And Speaking of Magnolias...

Warning: those who follow the first link in today's post should be over the age of 18! (Anyone under the age of 18 probably doesn't know what Bromo Seltzer is. Actually, that's okay, because anyone under the age of 70 probably doesn't know who Turhan Bey is!* So, maybe anyone under the age of 70 should beware.)

Were we speaking of magnolias? No, but we'll get to them in a minute.

I'm sure you've seen Mystery on PBS. Its opening animated sequence was drawn by the late Edward Gorey. Gorey had a delightful sense of gallows humor.



We have several books in our collection both written and illustrated by Gorey including, The Unstrung Harp, Or, Mr. Earbrass Writes a Novel [813 GOR], and The Headless Bust: A Melancholy Meditation on the False Millennium [811.54 GOR], which was published in 1999 prior to the new millennium. There are also several books in our children's section that contain Gorey's illustrations such as You Read to Me, I'll Read to You, a book of poetry written by John Ciardi [J 811 CIA].

One book of Gorey's that we don't have is The Recently Deflowered Girl: The Right Thing to Say on Every Dubious Occasion by Hyacinthe Phypps (a.k.a Gorey). The book is online, probably in violation of copyright, but perhaps not. I'm sure Gorey would have loved to find his work enjoyed by so many through the internet.

Okay, yes I sort of mentioned flowers in the "deflowering," but I haven't mentioned magnolias. So where's the tie-in? At the Edward Gorey House, of course! I once visited the house in Yarmouthport, MA, and on the grounds I saw one of the largest magnolia trees I've ever seen in my life! So, see, everything is related, and we have spoken of magnolias!

The next time you're on the Cape, make sure you visit the Edward Gorey House. It is full of Gorey's work and collections. Be prepared to spend hours browsing.



*Turhan Bey