03.02.2026
The adjectives used to describe Edward Gorey seem almost endless: visionary, gothic, frivolous, solitary, flamboyant, odd—and genius. To this list, Anne Bromer adds two more: generous and delightful. Anne had the privilege of collaborating with Gorey on five book-related projects in the mid-1980s and 1990s, including two miniature books, two posters for the Boston Antiquarian Book Fair, and a cover illustration for a Bromer Booksellers catalogue. Gorey was meticulous and exacting in his work, and the results of that dedication have captivated millions of readers worldwide. Long a cult figure, Gorey reached an even broader audience through his iconic sets for Masterpiece Theatre on PBS and his Tony Award–winning costume designs for Dracula on Broadway. These works —along with his swooning Victorian ladies and doomed toddlers—have become enduring fixtures of popular culture. Anne Bromer shared her personal experiences working with the legendary author and artist Edward Gorey.
About the Speaker
Anne Bromer is the author of Strings Attached, a biography of Dorothy Abbe, and of Miniature Books: 4000 Years of Tiny Treasures. Anne and her husband began Bromer Booksellers in the 1960s and were located in Copley Square for 45 years. At the end of 2024, Anne closed the business, having traveled the world buying and selling rare books for sixty years. During the decades she met fascinating people, none more curious and special than Edward Gorey. Anne says “being welcomed into his world for more than a decade was an honor”.