I stumbled upon (my favorite method of locating all sorts of stuff) the fictional works of one Mervyn Peake the other day. Back in 1946, he had published the first volume of a Gothic fantasy work known as “the Gormenghast series” — entitled: Titus Groan.
Peake was more than a novelist. A poet, a playwright, a set designer, a costume creator, a draftsman and an illustrator were among his many titles and talents. I remember first discovering Peake’s talents faintly, in his last listed capacity, as the illustrator of such classics tales as: “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “The hunting of the Snark” by Lewis Carroll, “Treasure Island”, the R.L. Stevenson novel and “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Coleridge.
I’m halfway through this intriguing 400 plus page medieval tale of power and position, much enjoying the change of pace from the usual fare of non-fiction I steadily consume. Considering the season — Gothic fantasy, read in the cool outdoor evening air with a glass of red and such, is a pastime highly recommended.
Tags: gothic, Literature