Gromenghast by Mervyn Peake
First publication date: 1950
Genre: Officially fantasy but just because it is set in an imaginary kingdom
Edition: 11, in 1998
Publisher: Vintage Books, Great Britain
Format: Paperback
Pages: 505
Source: Amazon
Price: 10,99 € (when I bought it) or $18
Time needed: About 8 hours of consecutive reading
Other reviews: "A classic of our age", Robertson Davies
Summary: Titus Groan is seven. Heir to the crumbling castle, to a cobwebbed kingdom, he is also the inheritor of the evil now spreading through Gromenghast. Steerpike, who began his climb across the roofs when Titus was born, is now ascending the spiral staircase to the heart of the castle, and in his wake lie imprisonment. manipulation and murder.
Well, before you even begin to read this review you should check the book 'Titus Groan' out - not because I am advertising but because it is the first one to this series. Reading Gromenghast as a stand-alone would make truly no sense.
Nontheless (and because the review about 'Titus Groan' is still missing) I will lose a few words about it. The story begins in the Kingdom of Gormenghast and the reader is told about its over-aged traditions and its utter stillness. The main point about that first book is the birth and the first years of the freshly born heir Titus, son to Lord Selpulchrave, master of the kingdom. Then we get told about his antagonist, Steerpike. Young, violent and utterly ruthless but most importantly in motion. Two worlds and eras clash with the heir in the middle. The kingdom begins to grumble and Titus is not yet seven.
Now to the book I was told to review. The second book of the trilogy (though there is an unfinished fourth book) continues with Titus seventh year. Still the traditions are weighing down on him and he has to begin his education together with commoners.
Meanwhile Steerpike continues onto his goal of becoming Emperor of Gormenghast employing all means necessary.
One person tries to topple every tradition and wants to forge a new order in the fires of the old world. And within this burning world a new generation of thinkers and rulers arise, sharing the same thought as Steerpike but using different means. The parallelism to the second world war is obvious and quite true. And like you can still see the things happening in other parts of the world in this book. Every person accurately portrays groups and fractions, their motivations, dreams and purposes or more simply their life.
The book itself is not just a continuation of the first but an improvement. The tragedies and fates of the different inhabitants of Gormenghast are masterly described with colourful details and an eye for their importance. I even will go as far as saying that the characters are akin to a relief and the chiseller must have been non other than Michelangelo. It is difficult to express how wonderfully it is done. And in contrast to his first book the author's flaw of going too far into the details (sometimes it was borderline boring) has lessened - at least in my opinion. The plot gains direction and the reader's attention is captured.
The author is able to cater to very different needs. Readers who like emotions (which were way too dull in the first book) are portrayed with accurateness. It becomes possible to sympathise with every character. They all will be quite the open book to you. Every motivation every thought will be clear and the world created by Peake opens itself before your eyes. Gormenghast begins to live and breathe. Maybe you will not find Gormenghast within reality but certainly reality within Gormenghast.
And amidst the knwon characters Peake lets new ones appear - like the professors.
Their eccentricity and bizarreness prove to be a harmonious addition to the world of Gormenghast.
I guarantee you that while reading you will be divided between astonishment, antipathy and incredulity because of deeds done or thoughts thought.
Only flaw that I found with it is the language employed which is due to the time it was written in. Our language changed. So, it may be difficult to read for you. Nonetheless, by the time you finish the three books, you will find it an enlightening experience. There will be no regret that you read it.
Finally I want to say just one more thing: read the book and be inspired.
Rating: 8,6 out of 10.