E Is for Edward is a beautifully illustrated and intricately written biography/centennial celebration of Edward Gorey written by and produced under the auspices of the Gorey Charitable Trust. Released 23rd Sept 2025 by Hachette on their Black Dog & Leventhal imprint, it's 384 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
Part Edwardian sensibility, but with a definite ascerbic *twist* of the macabre, Gorey has always been wonderfully, undeniably, out of step with the mundane world. This is a comprehensive, encyclopedic, beautifully curated collection of his illustrations, his work as a playwright, author, set designer, and oddball. Apart from starting with Gorey's early life, the biographical bits are arranged quite whimsically, and can be sampled non-consecutively at whim without losing much context.
It's lavishly illustrated and is a treat to flip through. The authors have included a number of archival photos and facsimile documents as well as page after page of Gorey's sketches and drawings.
Five stars. Wonderful reference for fans of the artist as well as for readers interested in the period.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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