Gormenghast (Gormenghast, #2) in The Great Gormenghast Read

May 30, 2008 Cecily rated it it was amazing

Shelves: classics, series-and-sequels, favourites, magical-realism, school-location, gormenghast-peake

The sequel to the wonderful Titus Groan (which I reviewed HERE). At his christening, Titus, heir to the earldom of Gormenghast (accidentally) ripped the ancient book of ritual and at his earling (aged 2) he blasphemed again by removing sacred objects and casting them into the lake. That congenital rebellion comes to fruition in this book.

Peake's illustration of Irma Prunesquallor

The Dead

It starts by summarising the ghostly demise of key characters from the first book and the mark they have left ...more

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May 28, 2009 J.G. Keely rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, urban-fantasy, humor, novel, fantasy, uk-and-ireland, favorites

The Gormenghast books are considered to be the beginning of the 'mannerpunk' genre, and along with Tolkien, Moorecock, and Howard, Peake is one of the fathers of the modern Fantasy genre. Mannerpunk is a genre typified by complex psychology, plots driven by character interaction, and a strong sense of mood.

It is also notable for the characters rather than the world being fantastical. In this sense, mannerpunk, and certainly the Gormenghast books, work in the vein of surrealism (meaning not 'unr The Gormenghast books are considered to be the beginning of the 'mannerpunk' genre, and along with Tolkien, Moorecock, and Howard, Peake is one of the fathers of the modern Fantasy genre. Mannerpunk is a genre typified by complex psychology, plots driven by character interaction, and a strong sense of mood.

It is also notable for the characters rather than the world being fantastical. In this sense, mannerpunk, and certainly the Gormenghast books, work in the vein of surrealism (meaning not 'unreal', but 'more than the real'); not unlike the Russian Gogol. The genre is based upon the works of authors like Jane Austen, the Brontes, Baroness Orczy, Swift, de Cervantes, and Dumas pere.

Peake himself was a polymath, excelling not only as an author, but a poet and artist. He is the only self-portrait in Britain's National Portrait Gallery. As a poet, he has a mastery of language and conceit that places him above popular 'jingle man' Poe.

This makes him quite unlike Tolkien, whose long stretches of verse tend to be stilted and unfeeling. Then again, Peake is more passionate than than Tory Tolkien.

Despite his mastery of language and evocative characterization, Peake is not an easy read. Indeed, his thick prose and slow pace can quickly tire the mind. Like a skillful chess opponent, Peake demands much of his reader. He is not content to let the reader be a passive escapist, so his work engages and challenges. It would take a great and knowledgeable mind to meet each of these challenges on equal footing, but even we lesser minds may find amusement, shock, and beauty.

Peake's original idea was to chronicle the life of a character from birth to death. The first book deals with infancy. The second takes him into adulthood in a sort of bildungsroman. The third involves the adventures of young adulthood. Unfortunately, Peake's slide into dementia prevented any furthering of this vast and witty trove.

In literature, Peake may have come the closest to completing a book which balances complex psychology, deep character, poetic style, exploration of reality, and a surreal mixture reality and fancy. Peake's books were very audacious, and though he sometimes fails to reach his own lofty ideals, the really remarkable thing is that sometimes, he doesn't.

My Fantasy Book Suggestions ...more

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Dec 15, 2012 Kyle rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

With Titus Groan, Peake awakened me to what is possible when writing pen and brilliant mind are in perfect harmony. He created a tapestry of humanity and community uniquely compendious, woven together with threads of absolutely breathtaking writing. Yet for all its magnificence, it's purpose was still largely to set the foundation for the second book, Gormenghast.

And such a second book it is. Gormenghast is Peake unleashed. In its pages he manages to pry humanity open, examine and play with all With Titus Groan, Peake awakened me to what is possible when writing pen and brilliant mind are in perfect harmony. He created a tapestry of humanity and community uniquely compendious, woven together with threads of absolutely breathtaking writing. Yet for all its magnificence, it's purpose was still largely to set the foundation for the second book, Gormenghast.

And such a second book it is. Gormenghast is Peake unleashed. In its pages he manages to pry humanity open, examine and play with all its viscera, and stitch everything back together in a way of his own choosing. Peake forces the reader to become his toy, his plaything. Like a cat he plays with us, and trapped within the strings of his pages we cannot help put be tugged and batted along.

Gormenghast, in its dark and dreamlike way, will demand a heavy mental and emotional price, yet it will reward readers who allow the heavy castle stones and it's inchoate characters to permeate their mind.

He no longer wanted to kill his foe in darkness and in silence. His lust was to stand naked upon the moonlight stage, with his arms stretched high, and fingers spread, and with the warm fresh blood that soaked them sliding down his wrists, spiralling his arms and steaming in the cold night air - to suddenly drop his hands like talons to his breast and tear it open to expose a heart like a black vegetable- and then, upon the crest of self-exposure, and the sweet glory of wickedness, to create some gesture of supreme defiance, lewd and rare; and then, with the towers of Gormenghast about him, cheat the castle of its jealous right and die of his own evil in the moonbeams.

There is more "action" in this, the second book, than was in Titus Groan, and the book itself feels like a faster read. Yet, I found myself taking longer to read it only for the reason that I wanted to savor it. So complete was my enjoyment, so deep was my investment of this book, that I find myself truly mourning Mervyn Peake's death. I bemoan his loss to the world, and I weep whenever I remember that the story of Titus Groan will never be completed.

I eagerly await the chance to dive into Titus Alone, the third book, yet I will need to take a small break before I do. I will need to reflect and chew on everything I've already experienced, and prepare myself for the mysterious journey ahead still calling to me from the pages Peake's masterpiece.

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Nov 25, 2016 Linda rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016, boxalls-1001-books-before-death

Oh man, just as dark, exciting and heartbreaking as the first book. Those last 100 pages were a roller coaster of emotions.

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Jul 09, 2013 Metaphorosis rated it really liked it

Shelves: reviewed, 2013-rev

I think I'd only read Gormenghast (the book) once before, maybe twice, whereas I've read the first book, Titus Groan, multiple times. Unsurprisingly, I didn't remember this second book nearly as well as I did the first.

The second book is also simply not as strong a book as the first. Titus Groan is chock full of dark images and heavy symbolism seen through an obscuring cloud of gloom. In Gormenghast, in contrast, Peake literally comes straight out and tells the reader what the symbols are. This I think I'd only read Gormenghast (the book) once before, maybe twice, whereas I've read the first book, Titus Groan, multiple times. Unsurprisingly, I didn't remember this second book nearly as well as I did the first.

The second book is also simply not as strong a book as the first. Titus Groan is chock full of dark images and heavy symbolism seen through an obscuring cloud of gloom. In Gormenghast, in contrast, Peake literally comes straight out and tells the reader what the symbols are. This is most evident in the first 50-100 pages, but also occurs toward the end, when Titus is making his plans for the future. One character, (view spoiler) is clearly created purely for symbolic purposes, and it's disconcerting that Peake removes all possibility of mystery by telling us exactly what the character's meaning is.

That character is itself an awkward construct. While most of the new characters introduced in this book are decently put together - the Professors as a corps, and to some extent as individuals, some, such as this special one, seem more like afterthoughts. It's incongruous, then, for this one to play (we're told) such a central role on Titus' life.

Peake does a nice job of reconnecting with other characters, and tieing them back into the castle's (and Titus') story. The Countess, the Bright Carvers, and the Doctor all play important roles. Flay, while central, seems less fully developed, which is odd, since it seems clear that Peake fully intended this return to prominence. Peake also resolves Fuchsia's plotline in a seemingly offhanded manner.

The plot itself itself is interesting. Steerpike develops in a credible way. There's a key flood whose mechanics are questionable, but then Gormenghast is not tied too closely to reality. There's quite a lot of humor in the book.

There are a number of consistency errors - several related to Fuchsia's age, and one to Titus' location - signs of rushed or limited editing, perhaps. And there are scattered instances of words misused ('flaunt' for 'flout'), which would be less surprising in a writer less careful than Peake.

I've focused on the negative, because I found the book disappointing in comparison with its predecessor, but that's not to say it isn't a good read. All in all, it's a sturdy successor to Titus Groan, but lacking the magic of the first volume. Worth reading for people who were caught up in the characters that inhabit the castle, but less so for those who mainly liked the imagery.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
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May 17, 2015 Sumant rated it liked it · review of another edition

The best word to describe this book is rebellious. This the main theme of the book. Although a lot happens in last 100 pages of the book, but the first 400 pages are definitely a drag.

Some of the strong points of the book are

1.Getrude comes out of her slumber.
2.Titus rebellion is intriguing to read.
3.Steerpike climb through castle hierarchy.

Some of the weak points of the book are

1.Fuchsia is still a enigma.
2.Peake just keeps beating around the bush.

Let me expand on the above points

1.Getrude come ...more

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Jun 29, 2015 Joseph rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2015, favorites, 6-star-rating, writer-peake-mervyn, best-novel-of-all-time

What an amazing book! Even better than the last. Peake is a true master of the English language, but on top of that, he has a story to tell.

What a masterpiece.

Next, onto the often disliked Titus Alone, which Peake wrote while in the grip of a mental illness, his mind crumbling.

I would like to give Keely a big shout out for this recommendation: thank you, sir!

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Aug 31, 2010 Chas rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, 2010, 1001-books-you-must-read, favorites, epic-fantasy

A fantastic follow-up to Titus Groan, this book ups the stakes in many ways. Titus comes of age and learns of triumph and of loss. One begins to see why many believe these books to be commenting on the World Wars in the most interesting of ways. The only part I could have done without was the subplot involving the professors of Gormenghast.

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Dec 19, 2012 Lauren rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 1305

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. There is no doubt in my mind that Mervyn Peake has the best command of the English language of any author. It is easy to find yourself lost in his descriptions and there were times throughout this novel that I found myself holding my breath while reading a particularly beautiful passage.

After reading Titus Groan I urged other readers in my review to lock themselves away while reading it because otherwise like me they would probably be prone to reading with friends and interrupting the conversat ...more

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