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The Haunted Tea-Cosy: A Dispirited and Distasteful Diversion for Christmas
Gorey has never been funnier or more “impossible to resist� ( Boston Herald ) than in this peculiar retelling of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol .
64 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1997
7 people are currently reading
990 people want to read
About the author
Edward Gorey
497books2,002followersBorn in Chicago, Gorey came from a colourful 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 19th century greeting card writer/artist, from whom he claimed to have inherited his talents. He attended a variety of local grade schools and then the Francis W. Parker School. He spent 1944�1946 in the Army at Dugway Proving Ground in Utah, and then attended Harvard University from 1946 to 1950, where he studied French and roomed with future poet Frank O'Hara.
Although he would frequently state that his formal art training was "negligible", Gorey studied art for one semester at The School of The Art Institute of Chicago in 1943, eventually becoming a professional illustrator. From 1953 to 1960, he lived in New York City and worked for the Art Department of Doubleday Anchor, illustrating book covers and in some cases adding illustrations to the text. He has illustrated works as diverse as Dracula by Bram Stoker, The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells, and Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot. In later years he illustrated many children's books by John Bellairs, as well as books in several series begun by Bellairs and continued by other authors after his death.
Although he would frequently state that his formal art training was "negligible", Gorey studied art for one semester at The School of The Art Institute of Chicago in 1943, eventually becoming a professional illustrator. From 1953 to 1960, he lived in New York City and worked for the Art Department of Doubleday Anchor, illustrating book covers and in some cases adding illustrations to the text. He has illustrated works as diverse as Dracula by Bram Stoker, The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells, and Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot. In later years he illustrated many children's books by John Bellairs, as well as books in several series begun by Bellairs and continued by other authors after his death.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
April 3, 2020
This is a lovely spoof on ‘a Christmas Carol� in Edwards own strange way. I love this one and it’s the best of the book thus far. Edmund Gravel is having a sad dinner by himself on Christmas eve with decade old fruitcake. Edward is brutal about fruitcake in this. A huge bug , the Bahhum Bug - get it, jumps out of his table and brings 3 spirits with him for the evening. The Spectre of Christmas that never was, the Spectre of Christmas that Isn’t, and the Spectre of Christmas that Never Will Be.
That had me. It cracked me up. We see all these scenes that don’t mean anything to the person, but they sort of tell a story about these people. There are notorious wallpaper thieves in the mix. I mean who thinks of something like this, but a genius or madman. The whole thing ends with Edmund inviting people over for a party. The frames are in color and we don’t get his wall paper backgrounds.
It feels like this story is in 2 parts. The 2nd part continues in the Headless Bust.
This story is silly, but tickled me all the same. I appreciate his odd humor.
That had me. It cracked me up. We see all these scenes that don’t mean anything to the person, but they sort of tell a story about these people. There are notorious wallpaper thieves in the mix. I mean who thinks of something like this, but a genius or madman. The whole thing ends with Edmund inviting people over for a party. The frames are in color and we don’t get his wall paper backgrounds.
It feels like this story is in 2 parts. The 2nd part continues in the Headless Bust.
This story is silly, but tickled me all the same. I appreciate his odd humor.
January 26, 2020
The author had me at, "Waiting for the week's teabag to steep," then, by page 3, I declared to my partner that this book required reading out loud, which veritably, I did. We laughed out loud and enjoyed it tremendously. My mind still boggles at the idea of "an international gang of wallpaper thieves."
December 30, 2016
Reread.
A 'A Christmas Carol' parody at the hands of Gorey. A tea-cosy taking the place of a door-knocker. Good enough for me.
A 'A Christmas Carol' parody at the hands of Gorey. A tea-cosy taking the place of a door-knocker. Good enough for me.
April 3, 2020
A pastiche on Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' in that three ghosts visit Edmund Gravel, in the role of Scrooge, who is also known as The Recluse of Lower Spigot. The Barhumbug, what a great name for a creature, appears from the Tea-Cosy to lead Edmund on his adventures.
June 9, 2011
Today while wiling away the minutes at the library, waiting for my grandparents to come pick me up, I found myself wandering the nonfiction section. The Haunted Tea Cosy by Edward Gorey caught my eye because of its small size compared to its surrounding books. I found I had to pick it up because A. its title amused me and B. it was by Edward Gorey. (A name that pops up every now and then but I really have no idea what his significance was. I'm still not sure, actually...) Anyhow, I read The Haunted Tea Cosy right then and there in the solitude of the 7 ft. nonfiction shelves, snickering aloud ever so softly, of course. It was a pretty magical moment. I should aimlessly browse the nonfiction shelves more often. (Though I'm still not sure why this book qualified as nonfiction...)
July 28, 2012
This Gorey masterpiece gives us his take on the Christmas Carol story by Dickens. Edmund Gravel sits down for tea on Christmas Eve, cuts a slice of fruitcake, and is immediately visited by the Spectre of Christmas That Never Was, the Spectre of Christmas That Isn't, and the Spectre of Christmas That Never Will Be. Guided on his spectral journey by the Bahhum Bug, Edmund is taken through his village of Lower Spigot and shown Affecting Scenes, Distressing Scenes, and Heart-Rending Scenes. Filled with Gorey's spectacular drawings and his twisted and mysterious world-view, this was a nice little diversion before leaping back into my vintage mysteries. Four and a half stars out of five.
This review was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
This review was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
December 9, 2016
In 1997 The New York Times Magazine asked Gorey to reflect on? rethink? Dickens's Christmas Carol, hoping for something Gorey-ian, and they got it: Creepy Bahhum Bug and a contemplation of The Christmas that Never Was, The Christmas that Isn't, and The Christmas That Will Never Be. Peculiar and smile-inducing. What's the point? That's the wrong question, dude! Ask Dickens that! Fun, an anti-Christmas treat that MAY, from a certain point of view, honor Dickens's message. Gorey was a Victorianist, so it just may be true.
December 14, 2018
Four and a half stars. Reviewing such a book takes as long as reading it and all the enjoyment is in seeing Mr. Gorey’s wonderful Edwardian illustrations and reading his accompanying seriously silly texts. There is strictly no point in attempting to interpret them. Read, watch, and be amazed that such a talent once existed. And yes, I’ve pretty much been a fan from the moment I lay eyes on his work as a wee little thing. He was rather ubiquitous when once I was a child in the 70’s.
December 23, 2009
The British tradition of reading ghost stories on Christmas Eve continues. Edward Gorey wrote and illustrated this odd Dickensian tale. Have your dictionary handy: anent, subfusc, minatory, objurgatory, and cynosure!
April 22, 2018
It was quite funny without really saying anything. I particularly liked the theft of the wallpaper and of course all the melodrama that was sort of paying out Dickens I guess.
It's cute and funny and not a very demanding thing to read. The title doesn't really have much relevance
It's cute and funny and not a very demanding thing to read. The title doesn't really have much relevance
March 4, 2021
I'm thinking, almost on the edge of certainty, the most brilliant that I've read. Definitely the funniest.
December 17, 2010
Subtitle - a dispirited and distasteful diversion for Christmas.
Gorey has Dickens meeting Kafka in an artsy replay of the Christmas
Eve classic.
Always loved Gorey's work on Mystery Theater.
The back of the book wittily says -
Many of Edward Gorey's most fervent devotees think he's (a)English
(b) dead. Actually, he has never so much as visited either place.
Well that was in '97. He is dead now (2000), but hard to believe he's
not English.
December 24, 2017
I wasn’t quite sure what to think about the book as I was reading it. It was entertaining and fun to decipher. (I say decipher because I had to look up several words and go through the randomness). There were clever parts and the illustrations were super cute.
February 14, 2011
I was just thinking about Gorey a few days ago. Odd to run across this. Should find another copy.
December 19, 2014
Well this is just wonderful and bizarre.
July 10, 2017
Totally Bizarre.
I'm not half sure what I just read, but it was delightful.
I'm not half sure what I just read, but it was delightful.
June 6, 2018
Utterly ridiculous and beautifully illustrated in Gorey's trademark style.
June 23, 2019
An interesting little parody of the famous Dickens Christmas tale, which really only works because Gorey points out the absurdity of the ending Dickens wrote by throwing a big party at the end.
January 21, 2024
Christmas may never be the same.
December 15, 2024
I love how ridiculous the antics are in this.
September 11, 2023
Gorey tackles (sort of) A Christmas Carol in the only way he can. Edmund Gravel, a recluse, is joined by a giant Bahhumbug and they go off with the Spectre af Christmas That Never Was who shows them a bunch of random odd scenes. Later the Spectre of Christmas That Isn't arrives then the Spectre of Christmas That Never Will Be.
After opening his eyes Gravel and the bug plan a party.
After opening his eyes Gravel and the bug plan a party.
August 6, 2012
This book fell into my lap at work and since it is quite short, I figured I would take a break and read it. It is a quick, irreverent retelling of Dicken's A Christmas Carol. I know others have retold this tale, but Gorey has his own style. I miss seeing new books by him, but the old titles hold up well. I was glad to read this again.
I recommend this to readers who like quirky books; those who have not encountered either Gorey or this book before or folks who are bah humbug on Christmas.
I recommend this to readers who like quirky books; those who have not encountered either Gorey or this book before or folks who are bah humbug on Christmas.
May 21, 2017
The Haunted Tea-Cosy is an excellent re-imagining of Dickens' A Christmas Carol from the morbid mind of Edward Gorey. Noted miser of Lower Spigot, Edmund Gravel, unleashes three Christmas ghosts while attempting to cut a stale fruitcake. Guided on his journey to enlightenment by a Buhhum Bug that leaps from his tea-cosy, Edmund is shown in turn by the ghosts The Christmas That Never Was, The Christmas That Isn't and, finally, The Christmas That Never Will Be.
April 4, 2012
Gorey is always on form, and this is no exception. Reminiscent of an exceptionally bizarre "Christmas Carol", Gorey's penchant for strange, pithy descriptions of ominous events in the lives of his numerous oddly named characters shines throughout.
December 16, 2013
I don't quite understand it, but after reading it a few times, I have to admit that I rather like it. And I quite relished Gorey's use of large and/or unusual words. It added a nice touch to the general confusion of the piece.
August 27, 2014
I have always been a fan of Gorey's illustrations, Especially those used in PBS' Masterpiece Mystery opening credits. This is the first book I've read that Gorey wrote. I will have to read more before I can make a solid opinion.
March 10, 2016
This was a fun, little read. A bizarre and eccentric re-telling of , with no real moral or resolution. A bit morbid and melancholy, and beautifully illustrated, as usual.
January 7, 2009
I've been putting away my holiday books and reading as I go, so here's the first of them. Good ol' Gorey! Often odd, always a pleasure.
March 14, 2017
Ah, Gorey. Thank you for this, and so many other delights.
February 22, 2010
Gorey's version of A Christmas Carol.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
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