The Gormenghast Trilogy: Titus Groan, Gormenghast, Titus Alone

Mervyn Peake s Gormenghast trilogy has grown out of its reputation as a cult classic and into the mainstream of fantasy, as a book no reader interested in Gothic dare to miss. It is one of the most distinctive, absorbing and wonderfully strange books ever written. The story concerns Titus, heir to and afterwards 77th Earl of Groan and his adventures in the sprawling, crumbling castle of Gormenghast. Gormenghast is an entire world and Titus comes to grips with his prime antagonist, the sinister kitchenboy Steerpike, amongst a brilliant profusion of characters and vivid detail. Peake s work is rarely compared with that other great fantasy trilogy to come out of the immediately post-war years, Tolkien s The Lord of the Rings but in ways the two works do go together. Although Tolkien is plain and expansive where Peake is elaborate, poetic and inward-looking, both authors nonetheless use a detailed imaginative escapism in order to talk about the concerns of their day--specifically the passing of the old certainties of traditional England and the coming of something new. Equality is the great thing , said the sinister Steerpike, pulling the legs off a stag beetle and preparing to take on the whole hierarchy of Gormenghast, equality is everything . This is why the short, surreal oddity of Titus Alone, the third novel, is the best: finally leaving his castle home Titus finds the larger world stranger even than his birthplace.The new television series, with which this edition ties in, promises great things but the best part of Mervyn Peake is to be found in his ornate, poetic writing, his grasp of the Dickensian oddities of character and the utterly unique atmosphere of the books. --Adam Roberts

Spellbinding storytelling - This trilogy will probably strike some readers as very weird, but for me it is one of the best books/series I have ever read. The writing is of brilliant quality, the narrative is gripping, and the characters extremely interesting. You find yourself believing in the strange world of Gormenghast, and fascinated by the actions of the anti-hero, Steerpike. It is quite long, though, so give yourself a good long holiday to read it!

Dark Fantasy - I first heard of Gormenghast many many years ago, but didn t pick up a copy and read it, even though I have been reading the Fantasy genre as far back as I can remember.Why didn t I ever pick a copy up and read? I ll never know! Maybe it was because I was a Tolkien fan and nothing else was worthy? Or was it because what i had heard about the book was so alien to one engrossed in Tolkiens world that it just was not very appealing?Anyway, I ve grown up now :) (I d like to think so) and I ve read it! What eventually prompted me to? I was watching a TV documentary on the Fantasy Genre recently, and they went over Tolkien s work, then Mervyn Peake and Gormenghast, as the two pioneers of Modern fantasy. I then visited Arundel Castle, which is supposed to be the place Peake based Gormenghast on, and I was absolutely swept away by the grandeur of it all, and that s when I decided that I just HAD to obtain and read a copy.Having read it, I can say that it is a brilliant piece of work. As different to Tolkiens Middle earth and Tolkiens legends as Pans Labyrinth is to The Neverending Story. In other words it s dark, very dark, and now I see where China Meiville and Michael Moorcock got their inspiration from. It s not Fantasy per se, we wont see any magic or any strange beings, or evil - but they are apparent, working in the background, reading it one can be assured that yes, Magic exists in Peakes world, that peake world isn t quite Planet Earth , that in Peakes world there is Evil and there is darkness as well as light and Good , that Gods and Demons, though not mentioned, are a part of it.The story itself is rife with characters both comical and diabolical, complex, twisted and strange with goodness and honour where you least expect it. it s not a battle of Good vs Evil or anything typically Fantasy involving Quests and Wars and Warriors and Mages, vast Lands and such, Gormenghast is a very different and original work, the plot twists and turns, intricately unfolding. It s set mostly in the castle involving it s inhabitants, and deals with the machiavellian machinations by one Steepike, The Earl Titus Groan, his family and servants.I could go on in depth, but others have already reviewed it fully.Overall I recommend this book to anyone, it s not just a Fantasy, it s a classic. Don t read it expecting Tolkien, or Magic or Elves and Hobbits, and don t expect Dungeons and Dragons or Elric of Melnibone. It s different, refreshing, original, dark intricate, engrossing, brilliant! Read it carefully and revel in the intricacies and characters.Peake was a genius!

in real life you would want to steer clear of Steerpike. - THINGS YOU WILL FEEL WHEN READING THIS BOOKwhilst reading the book you will have moments of Blisfull Transcendencywhilst reading the book you will fall in love with Steerpike and Fuschciawhilst reading this book you will realize writing fiction is about doing whatever you want.Its also very funny.

A comparatively overlooked 20th century classic - Mervyn Peake s Gormenghast Trilogy fell into my lap quite literally by accident. I knocked over a complete edition while searching for something else in my local library. I think Gormenghast is faintly resonant in our cultural memory. Most people have heard of it but very few have actually read any of the three novels that tell the tale of the alternate world of Gormenghast, and the birth and rise of its seventy seventh Earl, Titus Groan. The 2000 BBC mini series may have introduced a new generation to the novels but despite its impressive cast it is a far too modest undertaking to capture the vast and grand scope of the novels.Published in 1946, 1950 and 1959 the trilogy is atypical of my experience of early 20th century literature, creating a world and culture that is vast, quirky and esoterically charming. Like The Silmarillion or Dune these books are more concerned with creating a world with its own internal logic than with superficial action. Indeed it can be argued that very little actually happens within the books. Make no mistake, the Gormenghast books are not pacy, thrill a minute page turners. But to write them off for their meticulous and deliberate pace is to miss the point somewhat. The beauty of the books, as in the world of Gormenghast itself, is in its meticulous detail, its lavish imagery and complete eccentricity.Tonally the books are similar to Tolkein s tales of Middle Earth in their scope and cultural richness but with a deliciously gothic twist. Lord of The Rings meets The Cthulhu Mythos, if you like.Sure, the books aren t an easy read but if you re willing to put in the effort and immerse yourself in their strange world it can make for a hugely rewarding and enjoyable experience.

Lose yourself in this fantasy world if you dare.. - I have owned this book for many years and find myself inexorably drawn back to re-read it again and again. Gormenghast and its myriad of characters are both beautiful and terrible, and absolutely compelling. The depth of detail paints the most vivid images for the reader: spend too long in the pages and you can t put the book down, for fear of missing what deeds may happen next. Steerpike is brilliantly written, but don t overlook the other characters - I was always fascinated by Irma Prunesquallor ! The only disappointment which I see is shared by others is Titus Alone - it simply is not at the same level as the first two books. A must read book.

The Gormenghast Trilogy: Titus Groan, Gormenghast, Titus Alone