Why Is 'Amphigorey Also' Considered A Classic In Macabre Literature?

2025-06-15 14:06:18 46

3 answers

Presley
Presley
2025-06-19 06:46:45
As someone who’s collected weird literature for years, 'Amphigorey Also' stands out because Edward Gorey’s artwork and stories tap into something primal. His cross-hatched illustrations feel like Victorian nightmares—elegant but unsettling. The book’s structure is genius: 15 standalone pieces that somehow connect through their morbid humor. Take 'The Gilded Bat,' where a ballerina’s rise to fame ends with her being eaten by bats. It’s not just dark; it’s absurdly funny in a way only Gorey pulls off. His work doesn’t rely on cheap scares. Instead, it lingers in your mind like a half-remembered ghost story. The way he plays with language (those rhyming couplets!) and visual pacing makes it a masterclass in macabre storytelling. If you like Tim Burton’s early films or 'A Series of Unfortunate Events,' this is the OG vibe.
Delilah
Delilah
2025-06-16 10:04:46
'Amphigorey Also' earns its classic status by being a masterwork of subversion. Gorey takes children’s book tropes—alphabet poems, moral fables—and twists them into hilariously grim parodies. In 'The Untitled Book,' a character literally vanishes from the narrative mid-sentence. That’s the kind of audacity that makes his work timeless.

What fascinates me most is how Gorey balances dread and comedy. 'The Iron Tonic' describes a spa town where guests die off-screen, yet the tone feels like a dry British sitcom. His precise prose (“It was night, and the moon shone”) contrasts with the chaos unfolding in the drawings. This juxtaposition creates unease without explicit gore.

The book also pioneered a visual language for macabre tales. Gorey’s architectural details (those ominous doorways!) and stiffly posed characters influenced everything from 'Coraline' to 'Over the Garden Wall.' His stories don’t explain their horrors, leaving readers to fill in the gaps—which makes them even creepier. For modern equivalents, try 'The Gashlycrumb Tinies' or 'The Doubtful Guest,' but 'Amphigorey Also' remains the pinnacle of his craft.
Bennett
Bennett
2025-06-17 09:08:53
Gorey’s 'Amphigorey Also' is the macabre equivalent of a jazz improvisation—structured yet wildly inventive. Each story feels like peeking into a dollhouse where something’s terribly wrong. 'The Osbick Bird' looks like a sweet children’s tale until you realize it’s about symbiotic codependency between a bird and an old man. Classic Gorey: charming on the surface, disturbing underneath.

His genius lies in restraint. Most horror overexplains; Gorey gives you one ominous image (a lone glove, an empty pram) and lets your imagination do the rest. The book’s pacing is deliberate, with silent panels that amplify dread. Unlike modern horror relying on shock value, his work unnerves through implication—like hearing footsteps in an empty hall.

For fans of 'Amphigorey Also,' seek out 'The Haunted Tea Cosy' or 'The Epipleptic Bicycle.' They capture that same blend of wit and unease. Gorey proves horror can be sophisticated, even whimsical, without losing its bite.
View All Answers
Scan code to download App

Related Books

The Rich also cry
The Rich also cry
Selena the daughter of a wealthy aristocrat fell in love with a poor migrant boy Chris. However, it would be over her father's dead body would he allow such a relationship to go on. Selena falls pregnant and her father did not hesitate to do what he thought was best for his daughter, unfortunately, he lost more than he bargained for. Caleb Thompson was given up for adoption because his grandfather wouldn't accept a mixed-race grandchild into his family. He grew up not knowing who his mother was, and spent his entire life at the home of his adoptive parents who barely had enough but gave up the little they had for him. Caleb enters into an arranged marriage with Sophie Fernandez the granddaughter of a wealthy family at a time he was accused of a crime he did not commit, they both needed each other help. Caleb's sudden inheritance gives him leverage but not after he was thrown into a world of revenge, romance, passion, love-triangle and restoration.
9.2
49 Chapters
Scars is Also Beautiful
Scars is Also Beautiful
Betrayed, raped, tortured and abandoned to her death, Eve swore that she would find vengeance on the family who had wronged her and her people. This includes the very man she had given her heart to, Adam Sviatoslavich. .... Being a princess of the Ice kingdom Zhatiera, Eve knew she wanted to do more than to soon rule after her beloved parents and, roaming through the forest and finding new adventure was the one thing she can't ever let go. When one of her adventures causes her to encounter the future king of the Lycan empire, Adam, she was smitten and ready to abandoned her throne for the man she calls soulmate. Despite being warned by her parents, she chose to stay with Adam who claimed to love her and swore to do right by her. Unfortunately, his own family do not hold the same sentiments and is determined to make the couple suffer. When their goal was achieved, Eve was left to die by the very person she entrust her life to. Surviving her painful ordeal with no kingdom and family to call her own, Eve swore to do whatever it takes to get her revenge and, if a whole kingdom has to burn because of it, it wouldn't matter. They all deserve it. No matter what it takes. ... I met him when I was a child, I knew he was mine from the moment I met him, I have sworn to never love anyone but him, I was his, but I didn't know that he was never mine, I never expect him to turn his back on me and betray me so cruelly, I would have given my life for him, I just never knew that was what he had wanted from me in the first place...
9.3
134 Chapters
I Am Also A Werewolf
I Am Also A Werewolf
After helping her human friend deal with his problem with his ex-wife's parents, Rori Reeler returns to werewolf city where she is challenged by her sister's husband who is against her decision to marry her human friend. She must find her werewolf strength and prove to everyone around her that werewolves should be allowed to marry humans.
Not enough ratings
20 Chapters
Classic Faery Tales Rewritten For Adults Only
Classic Faery Tales Rewritten For Adults Only
Seven Classic Faery Tales are given a very adult makeover. You are entering a world of myth, magic, and Immortals. Throw in the humans for the added spice of erotica and violence. Mix together and you have dark adult faery tales ........ Do not read if easily offended!
Not enough ratings
98 Chapters
He hates me but also love me
He hates me but also love me
ivamus consequat iFusce fermentum, lacus non dignissim rhoncus, magna velit laoreet diam, et varius nulla ipsum non lectus. Etiam in rutrum urna. Mauris id magna in arcu sollicitudin ornare. Etiam iaculis ligula nec ligula lacinia dapibus. Nulla pulvinar, nisl in scelerisque tincidunt, eros lectus maximus mauris, id finibus odio risus quis eros. Fusce dictum consequat lacus ac tincidunt. Vestibulum viverra vulputate velit, nec ultrices metus placerat eleifend. Praesent facilisis massa ac commodo mollis. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Nam aliquet odio dolor, quis hendrerit felis consectetur eu. Maecenas quis sapien nec justo pulvinar lobortis sit amet in quam. Praesent dictum gravida semper. Ut sapien metus, congue eget fringilla quis, egestas hendrerit urna.
Not enough ratings
6 Chapters
The Divorced Billionaire Heiress
The Divorced Billionaire Heiress
Nicole Stanton, the richest young woman in the world, showed up low profile at the airport but she was immediately swarmed by reporters.Reporter: “Ms. Stanton, why did your three-year marriage with Mr. Ferguson come to an end?”She smiled and said, “Because I have to inherit my billion-dollar family fortune…”Reporter: “Are the rumors that you’ve been dating a dozen other young men within a month true?”Before the billionaire heiress could speak, an icy voice came from not far away. “No, that’s fake news.”Eric Ferguson stood out in the crowd. “I also have a billion-dollar net worth. Ms. Stanton, why don’t you inherit my family fortune?”
8.5
2631 Chapters

Related Questions

What Is The Darkest Story In 'Amphigorey Also'?

3 answers2025-06-15 03:23:44
The darkest story in 'Amphigorey Also' has to be 'The Gashlycrumb Tinies.' It's a twisted alphabet book where each letter stands for a child's gruesome death. Edward Gorey's macabre humor shines here—kids perish from absurdly tragic accidents, like being struck by a rake or wasting away in despair. The illustrations are deceptively simple, making the horrors even more unsettling. What gets me is how nonchalant it feels, like these deaths are just another Tuesday. It’s not gory, but the casual cruelty sticks with you. Gorey’s signature style turns something playful into a chilling reminder of life’s fragility.

How Does 'Amphigorey Also' Compare To Gorey'S Other Collections?

3 answers2025-06-15 04:19:53
As someone who's collected Gorey's works for years, 'Amphigorey Also' stands out for its darker whimsy compared to his earlier collections. While 'Amphigorey' and 'Amphigorey Too' focus on macabre nursery rhymes and Victorian satire, 'Also' dives deeper into existential dread. The 'Leaves' sequence is pure visual poetry—gnarled trees whispering secrets you’ll never understand. 'The Stupid Joke' feels like a slapstick routine performed at a funeral. It’s less about punchlines and more about the void behind them. What fascinates me is how Gorey’s signature crosshatching gets looser here, like his pen was shaking with suppressed laughter (or screams). If you loved 'The Gashlycrumb Tinies' but wished it was more unhinged, this is your book.

Where Can I Buy 'Amphigorey Also' By Edward Gorey?

3 answers2025-06-15 01:42:02
I found 'Amphigorey Also' by Edward Gorey at several places online and offline. For physical copies, major book retailers like Barnes & Noble usually carry it, especially in their Gothic or illustrated sections. Independent bookstores specializing in macabre or niche literature often stock Gorey’s works too—I’ve spotted it at The Strand in NYC and Powell’s in Portland. Online, Amazon has both new and used copies, sometimes at a discount. If you prefer supporting smaller shops, AbeBooks and Alibris list rare editions from independent sellers worldwide. For digital readers, Kindle and Google Play Books offer e-book versions, though Gorey’s art deserves the tactile experience of paper.

Are There Any Film Adaptations Of 'Amphigorey Also' Stories?

3 answers2025-06-15 23:24:14
I've hunted for film adaptations of 'Amphigorey Also' for years, and the answer's complicated. Edward Gorey's work is so visually distinct that direct adaptations are rare—most filmmakers find his macabre ink drawings too stylized to translate. However, his influence bleeds into stop-motion projects like 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' (the spiral hill scene is pure Gorey) and Tim Burton's early shorts. The closest official adaptation might be segments in PBS's 'Mystery!' intro, which borrowed his gothic silhouettes. Some indie directors have attempted shorts based on 'The Gashlycrumb Tinies', but they're hard to find outside film festivals. Gorey's stories thrive in that unsettling space between animation and live-action, which might explain why Netflix or A24 hasn't tackled a full feature. For Gorey-esque vibes, seek out Jan Švankmajer's 'Alice' or the 'Coraline' movie—they capture that eerie, detailed strangeness.

Is 'Amphigorey Also' A Sequel To Edward Gorey'S Previous Works?

3 answers2025-06-15 10:45:21
As someone who's collected Gorey's works for years, I can confirm 'Amphigorey Also' isn't a direct sequel in the traditional sense. It's the fourth compilation in his 'Amphigorey' series, each volume being a curated anthology of his standalone stories. What makes this one special is how it showcases Gorey's artistic evolution—the etchings are sharper, the humor darker. It includes gems like 'The Loathsome Couple', which feels more psychologically complex than his earlier macabre whimsy. While the tone connects to his previous books, each story operates independently. Think of it as another exhibit in Gorey's bizarre museum rather than a continuation.
Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status