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Home > Books > Fiction > Fantasy Books > T Fantasy Books > The Gormenghast Trilogy - Mervyn Peake
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11 Reviews

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First of all, if you like romance, decadence and Mr. Darcy.... this is probably not for you. If you prefer a dark, brooding cave of a novel which will sour your honeyed tea and neglect your... more

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for The Gormenghast Trilogy - Mervyn Peake

Rating Summary based on 11 reviews

  • 5 Stars
    		9
  • 4 Stars
    		2
  • 3 Stars
    		0
  • 2 Stars
    		0
  • 1 Star
    		0

Detailed rating

  • Characters
  • How does it compare to other works by the same author?
  • How does it compare to similar books?
  • Readability
  • Story
  		• 4.9
  		• 2.5
  		• 3.5
  		• 4.2
  		• 4.6
  • 9 of 9 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of TitusThunderwulf

    TitusThunderwulf

    4 Stars A Gothic epic of scheming and the macabre. Embrace the ugly! 28/05/2009
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages The wonderfully decriptive text unlike anything else, the brooding and plotting so complex.

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Cab be hard to read in terms of style. His command of the language puts you in awe.

    First of all, if you like romance, decadence and Mr. Darcy.... this is probably not for you. If you prefer a dark, brooding cave of a novel which will sour your honeyed tea and neglect your daffodils of spring sunlight then read on. This story is about the comings and goings in the ruinous sprawl of stone, ivy, dust and rust that is Gormenghast - the old and decaying castle that neglects the poverty of the population outside the castle walls. For all castle inhabitants, including Lord Sepulchrave the 76th head of the blue-blooded dynasty, life is steeped in ritual. Each hour, minute and second ... more
  • 25 of 25 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of Bryn_Pearson

    Bryn_Pearson

    5 Stars Flights of fancy 04/02/2003
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages mind blowing

    Disadvantages Disadvantages mind blowing

    The Gormenghast trilogy are quite unlike anything else. Densely packed with rich and vivid detail, peopled with strange characters and improbable happenings, riddled through with the most diabolical of plots and touching pathos, they really are something remarkable. 'Titus Groan'. Titus is the latest arrival in a long line of Groans. The baby is born to a mother more interested in cats and a distracted father (how they came to conceive him i cannot imagine.) He has an elder sister - Fuschia, who may not have the pre-requisite number of marbles. It isn't the best of starts in life. His home ... more
  • 16 of 16 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of hallospacegirl

    hallospacegirl

    5 Stars A book for people who love the beauty of words. 29/09/2004
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Deeply atmospheric, beautifully poetic, memorable characters.

    Disadvantages Disadvantages May seem too daunting to start reading.

    This book is meant for people who love to read for reading's sake. If you can't bear to read five pages of description on one object, then read a plot summary of this book or watch the BBC movie. Or... you can pick up this book anyway, and be transformed. With a little patience, the lush beauty of Mervyn Peake's words will truly touch you. The story is centered around a large, imposing dark and ancient castle in the land of Gormenghast. Inside, rules Lord Groan, his wife Gertrude, and his daughter Fuschia. They are surrounded by their many subjects, including a doctor, the doctor's sister ... more
  • 20 of 20 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of britum2000

    britum2000

    5 Stars A trilogy that should have been two books. Review with images 09/08/2006
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages A masterpiece of English literature that defies categorisation

    Disadvantages Disadvantages A flawed trilogy, let down by the third book

    The Gormenghast trilogy is without a doubt two of the finest books in English literature. Yes, I know a trilogy implies three books, but more of that later. It is often classified as fantasy but this is a misnoma because it contains no fantastic creatures, no magic and no intelligent races other than its citizens. To refer to Gormenghast as fantastic would be a more appropriate description of its almost gothic, often surreal style. The real strength of the work is not in its plot but in its vivid narrative, fascinating characters and often breathtaking set pieces. The Gormenghast books are a ... more
  • 9 of 9 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of Spongly

    Spongly

    5 Stars A world beyond our own 18/01/2001
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages One of the greatest works of literature in any field

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Somewhat slow moving plot, third book is strange.

    This is, in my humble opinion, one of the greatest works of fantasy fiction - standing proud beside Stephen Donaldson and J.R.R Tolkien. These books are all masterpieces in their own right, filled with rich descriptions of the strange and macabre world in which they are set. The vast majority of the story is set within the crumbling, labyrinthine castle, Gormenghast. The place is so well described by Mervyn Peake that you can almost feel the brooding, oppressive atmosphere of the decaying fortress. The place is almost impossible to fully get a handle on, and you get the impression that not ... more

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for The Gormenghast Trilogy - Mervyn Peake

Product Details

Type Fiction
Genre Fantasy
Title The Gormenghast Trilogy
Author Mervyn Peake
ISBN 0099288893

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