ascending Peculiarity: Edward Gorey on Edward Gorey as well.

This is a peculiar book. It goes on at length about what EG liked and disliked, and tells us a lot about the author's likes and dislikes too. It's entertaining, but repetative - I like knowing that EG loved Buffy The Vampire Slayer, like me, but didn't need telling four times. I suppose that, Gorey having been a non-travelling, non-marrying recluse, there's not much material to draw on. Theroux spins out what he has into a book that, I suppose, every Gorey fan has to read, there being little else of a biographical nature. Expect to get that warm feeling you get from realising that one of your heroes likes the same stuff as you, but not a lot of other feelings. Was Gorey gay? Theroux bangs on about this a fair amount. He also goes to great lengths comparing him to the likes of Auden and Henry James, for some reason. I learned things, I think I know Gorey a bit better, so the book did a job, I suppose.

The novels, essays, and poems of Alexander Theroux are very, very dear to me and hold a very special place in my heart. You can imagine my genuine enthusiasm when I discovered that this most amazing artist and genius came out with a book about the enigmatic Edward Gorey, another favorite of mine. I devoured every written word in record time. The book deals with insights into character that only a friend could know. This is why the book is most extraordinary. Any PhD. could sit down and dissect the stories and illustrations of Gorey's and attempt to make sense of it all, in their own opinion without having ever met the subject, of course. Theroux is a PhD. who actually knew, befriended, respected, and was a little in awe of the subject. His personal insights delve into the oddities and eccentricities of Gorey's with a benevolent air of concern, and a touch of sadness. I now feel as though I was personally acquainted with Gorey, and was startled to find out how much I have in common with both the author and the subject. The Blondie and Dagwood series with Singleton and Lake, Wendy Hiller, Balanchine, Bankhead, Louise Brooks, the ballet, Sibelius..... I wept a bit while reading this book - feeling as though I was also born in the wrong era. How impossible to discuss the afore-mentioned topics with my contemporaries - its been quite lonely for me. How lonely for Theroux without his dear and kindred friend. This "fake Serbian princess" is certainly glad that Theroux is still around - for he is without question the greatest living writer in America today.

Exactly what it promises... short, warm, personal, and wonderful in every way.