--- product_id: 286636 title: "The Gashlycrumb Tinies: From Basil to Desmond, 26 children meet grim fates in Edward Gorey's darkly witty, surreal illustrated alphabet" price: "$25.04" currency: USD in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.us/products/286636-the-gashlycrumb-tinies-from-basil-to-desmond-26-children-meet store_origin: US region: United States of America --- # The Gashlycrumb Tinies: From Basil to Desmond, 26 children meet grim fates in Edward Gorey's darkly witty, surreal illustrated alphabet **Price:** $25.04 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Gashlycrumb Tinies: From Basil to Desmond, 26 children meet grim fates in Edward Gorey's darkly witty, surreal illustrated alphabet - **How much does it cost?** $25.04 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.us](https://www.desertcart.us/products/286636-the-gashlycrumb-tinies-from-basil-to-desmond-26-children-meet) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description "B is for Basil assaulted by bears. C is for Clara who wasted away. D is for Desmond thrown out of a sleigh. . . ” A striking small-format illustrated edition of one of Edward Gorey's "dark masterpieces of surreal morality" ( Vanity Fair ) — a witty, disquieting journey through the alphabet. Review: An Amusing and Ghastly Gallery of Gruesome Demises - Ostensibly a children's book (but beloved by many adults), Edward Gorey's “The Gashlycrumb Tinies”, originally published in 1963, has never set well with certain members of the reading public who decry its content as too disturbing, too sick, or simply just too much for their fragile constitutions (and, allegedly, the constitutions of any sheltered offspring they may have under their command). Presented in a series of interrelated rhyming couplets, the book, in less than 30 pages, succinctly recounts the grisly and untimely demises of 26 unfortunate “tinies” (children) who are, often as a result of their own folly, dispatched in alphabetical order (“A is for Amy...”, “B is for Basil”...etc.). The result is a jet-black combination of Gorey's clever, hair-raising humor and the delightfully morbid illustrations that accompany the tinies' fatal misadventures. I was a child myself when I first read this and I find it as entertaining today as I did 55 years ago: it's a work chock-full of giggles that's also a parody of every parents worst nightmare. But, while I understand Gorey's sense of humor may not appeal to everyone, I find the expressions of horror and disgust that continue to greet this book to be ridiculous, and more reflective of some reader's coddled natures than as fair or accurate critiques. Those of us entranced by the old Grimm's Fairy Tales as toddlers were pretty much inured to the iniquities of the sanguinary finger of fate by the time “The Gashlycrumb Tinies” came out. If you haven't read Edward Gorey, “The Gashlycrumb Tinies” is as good a place as any to start. It's short, to-the-point and, once you've finished, you'll undoubtedly know whether or not you're a Gorey fan. Review: Oddly funny - Perfect for people with a macabre sense of humor like myself. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #17,293 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #1 in Limericks & Humorous Verse #5 in Art of Comics & Manga #14 in Biographies & History Graphic Novels | | Customer Reviews | 4.9 out of 5 stars 2,827 Reviews | ## Images ![The Gashlycrumb Tinies: From Basil to Desmond, 26 children meet grim fates in Edward Gorey's darkly witty, surreal illustrated alphabet - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81xu7bXqt9L.jpg) ## Available Options This product comes in different **Media Language, Media Format** options. ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An Amusing and Ghastly Gallery of Gruesome Demises *by B***S on September 21, 2019* Ostensibly a children's book (but beloved by many adults), Edward Gorey's “The Gashlycrumb Tinies”, originally published in 1963, has never set well with certain members of the reading public who decry its content as too disturbing, too sick, or simply just too much for their fragile constitutions (and, allegedly, the constitutions of any sheltered offspring they may have under their command). Presented in a series of interrelated rhyming couplets, the book, in less than 30 pages, succinctly recounts the grisly and untimely demises of 26 unfortunate “tinies” (children) who are, often as a result of their own folly, dispatched in alphabetical order (“A is for Amy...”, “B is for Basil”...etc.). The result is a jet-black combination of Gorey's clever, hair-raising humor and the delightfully morbid illustrations that accompany the tinies' fatal misadventures. I was a child myself when I first read this and I find it as entertaining today as I did 55 years ago: it's a work chock-full of giggles that's also a parody of every parents worst nightmare. But, while I understand Gorey's sense of humor may not appeal to everyone, I find the expressions of horror and disgust that continue to greet this book to be ridiculous, and more reflective of some reader's coddled natures than as fair or accurate critiques. Those of us entranced by the old Grimm's Fairy Tales as toddlers were pretty much inured to the iniquities of the sanguinary finger of fate by the time “The Gashlycrumb Tinies” came out. If you haven't read Edward Gorey, “The Gashlycrumb Tinies” is as good a place as any to start. It's short, to-the-point and, once you've finished, you'll undoubtedly know whether or not you're a Gorey fan. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Oddly funny *by M***A on June 23, 2026* Perfect for people with a macabre sense of humor like myself. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Lovely book *by E***T on May 24, 2026* My teen wanted this book after seeing it somewhere on the internet and now she’s always talking about how she’s dying of ennui. She does love the book and I love studying the line work and cross hatching. ## Frequently Bought Together - The Gashlycrumb Tinies - The Doubtful Guest - 12 Terrors of Christmas --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.us/products/286636-the-gashlycrumb-tinies-from-basil-to-desmond-26-children-meet](https://www.desertcart.us/products/286636-the-gashlycrumb-tinies-from-basil-to-desmond-26-children-meet) --- *Product available on Desertcart United States of America* *Store origin: US* *Last updated: 2026-10-07*