Has anyone read The Gormenghast Trilogy, by Mervyn Peake?

Question

What do you think of it?

Answer 1

Yes, it's an amazing work, full of characters who are warped and yet believable - a true alternate universe that follows the laws of our own.
The Last book was put together after Mervyn Peake's death, using th notes he left - which is why it's not as fully realised as the first two. It also reflects his experiences as a war artist, during which time he went into the Concentration camps in the Nazi empire when they were discovered as the war ended - an unbelievably appalling experience for a sensitive human being.

Answer 2

I have read the first and am most of the way through the second. You may be tempted to put it down at first, but it grows on you. You have to really let yourself get into the style of writing. It is very well written. The setting of Gormenghast weighs down the characters in the book, and after a bit you can really feel its presence. It's worth a read.

Answer 3

Yes, I read the trilogy some years back and am just starting again. I would class the writing style and descriptive powers of Mervyn Peake as world class. He brings his abilities as a poet to his prose writing and on many occasions his descriptions had me sitting on the edge of my seat. Flay, for instance, is a truly incredible invention; I'd hate to meet him on a dark night!
I accept that genius is close to madness and I think in his third book (although put together from his notes after his death) show him slipping from the former to the latter state of mind.
If you truly enjoy exploring the boundaries of the English language, sentence construction/syntax, and how to develop a vicelike grip on the reader then Mister Peake is your man.
I cannot recommend this trilogy strongly enough, almost certainly the most enjoyable read of my life.

Answer 4

I have read them but they are hard work. I had to have breaks as I found it slow and difficult to read. I do like the style and the detail means that you can submerge in the world of Gormenghast but it does take a while to get going.
I would really recommend the bbc series- you can order it on amazon.co.uk. They condensed the story considerably but it is fantastic and really interprets the characters and place well.

Answer 5

Yes, I read this periodically - but prefer the first two books to the final, more surreal volume. Peake was ill and probably dying when he wrote this one, and it is more febrile and disturbing than the first two. All the characters are wonderfully depicted and vividly alive - the sinister blossoming of Steerpike is particularly beliveable. If you are reading it for the first time and are finding it tough going do stick it out; it's too dense to take it all in the first time but re-readings are very rewarding.

Answer 6

no, but I saw the series on television. It was superb - the book is probaby even better.
If you liked Gormenghast - try the eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King

Try this link
http://fan.500ml.org/gormen/rules.php

Answer 7

Yeah I read it them a while ago, I really liked the first two, but for some reason I found the last part (Titus Alone) hard to get into.

Answer 8

Very good, didn't read the last book yet. I felt they were a little long-winded at times but not more so than Tolkien.

Answer 9

I've read about half of it and i really like it. There's a TV movie from the UK that I saw most of.

I am very picky about my large books like that and that one fits the bill. i really like british humor, I like good epic quality books so give it a shot.

Answer 10

Tried to, bored the pants off me though.