Today Mervyn Peake’s reputation rests largely on his three novels,
Titus Groan(1946),
Gormenghast(1950), and
Titus Alone(1959) which became widely known after they were published as Penguin Modern Classics in 1968. Prior to that, Peake was known rather for his poems, paintings, drawings, and book illustrations. Specialists still consider the pictures he provided for
The Rime of the Ancient Marineras one of the most powerful interpretations of the poem, and his
Alice in Wonderlandand
Through the Looking-Glassas the most memorable illustrated edition. During the 1950s most of Peake’s energy went into playwriting, but only one of his plays reached the London stage.
The younger son of missionary parents who had met and married in China, Peake was born on 9 July 1911 in
1721 words
Citation: Winnington, G. Peter. "Mervyn Peake". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 28 February 2003; last revised 21 April 2022. [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=3515, accessed 13 October 2024.]