Stuart Olesker at the Peake Conference

One of the absolute highlights of the recent conference in Chichester was the performance by Stuart Olesker who spoke about Peake's work and recited poems of every mood, including nonsense. Now it's delightful to find that it was recorded, and here is a fragment from it, this one by Peacock, seen as a precursor to Peake. More to follow at some point. The work has been done by Dan Bernard and Gail Baird at 131 design, www.131design.org

Boy in Darkness review

Mark Andresen has written a good review of Boy in Darkness. Also of the other short stories in this collection published by Peter Owen. Many thanks to Mark.

A Mervyn Peake Evening Hosted by The Lewis Carroll Society

The Lewis Carroll Society is pleased to announce its November meeting ... an evening exploring the life and work of Mervyn Peake, with particular reference to his illustrations for the works of Lewis Carroll. Special guest speakers include Sebastian and Fabian Peake and Brian Sibley.

Venue: The Art Workers' Guild, 6 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3AT
Date: 18 November 1011
Doors open 6:45pm; talks begin 7:15pm.
Wine and nibbles will be served during the evening.

Ticket price: £8.
Complimentary tickets are available for members of The Lewis Carroll Society.

We expect this to be a popular event and so we request that you make a booking in advance. To reserve a place or purchase a ticket please contact Mark Richards (markrichards@aznet.co.uk)

Uncle Jake - the film

Directed by Stefano and Alice Tambellini, a quite beautifully-made short animated film called Uncle Jake, features the snake-man's adventures in the Italian animators Homage to the Genius of Mervyn Peake.

When Uncle Jake
Became a snake
He never found it out;
And so as no one mentions it
One sees his still about.

Noah's Ark, a play at the Blue Elephant Theatre

Sebastian will be speaking on 20th December 2011 following the 1:30pm matinee performance of Noah's Ark at the Blue Elephant Theatre, Bethwin Road, London SE5 0XT. The play will run for three weeks from 30th November. For further details please call 020 7701 0100.

Reviews for Complete Nonsense and the Sunday Books

Mike Moorcock has written about The Sunday Books in Publishers' Weekly.

From another admirer of Mervyn Peake's work. This in praise of The Sunday Books which evokes in many, memories of childhood whether or not they have an artist father to articulate or illustrate our youthful dreams.

And Complete Nonsense is featured on the Poetry Books Society website.

Top Ten in The Guardian

Gormenghast has been chosen by Charlie Higson as one of his ten favourite fantasy novels for children.

The History of Titus Groan as a download

With particularly handsome branding and beautifully succinct cover notes, The History of Titus Groan is now available as a download from BBC Publications.

The highly-praised adaptation of the four novels included in this six hour-long production, shows clearly how right it was to ask Brian Sibley to adapt the four novels for what is a surely a BBC Radio Four tour de force. I cannot recommend this recording highly enough.

An exhibition of Fabian Peake's work

Fabian Peake's inspired and highly original paintings will be on display at The Cut Arts Centre, Halesworth Suffolk, until 5th October. For further details please call 01986 873285.

Picnic with Peake

A very enthusiastic review in the main Guernsey newspaper about 'Picnic with Peake', a concert given on 29th August, moved swiftly on from the marvellous music, to the journalist's abiding admiration for Mr Pye, the novel set on nearby Sark.