Comments on: “Titus Groan” by Mervyn Peake http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/book-reviews/titus-groan/ Science Fiction Novelist, Blogger, Web Programmer Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:29:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Mervyn Peake’s Gormenghast and Titus Alone (David Louis Edelman’s Blog) http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/book-reviews/titus-groan/#comment-114 Mervyn Peake’s Gormenghast and Titus Alone (David Louis Edelman’s Blog) Wed, 14 Feb 2007 16:22:54 +0000 http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/?p=124#comment-114 [...] I’ve finally completed Mervyn Peake’s Gormenghast Trilogy and thought I’d share my impressions. (Read my review of the first novel, Titus Groan.) [...] [...] I’ve finally completed Mervyn Peake’s Gormenghast Trilogy and thought I’d share my impressions. (Read my review of the first novel, Titus Groan.) [...]

]]> By: Armchair Anarchist http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/book-reviews/titus-groan/#comment-113 Armchair Anarchist Mon, 03 Jul 2006 22:35:14 +0000 http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/?p=124#comment-113 A slippery piece of work indeed...Gormenghast is (arguably) even better, though you may find Titus Alone a little clunky, if full of interesting ideas (it almost verges on Moorcockian SF, to be honest). His surreal/absurd poetry is well worth a read too, if you can find it. Hard to get hold of, though, even over here. Happy reading! A slippery piece of work indeed…Gormenghast is (arguably) even better, though you may find Titus Alone a little clunky, if full of interesting ideas (it almost verges on Moorcockian SF, to be honest). His surreal/absurd poetry is well worth a read too, if you can find it. Hard to get hold of, though, even over here.

Happy reading!

]]> By: David Louis Edelman http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/book-reviews/titus-groan/#comment-112 David Louis Edelman Mon, 03 Jul 2006 13:42:20 +0000 http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/?p=124#comment-112 The interesting thing about the book's meaning/moral (as Anthony Burgess rightly points out in the introduction) is that Peake throws so many red herrings at the reader. At times you think you're reading a satire about class warfare or religion or the conformity of society; and then Peake purposefully thwarts your expectations. It's almost a meta-novel in that way, a novel about what a novel should be; but of course, Peake thwarts that expectation as well. The interesting thing about the book’s meaning/moral (as Anthony Burgess rightly points out in the introduction) is that Peake throws so many red herrings at the reader.

At times you think you’re reading a satire about class warfare or religion or the conformity of society; and then Peake purposefully thwarts your expectations. It’s almost a meta-novel in that way, a novel about what a novel should be; but of course, Peake thwarts that expectation as well.

]]> By: Armchair Anarchist http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/book-reviews/titus-groan/#comment-111 Armchair Anarchist Mon, 03 Jul 2006 13:35:54 +0000 http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/?p=124#comment-111 A compelling and unique work of literature indeed; nothing in the world of literature is even close. But I'd contest the lack of an escaping meaning or moral; I believe some British academics have seen it as a satire on British society at the time of writing, and (with the aid of the admittedly poor grasp of history I have) I think I can see where they're coming from. But meaning be damned; it's still fine fiction, and that's the important thing. Glad you enjoyed it. A compelling and unique work of literature indeed; nothing in the world of literature is even close.

But I’d contest the lack of an escaping meaning or moral; I believe some British academics have seen it as a satire on British society at the time of writing, and (with the aid of the admittedly poor grasp of history I have) I think I can see where they’re coming from.

But meaning be damned; it’s still fine fiction, and that’s the important thing. Glad you enjoyed it.

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