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46th out of 120 books
—
30 voters
The Unstrung Harp
by
Edward Gorey
On November 18th of alternate years Mr. Earbrass begins writing his new novel. Weeks ago he chose its title at random from a list of them he keeps in a little green note-book. It being tea-time of the 17th, he is alarmed not to have thought of a plot to which The Unstrung Harp might apply, but his mind will keep reverting to the last biscuit on the plate. So begins what th...more
Published
(first published 1953)
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I adored the droll humour and beautiful pen and ink drawings in The Unstrung Harp. I smiled while reading this but then a growing sense of unease crept in as I felt a wave of familiarity with this story.
Mr Earbass is the voice in your that tells you to just type one more sentence, to just paint one more stroke or to just finish this chapter. Then you raise your head and realise that, that was 4 hours ago.
He is the niggling voice that reminds you of something long ago that you cannot quite rememb...more
Mr Earbass is the voice in your that tells you to just type one more sentence, to just paint one more stroke or to just finish this chapter. Then you raise your head and realise that, that was 4 hours ago.
He is the niggling voice that reminds you of something long ago that you cannot quite rememb...more
I first encountered Gorey's great The Unstrung Harp; or, Mr Earbrass Writes a Novel at Viable Paradise. Communal reading of TUH is, I take it, a yearly event. I laughed with the rest of my class, ignoring my growing sense of unease over the familiarity with the text. Perhaps I was too much in my head at this juncture to acknowledge how very close to the bone TUH struck. Something strange happened at Viable Paradise; I received the external validation that I'd been waiting years to hear. Not one,...more
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Mr. Earbrass - surrounded by comforts that make him visibly uncomfortable - is the most perfectly realized and sympathetic character who would ever emerge from Gorey's pen. Second place probably goes to the doubtful guest of The Doubtful Guest.
I pretty much hated this book. I don't get the humor, I know that it is supposed to be funny, but I just thought it was stupid. Who is this book for? Certainly not children, I would classify this as a picture book for adults. This story goes on and on and on and on and on. So boring. To me it is very self-indulgent to write about the torments of writing.
I visualize the fans of this book as self-proclaimed 'writers', as they read they chuckle with a wink and a nod, "ha ha, I get this book because...more
I visualize the fans of this book as self-proclaimed 'writers', as they read they chuckle with a wink and a nod, "ha ha, I get this book because...more
THE UNSTRUNG HARP was Edward Gorey's first novel, published in 1953. Although full of the droll humour that makes all of his efforts true pleasures to read, it is a little different from later, typical Gorey. There is more text with each illustration, and the characters involved are not as realistic as later, although these illustrations are still pen and ink drawings set in Edwardian times.
The story concerns C. F. Earbrass, the "well-known novelist". Earbrass is at work on a new book, and each...more
The story concerns C. F. Earbrass, the "well-known novelist". Earbrass is at work on a new book, and each...more
This is a perfect little book. I bought an original copy at a library sale in college because I was drawn to the images, and fell in love with Gorey's sense of humor. If I have known what I had then, I would have treated the dust jacket a lot better. It went with me everywhere for a while, and got beat to hell in the process. But it's still on my shelf, next to the Amphigorey collections and several of the hardcovers. If you like clever, absurd humor, find a copy.
Mr Earbrass belongs to the straying, rather than to the sedentary, type of author. He s never to be found at his desk unless actually writing down a sentence. Before this happens he broods over it indefinitely while picking up and putting down again small, loose objects; walking diagonally across rooms; staring out windows; and so forth. He frequently hums, more in his mind than anywhere else, themes from the Poddington Te Deum."
The Unstrung Harp, Or, Mr. Earbass Writes a Novel is a slim little volume that in words and pictures recounts the efforts of novelist C(lavius) F(rederick) Earbass to come to grips with his latest novel called, for no real reason, The Unstrung Harp.
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The trials and tribulations of Mr Earbrass as he writes a new novel, The Unstrung Harp (what use is that?!!), having already completed and had published three others including the unusually titled A Moral Dustbin. He eventually has his new novel "done up in pink buthcher's paper" for delivery to his publisher as he goes perplexingly oin his way.
Dec 08, 2010
Nate D
added it
Edward Gorey's first published book, and one of the finest. I think it may also have more text than any of the others that followed, a full paragraph for each illustration. Not that the illustrations don't stand alone in all his work, but his sharp, amusing commentary on the creative process would be difficult to convey in image alone.
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The Unstrung Harp is MUCH shorter than its pagecount would have you believe. If I had to classify it in any way, I would call this a picture book for adults. Children will not get the humor in this, but adults (especially if you are a writer or know someone who is) will find it absolutely hilarious.
The Unstrung Harp (1999) by Edward Gorey is the comic depiction of the woes and pains of a struggling writer. It’s rather cute and whimsical with its melancholy language that neither makes you sad nor happy with illustrations that do the same thing. A quick, breezy read.
A longer story by Edward Gorey (I'm sorry it rhymes!) about a fictitious author who is dealing with writing and publishing a new book. This is my favorite Gorey story, the drawings are less impressive than some other stories, but I like the writing better.
Mr. Earbrass was my first and favorite tattoo. It is the scene after he finishes his book and he is standing on the roof ruminating, with different words floating through his head. I get very excited when someone recognizes him.
Truly hilarious book about writing and publishing. Edward Gorey has such a fine sense of humour and his drawings that accompany the text, that complement the text, that are as important as the text are truly delicious.
Pure delight for anyone who's ever scribbled a story! The incomparable Mr. Gorey tells, and illustrates, a tale about an author publishing his latest novel, and the experience hasn't changed much since then!
An amusing take on the procratinating tendencies of writers. The pictures are just as amusing as the verbage. An unstrung harp equals a book not written - neither amounts to much.
What I learned from this book? I am not alone. I have no idea how much sense it would make to someone who isn't a writer or other creative artist, but it's spot on, trust me.
This book can be read in less than 1 hour. Gorey's book is about writting, and all its challanges and woes.
Very well done and autobiographial.
Very well done and autobiographial.
After reading this, I had a better understanding for Jesse Bullington's LJ handle, and a strong desire to write something entitled "More Chains Than Clank."
Any writer would appreciate this amusing take on writing a novel and publishing. Great story.
Still my favorite Edward Gorey book, though I love the art in his later books more.
The Unstrung Harp, Or, Mr. Earbrass Writes A Novel / by Edward Gorey (1953)
Some funny moments, but not as fantastic as Gorey's other books.
Delicious! Perfect gift for all of us aspirants. (Thank you, Cathy!)
Dec 17, 2012
Leslie
added it
Delightful. A woeful paean to reluctant creativity.
I read this tiny book twice during my lunch break. Not a big time commitment. The first time I was not getting it... so many absurd names and references to the characters and story of the novel the Mr. Earbrass is writing. But then I read it a second time, pausing to look at the illustrations, and it became the story of the creator struggling through the process of creating. Loving it, hating it, having it haunt you, exposing it to other's opinions.
Although it's not something I will likely re-re...more
Although it's not something I will likely re-re...more
The unspeakable horror of the literary life.
Short, fun, entertaining look at the life of a writer. The illustrations are wonderful studies in crosshatching.
Delicious.
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Born in Chicago, Gorey came from a colorful family; his parents, Helen Dunham Garvey and Edward Lee Gorey, divorced in 1936 when he was 11, then remarried in 1952 when he was 27. One of his step-mothers was Corinna Mura, a cabaret singer who had a brief role in the classic film Casablanca. His father was briefly a journalist. Gorey's maternal great-grandmother, Helen St. John Garvey, was a popular...more
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“On November 18 of alternate years Mr Earbrass begins writing 'his new novel'. Weeks ago he chose its title at random from a list of them he keeps in a little green note-book. It being tea-time of the 17th, he is alarmed not to have thought of a plot to which The Unstrung Harp might apply.”
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12 people liked it
“Mr. Earbass has rashly been skimming through the early chapters, which he had not looked at for months, and now sees TUH for what it is. Dreadful, dreadful, DREADFUL. He must be mad to go on enduring the unexquisite agony of writing when it all turns out drivel. Mad. Why didn't he become a spy? How does one become one? He will burn the MS. Why is there no fire? Why aren't there the makings of one? How did he get in the unused room on the third floor?”
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5 people liked it
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