Titus Groan by Mervyn Peake

I'm continuing my quest for classics as audiobooks, and my next quest is Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast trilogy starting with the first book Titus Groan. I first discovered Gormenghast some years back when BBC made their adaptation of the first two books and I really took to the bizarre and dark world and insane characters. I always got the impression though that the reason the books were never became huge fantasy classics was the reason that they can be incredibly laborious and hard to read due to the elaborate language, so I never bothered to read them.

So I've been looking trough Audible.com to look for books and authors I always wanted to read but could never find the extra time for when I came across Mervyn Peake and again remembered the BBC series. So last two weeks Titus Groan has been playing on my iPod, and I have to say that the book is indeed all that it was said to be. Firstly there's indeed the language:

Conversation was never one of Mr Flay's accomplishments and for some time he gazed mirthlessly ahead of him, and then, after what seemed an eternity to Rottcodd he raised a boney hand and scratched himself behind the ear. Then he made his second remark, 'Still here, eh?' he said, his voice forcing its way out of his way.

Rottcodd, feeling presumably that there was little need to answer such a question, shrugged his shoulders and gave his eyes the run of the ceiling.

Mr Flay pulled himself together and continued: 'I said still here, eh, Rottcodd?' He stared bitterly at the carving of the Emerald Horse. 'You're still here, eh?'

'I'm invariably here,' said Rottcodd, lowering his gleaming glasses and running his eyes all over Mr Flay's visage. 'Day in, day out, invariably. Very hot weather. Extremely stiffling. Did you want anything?'

Most people in Gormenghast seem to have the need to say most sentences three times and at first it's very distracting and made my thoughts wander quite a bit. But once you get to the rhythm of the language and it opens up it becomes like a treasure chest where you find something delightful and amazing every time you open it up. Robert Whitfield does absolutely marvelous job with narrating the book and manages to give all the characters amazing depth - my absolute favourites being Fuchsia and Dr. Prunesquallor (listen to a sample).

Peake manages to create an amazing world in this book. Gormenghast is a world were everything is done like it has always been done, with the count and countess' duties composing of meaningless ceremonies no one knows (or cares) the origin of. Book opens up when the 77th Earl-to-be of Gormenghast Titus Groan is born with much commotion. The castle is full of people in high places who hate each other and want each other's power, but most of them are too stupid and/or stuck in their ways to do something about it. Not so with young Steerpike from the kitchen - when he sees an opportunity he grabs it and never lets go. The book carries the name of Titus Groan but Titus doesn't play much of a part in the first book that follows more Streerpike's rise to power by manipulating the insane and the power-hungry.

In all, I loved, loved, loved the book. It's bizarre and at times unpleasant, but the fantastic storytelling and the marvelous ornate language make it a joy to read.

Posted by kolibri at 18 April 21:25, 2006

You can't add any more comments, but if you wish you can email the author.