The Gashlycrumb Tinies

I found this book hilarious. Gorey's children have a proper Victorian look to them which makes their scenarios that much more bizarre. Most of the drawings show the unfortunate children just before their deaths; only a few of the pictures actually show explicit death or violence.

One could read "Gashlycrumb Tinies" as an outrageous parody of children's books (of alphabet primers in particular), or just enjoy it for what it is. Either way, I think it's a wicked delight.


Drop-Dead Humor from A to Z   March 19, 2004
Gary F. Taylor (Biloxi, MS USA)
44 out of 47 found this review helpful

Edward Gorey's dark subversion of children's alphabet books is a tiny book guaranteed to bring a sinister smile to the face of every one with a twisted sense of humor. Opening with "A is for Amy who fell down the stairs" and running all the way to "Z is for Zilla who drank too much gin," the simple but inspired rhymes combine with Gorey's pseudo-Victorian Gothic crosshatch illustrations to wickedly funny effect.

Although his disaster-specific illustrations (such as "R is Rhoda consumed by a fire") are macabrely witty, Gorey is really at his best when he leaves the most to your imagination. Consequently, it is really his illustrations of impending doom ("P is for Prue trampled flat in a brawl") or the shocking aftermath of an unknown circumstance ("K is for Kate who was struck with an ax") that are most likely to inspire a mischievous grin.

Although you might not want to give this to your anxiety-prone niece or your traumatized stepson as a Christmas stocking stuffer unless you wish to make them worry about your intent, older children will likely find it every bit as comical as adults--but adults are the real audience here, much more likely to catch the drop-dead humor involved. Wickedly amusing and sinisterly charming in every way.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer


highly amusing   June 28, 2000
Andrew Greenberg (Rockaway, NJ)
33 out of 35 found this review helpful

This is the first Gorey I have ever read. I just read it today. Here are my impressions:

As my title indicates, I found it highly amusing. I found myself laughing out loud a few times while reading this very short book.

The illustrations are fantastic as you can gather from most of these reviews. Most of the illustrations are funny but I might note the exception to that in the gruesome image of Kate's corpse after being struck with an ax. I think that's the only illustration taking place after the event. That proved to be an exception though. The book is very amusing and hilarious at times.

It's an anti-children's book for adults. It can be a funny remedy to the insipid and happy-go-lucky kinds of children's books. That doesn't mean this is just for parents or those particularly sick with those children's books. I think anyone with a decent sense of humor, and especially a dark one, would enjoy this.

It's short. I don't know why the information says it's 64 pages because there are only 26 letters in the alphabet. Anyway, my point is that it's just a little humorous diversion.

This hardcover edition is really great. It's high quality and just plain nice...


My Favorite Gorey   June 17, 2000
Ella Kwint (TX)
13 out of 13 found this review helpful

I own most all of Gorey's titles, and though "The Doubtful Guest" is my sentimental favorite merely because it was my first, "Tinies" never fails to amuse me. For someone who otherwise would never be caught dead using the phrase 'deliciously macabre', you should allow yourself to appreciate Gorey's unabashed deliciousness, for what else can you can this volume? Inspired? Yes! Hysterical? Yes! Yet it's more than an alphabet book for adults--it's good to know in this politically correct era, that it's OK to laugh out loud when Kate is struck by an axe. If your tastes aren't quite that edgy, then you won't be saddened when Gorey's reached the end, with Zelda drinking too much gin. This material strikes a very timeless cord, and though I wouldn't read it to a toddler--unless his was a particularly developed sense of humor, this savvy tot--I would be alarmed by anyone offened by it. Gorey's great with the 'pleasant squirm', and here he's mastered it perfectly.


A Masterpiece of the not-so-subtle Macabre!!!!!!   August 4, 1999
Ryan Costantino (Nowhere, Special)
12 out of 12 found this review helpful

I purchased this book after realizing that Edward Gorey was the wonderfully sinister artist behind the scary illustrations in most of the books by John Bellairs. What a pleasant (yet disturbing) surprise it was to see the alphabet written in such a memorably deranged way. The shock value alone of this book is great (just imagine an elementary school teacher handing this one out!!!) If you can appreciate anything sick and twisted and if you like any form of dark illustrations get everything ever drawn by Mr. Edward Gorey!!!!!!