蜜芽传媒

Artist and writer Edward St John Gorey once stated his mission in life was to 鈥榤ake everybody as uneasy as possible'.

To find out if he succeeded, and to celebrate Edward鈥檚 centenary year, author, illustrator and political cartoonist Chris Riddell, dives into the world of this often overlooked figure in literature, theatre and art.

Friends, caretakers, biographers and admirers explore and critique the myths, legends and truths about the man.

The programme explores both the Gothic in the 20th century and where, and whether, Gorey sits in the Gothic canon. Through archive and extracts of his work, we hear how Edward鈥檚 intricate drawings and lively verse amassed fans all over the world, leaving a legacy as indefinable as the artist himself.

The books of presenter Chris Riddell, OBE have won many awards including the UNESCO Prize, the Greenaway Medal and the Hay Festival Medal for Illustration. His work includes Ottoline, the award-winning Goth Girl and The Edge Chronicles with Paul Stewart. Chris is also a political cartoonist whose work appears in the Observer, the Literary Review and the New Statesman. He is a past president of the Schools Library Association, and an ambassador for Booktrust and Amnesty International and was the UK Children鈥檚 Laureate 2015-2017.

Passages read from The Fatal Lozenge and The Willowdale Handcar by Julie Teal, Katherine Fenton and Mark Elstob.

Special thanks to Eric, Jeanette and Will at The Edward Gorey Charitable Trust, Erin at the Wadsworth Athenaeum, Gregory at The Edward Gorey House, Andrew Alpern, Mark Storey, Barbie Selby and Irwin Terry.

Archive research: Harry Ransom Centre - University of Texas at Austin, Columbia University, Harvard University.

鈥淭he Dick Cavett Show鈥� Courtesy of Daphne Productions / Global ImageWorks.

鈥淢ystery!鈥� theme Courtesy of Normand Roger.

Producer: Mollie Davidson
Executive Producer: Rich Power

Show less