What's What: Gutenberg Bible

Lewis Barnavelt finds a copy of this volume in his cousin’s library and believes, if sold, it would bring in a lot of money [The Vengeance of the Witch-finder; 127].

Time Capsule: September 1, 1993

September 1, 1993: We’re pleased to be continuing the celebration of the 20th anniversary of Brad Strickland’s association with John Bellairs’ characters and in particular the two decades since The Vengeance of the Witch-finder was published.

Goreyana: The Vengeance of the Witch-Finder

Notes from Goreyana about The Vengeance of the Witch-Finder:

• The drawing of the maze appears to be lost, but the dust jacket and frontis original artwork are not.
• Bromer Booksellers sold the dust jacket artwork (two pieces of original art: one large color painting and one hand-lettered title typography) in their now famous 2001 catalog of Edward Gorey artwork, books and ephemera. The dust jacket image does not read particularly well as a single piece of art, but the execution and subject matter are top notch. The skeleton wearing glasses with plants growing up through it on the back cover of the book is particularly delightful.

Time Capsule: 1649

January 30, 1649 - "Of the Witch-Finder, and the Troubles He Brought" reads the chapter title of a moldy manuscript tucked away within Barnavelt Manor, near Dinsdale in Sussex. Lewis Barnavelt learns of his magical ancestry: Puritans of olde believed strongly against witches and warlocks, leading some people to go into business as witch-finders - drifting through duchies and traipsing through towns, exposing men and women for practicing their evil sorcery.

Book Alert: Le Chasseur de Sorciers

The French edition of the The Vengeance of the Witch-Finder (loosely translated as Wizards of the Hunter), with cover art by Lalex, is due out in February. This is book #5 in the Kévin et les magiciens series.

Book Alert: 魔女狩り人の復讐

The Japanese edition of the The Vengeance of the Witch-Finder (loosely translated as Revenge of the Witch Hunt) was published in October.

Gorey at Bromer Booksellers

Edward Gorey's illustrations for The Beast Under the Wizard's Bridge, The Dark Secret of Weatherend, The Ghost in the Mirror, and The Vengeance of the Witch-finder are available from Bromer Booksellers. As Beast is Gorey's last completed bookwork before his death in 2000, one understands how and why the cost of this artwork - along with one swell copy of the published work - sells at $10,500.00.

And, no, the Bellairsia staff cannot make you any deals.