Gormenghast Trilogy, Mervyn Peake

Gormenghast is a trilogy written by Mervyn Peake. The three volumes are Titus Groan, Gormenghast and Titus Alone. They were first published between 1946 and 1959. Peake had originally intended to write further volumes throughout his life. Two other books titled Titus Awakes and Gormenghast Revisited were planned. Unfortunately ill-health and an early death aged 57 meant he was unable to do more than pen some ideas. A tragedy for such an imaginative writer and artist.

The books are set round the remote land of Gormenghast with Castle Gormenghast at its centre. The castle has been inhabited by the noble family of Groan down the ages. The castle is steeped in ritual and ceremony. It is crumbling away, its inhabitants inward looking and unchanging. Inside are its dark secrets eating away at this facade. As the old earl, isolated with his books, steps closer to madness a new heir to the throne of the House of Groan is born, Titus. There is an upstart in the kitchen about to wreak havoc.

The castle is host to some of the most fully imagined and bizarre characters. This is part of Peake being an artist. He writes in a very visual way. The book seems to come off the page straight into your imagination. It is easy to see Flay, the personal servant of the earl, keeping order in the place with his knees cracking as he walks. There’s the red-haired countess whose followed around by cats with birds perching on her. The only one with any warmth or kindness is the doctor Prunesqualler with his screeching laughter, adding to the humour.

The books move from gothic darkness and surrealism to lighter humorous episodes. This may be fantasy, but it seems to have its own rules. Gormenghast is unique. Each person that reads it will perceive it in their own way. There is so much exaggeration in the characters that I would’ve thought it would be great as an animation. It would get closer to the characters than a live action version.