Books › The Gilded Bat
The Gilded Bat
First published 1966 · 66 pages
A darkly droll and exquisitely illustrated chronicle of a peculiar ballerina's lonely rise to fame and dreadful demise.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping into a stark, exquisitely drawn world where the macabre meets the magical. The narrative moves at a brisk pace, chronicling a peculiar heroine's transformation and lonely ascent to artistic heights with a distinctly dark and droll humor. The atmosphere is steeped in a mysterious, woeful elegance, balancing the glamour of chic ballets with the isolation of stark apartments and dubious encounters. The prose and illustrations work in tandem to deliver a wry, lonely drama that never takes itself too seriously, even as it marches toward a dreadful end. It is a perfect delight for readers who revel in gothic aesthetics, deadpan comedy, and tales of peculiar artistic ambition.
- Mood
- lonely
- mysterious
- peculiar
- stark
- Tone
- dark
- droll
- wry
- woeful
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- the price of fame · artistic transformation · isolation · the macabre
- The writing
- Darkly humorous and deadpan, relying on a droll interplay between the text and exquisitely crafted illustrations.
- The arc
- A peculiar and lonely ascent to artistic heights that culminates in an abrupt, dreadful end.
- Who it's for
- Readers who appreciate macabre humor, peculiar heroines, and the lonely, stark aesthetics of gothic illustration.
Content notes
- death
- dead animals
About the book
With his typical dark, droll humor, Edward Gorey tells how Maudie, a girl given to staring at dead birds, is transformed into Mirella, a chic and mysterious prima ballerina. This woeful tale chronicles her ascent to the peak of fame, followed by her unexpected and dreadful demise. Gorey's exquisitely crafted illustrations of magical ballets, dubious barons, and stark apartments set the stage for this lonely drama of a slightly peculiar heroine.
Description from Open Library.
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