Born To Be Posthumous, The Eccentric Life and Mysterious Genius of Edward Gorey by Mark Dery is the long anticipated biography of author/artist Edward Gorey. Researched and written over a seven year period, author Dery explores every aspect of Mr. Gorey's life, career, and exceptional talent.
When asked in interviews about his life, Edward Gorey was quick to point out that his was a boring existence. The life of a successful visual artist or writer usually is, and Mr. Gorey worked tirelessly in both mediums. Countless hours were spent alone with his cats (is one ever really alone when one lives with cats?) employing his creative talents to produce hundreds of pieces of writing and thousands of drawings. In addition to the time spent working, Mr. Gorey also spent hundreds of hours reading thousands of books. And yet, the overall portrait that emerges is not of a solitary man or recluse, a tag often pinned on him.
Through this volume we come to realize that Edward Gorey was an extremely organized individual who enjoyed the company and mental stimulation of others, but had very little time for intimate socializing. The result is that the people who interacted with him felt that they didn't really know him, or more accurately knew only one part of him. If he was at the ballet, he talked ballet...if he was involved in a theatrical project, he concentrated on the project...with his agent or publisher, he talked about the book project or illustration assignment. Amongst his family and friends he was regarded as a highly entertaining companion who had a wicked opinion on every subject and could skewer anyone and anything with a few well chosen, and often flamboyantly expressed, words.
This biography brings Edward Gorey to life in a highly readable, entertaining volume. Author Mark Dery seems to have reached out to, and asked pointed questions of, virtually every person who crossed paths personally and professionally with Mr. Gorey. Mr. Dery's exhaustive research also included hundreds of articles about, and interviews with the artist. The resulting work paints a thorough portrait of Edward Gorey as a highly unique individual who was possessed of an astounding talent and the drive and self motivation to produce works that continue to amuse and inspire his legion of fans.
Born To be Posthumous, The Eccentric Life and Mysterious Genius of Edward Gorey by Mark Dery will be published on November 6, 2018 by Little, Brown and Company.