Natalie Merchant's new release

The American singer Natalie Merchant will shortly be releasing her new album which will include the nonsense poem, It Makes a Change, taken from Rhymes Without Reason. This is the illustration for the poem, first published by Eyre & Spottiswoode in 1944.

Mervyn Peake studies

I receive many enquiries about academic aspects of my father's work and I suggest that anyone interested in knowing more should refer to the books above which offer, in their different ways, a comprehensive assessment of both his writing and illustration. These can all be found on Amazon:
The Voice of the Heart
Mervyn Peake: The Man and his Art
Vast Alchemies

Originals for sale at Bonham's and Christie's

A sale of 20th Century Art at Bonham's of New Bond Street on Wednedsay 18th November includes two works by Mervyn Peake. A magnificent oil painting on board of a cockerel (24 1/2 x 20") titled Chanticleer and another oil painting on canvas of a youth, (21 7/8 x 14 1/4") titled The Simpleton, previously unknown, will go under the hammer.

The drawing for The Man in the Wilderness (top) is being sold at Christie's.

Michael Moorcock on the Mervyn Peake show

A lifelong friend and admirer of Mervyn Peake, Michael Moorcock came to the opening on 3rd October of the wonderful Lignes de Fuite exhibition at Yverdon-les-Bains in Switzerland. As a result of his visit, Mike wrote an article for the Financial Times full of both praise for the show, and enthusiasm for the artist and the illustrations displayed.