The Shrinking of Treehorn

Edward Gorey was an American writer and artist noted for his macabre illustrated books. Gorey is typically described as an illustrator. His books can be found in the humor and cartoon sections of major bookstores, but books like The Object Lesson have earned serious critical respect as works of surrealist art. His experimentations — creating books that were wordless, books that were literally matchbox-sized, pop-up books, books entirely populated by inanimate objects — complicates matters...

Florence Parry Heide was born in Pittsburgh and raised in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. She began her undergraduate studies at Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, then transferred to the University of California at Los Angeles, from which she received her degree in 1939. She moved to New York City and began working in advertising and public relations. When World War II began, she returned to Pittsburgh and became publicity director of The Pittsburgh Playhouse. She met her future husband...