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317th out of 422 books
—
205 voters
Elephant House: Photographs of Edward Gorey's House
An intimate photographic tour of Edward Gorey's strange and wonderful house.
Hardcover, 128 pages
Published
September 1st 2003
by Pomegranate Communications
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If you're an Edward Gorey fan, you'll love this book. With a forward by John Updike, it's pictures of his house as he left it. Since Gorey was such a private person, these are rooms that weren't seen by many people during his lifetime. The book is beautifully photographed, and there is a short into to each room, explaining its purpose and some of the items inside. There is also an introduction giving some background on how the author and Gorey knew each other.
This book is clearly a labor of love...more
This book is clearly a labor of love...more
I had the chance a couple of weeks ago to go through Edward Gorey's house on Cape Cod. It was in many ways a disappointing experience, though there were many interesting things to look at. Disappointing, because the house had been cleaned up and turned into a museum of displays focusing on different parts of Gorey's oeuvre. The museum shop had this coffee-table book of photos of Gorey's house before it was scoured--and now I'm even more sad that they didn't leave his house as it was. It's clear...more
A unique insight into the life of Edward Gorey, via his quirky house, which fit him to a "t."
This book provides a look at and inside Ted Gorey's eclectic house on Martha's Vineyard. Gorey's gothic oddity is well captured in the photos, though my only criticism is that there are times it seems that rather than "showing the house" they are working very hard to recreate the oddity within the book itself. Maybe that is just my personal quibble, as overall, I quite enjoyed the book.
An interesting look into the home of Edward Gorey. There is an appropriate sense or macabre due to Mr. Gorey having died only a week prior to the photo tour. Fans of this very private artist will be interested to see how and where he lived. Unfortunately, Mr. McDermotts' photographic skills are evidently amateurish. Most of the pictures are fuzzy, dark and out of focus. Consequently, the book is somewhat a disappointment, but nonetheless a fascinating record of the late artists' residence.
As a fan of Edward Gorey, I enjoyed this wonderful peak inside of his home. The book includes wonderful black and white photographs of his collections, rooms and cats interspersed with quotes and artwork from his books, as well as text by author and friend of Gorey, Kevin McDermott.
This book is positively enchanting. What a joy it was to explore Edward Gorey's wonderful, whimsical, serene house! This is a book I turn to again and again; it gives me peace to gaze at the beautiful photographs contained therein.
Dec 02, 2007
Banzai
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Gorey-ites and old souls
Shelves:
art-books
This is a picture book containing photographs of Edward Gorey's home in the state he left it before death. It's fascinating- FASCINATING the way this man assembled objects and how clearly he incorporated them into his work. It's an utter wreck, complete with a couch sacrificed to his feline muses and piles of papers and books; the sort of house that would make my mother turn on her heels and scream out the door faster than a burning banshee.
One day I'll have one just like it.
The text and photogr...more
One day I'll have one just like it.
The text and photogr...more
A beautiful and illuminating look into the semi-secret life of Edward Gorey. This book is overflowing with gorgeous photos of the little fragments that made up one extraordinary man. Truly a must-have for any Gorey-phile.
permission to make a home an installation, a performance, a visual haven for the heart & imagination.
& of course, Gorey! in a way - like in a dream - no surprises: we knew it would be magic of some kind.
& of course, Gorey! in a way - like in a dream - no surprises: we knew it would be magic of some kind.
Aug 09, 2011
Evie
added it
I wish more of the pics were in color, and more detail was shown. Nothing of the outside of the house except the cover, but an enjoyable moment in time...
An exquisite gem of a book, beautifully photographed and peppered with anecdotes and factoids of a life artfully lived.
Such a beautiful yet sad book. I wish Edward could have lived forever.
The picture of his salt shakers is one of my favorites!
What quirky, strange collections of things he had about his house. Exactly what I would have imagined.
Jun 04, 2007
jen
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Edward Gorey fans, discriminating packrats.
Shelves:
artbooks
I received this as a Christmas gift from someone who'd heard that I liked the work of Edward Gorey. It's a book of images taken of Gorey's home, called the Elephant House, by a close friend and photographer, about a week after the artist died. Gorey was a packrat, a collector of odd things, full of whimsy, a lover of cats. The photos capture a bit of that.
Anyone who loves Edward Gorey should flip through this book. There's something revealing about the way Gorey lived. It is indicative of the kind of person he was, shadowy, mysterious, surprising. There are piles of trinkets and items he found laying around that somehow seem magical just because of the way he has placed them.
This provided some neat (albeit limited) insight into the private life of Edward Gorey. I enjoyed seeing the types of collections he had in his home, and the photography + anecdotes of the author are enjoyable. Love seeing where the artist lived & worked, although I'm pretty sure he would be deemed a hoarder by many today...
This photo-journal offers the perfect opportunity to not only step into Gorey's house, but to take a stroll through each of his rooms. Gorey's rooms are not just rooms, but living libraries. A fantastic book!
Jul 26, 2007
Jessi
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
fans of edward gorey and/or black and white photography
Shelves:
nonfiction,
art
Catch a glimpse into Edward Gorey's home as he left it when he died. Very interesting and attractive book.
a neat little peak into edward gorey's house. the stacks of books made me realize, again, why i enjoy him.
Even in death Edward Gorey perplexed and delighted.
Dec 06, 2011
jennifer
marked it as to-read
given to jason, winter 2010
May 18, 2013
Arlian
marked it as to-read
May 18, 2013
Kelsey
marked it as to-read
May 18, 2013
Palshi
marked it as to-read
May 17, 2013
Squarekitty
marked it as to-read
May 15, 2013
Sara Lee
marked it as to-read
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Mar 21, 2012 05:47am