The most interesting alphabets are centered around themes – similar to the best posts in the A to Z Blog Challenge. Today’s alphabet book is definitely one of the most unusual I’ve come across.
THE GASHLYCRUMBTINIES
Or, After the Outing
By Edward Gorey
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 1963
64pages
The jacket flap warns the reader –
An Appalling Alphabet
which introduces a Gallery
of enchanting tots
and produces a Gasp
of involuntary mirth
when they attain their
Dreadful Demises
Yes, this book lists, in alphabetical order, the cause of death for 26 tots beginning with
and continues on…
Edward Gorey was an American illustrator and author who wrote this dark and disturbing alphabet that is quite the opposite of most children’s alphabet books. There is no explanation of how these children ended up in such dire circumstances – where are the adults? The books are illustrated with fine lined black and white drawings which give the book an old-fashioned feel, as though written in the Victorian era instead of the 1960’s. The Gashleycrumb Tinies has never gone out of print.
Edward Gorey lived in a 200 year-old sea captain’s house in Cape Cod, Massachusetts which has been turned into the Edward Gorey House Museum. It looks like a fascinating place to visit as well as the place to purchase interesting merchandise such as this lunchbox:
What do you think of alphabet books written for adults?
I say why not? I love alphabets, so I reckon any theme is better when arranged that way. The librarians just need to make sure they don’t shelve The Gashlycrumb Tinies next to Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.
Black and White: G is for Gnome
Yikes! I bet “gothic fans” would love this one.
I don’t think this is just for adults. Maybe some children would be scared, but I know a couple of children who would be delighted of reading this!
I used to watch “Mystery” on PBS and they had Edward Gorey drawings for the opening credits. My son, who is now 30, just recently told me that they used to scare him…I didn’t even realize he saw them since that program was usually on past his bedtime! Great series for the A to Z. I’m going to check out the rest.
Well, that’s indeed the most unusual children book I’ve ever seen. I love the illustration, but even as an adult I find it slightly depressing. Though I think it may be less so for children.
The author/illustrator has quite a following. The Z is Zapped uses a similar concept but is not nearly as gruesome.