Mervyn Peake

The Swiss edition of Captain Slaughterboard

2012-01-16T18:42:00.001Z

From the influential French literature review, Le Telegramme, high praise for the Swiss edition of Captain Slaughterboard

À tous les petits (et nombreux!) amateurs d'aventures de pirates, les éditions La Joie de Lire offre l'occasion de découvrir l'oeuvre de l'Anglais Mervyn Peake (1911-1968): «Capitaine Massacrabord». Un récit fantaisiste qui fait défiler une galerie de personnages plus ou moins terrifiants mais toujours farfelus, fidèle aux contes absurdes qu'affectionnait l'illustrateur. C'est aussi l'histoire d'une rencontre avec l'inconnu, d'un exemple d'ouverture à l'autre, de partage et finalement, sous un voile d'étrange, une belle histoire d'amour.

Mervyn Peake, éditions La Joie de Lire. Dès 6 ans. 56 pages. 17 €.

* Catherine Richard

The British Library, two new publications

2012-01-16T18:35:00.004Z

The British Library has just published two extremely attractive books, in December 2011 and January 2012.

The first, entitled, Love Letters: 2000 Years of Romance, invites the reader into an intimate realm, reminding us of the importance of the written word. From pre-Roman times to the 1970's, numerous examples make for fascinating reading. The letter included in the collection written by my father to my mother in the early 1940's is accompanied by a beautiful frieze at the bottom of the last page, which depicts various horses. On the front cover of the book is his angelic little archer who has just released an arrow from its bow. This arrives at the very epicentre of the aim a heart-shaped target, shown beneath the text on the back cover of this lovely book.

In the forward to the second book, a beautifully-produced edition of Grimm's Household Tales, the writer Sarah Waters tells of how she first came across this famous collection of short stories in 1977. 'I knew them through sanitised re-tellings', she writes, 'but this edition (with my father's illustrations) was something altogether different. For me the Grimms' tales will always be at their best when accompanied by the pictures of Mervyn Peake. It's wonderful to see them brought together again in this glorious edition'. The front cover itself, attracting the viewer by the ravishing beauty of Snow White, voluminous hair spreading out across her shoulders, and her tiny, white, and delicate hand resting on the small branch of a tree, is enough to turn both heads and the pages of this alluring book.

Three nominations for BBC Awards

2012-01-10T14:05:00.004Z

In being nominated for not one, two, but three categories in the BBC's first ever annual Audio awards, Brian Sibley's brilliant adaptation The History of Titus Groan, has surely been recognised. I mean, for a start how does one take four books and make them into a unforgettable series? it is certainly beyond me. If Brian wins in even one of the three to be announced on 29th January then all Mervyn Peake fans should shout aloud from the rooftops. The CD's are available online, via Amazon or direct from the BBC itself. Well done Brian.

More details of the nominations on Brian's own blog.

Complete Nonsense, in The Scotsman

2012-01-10T13:50:00.008Z

Over Christmas, Mervyn Peake's Complete Nonsense was chosen as a 2011 Writer's Choice in The Scotsman by the novelist A L Kennedy.

Fish or Fowl

Fish or fowl, it's all the same
To me, all's one - and two
And three
For I am now
Proclaimed and sworn
The sorriest cow
Of Capricorn

My scales are pink
My eyes are black
My feathers flutter
Down my back -
The firelight fails
To comfort me
All's one - all's two
And sometimes
Three

(After 1957)

Complete Nonsense is available from Amazon.

The History of Titus Groan

2012-01-03T16:33:00.001Z

From the TV and radio blog in The Guardian of 30th December 2011

"... this six-hour adaptation of Mervyn Peake's book matched and even embellished the brilliant, strange original. Luke Treadaway was just right as Titus; Peter Ringrose's ingenious sound production brought Peake's dazzling vision to life on radio."

Bravo! A Magnificent Production

2011-12-30T12:59:00.002Z

The last performance of Noah's Ark, (20/12/2011) was nothing less than a resounding success. A spontaneous eruption of applause greeted the actors at the end, as they formed a straight line in front of the cheering audience. With an uninhibited display of youth and energy with each of the various animal characters displaying an uncanny ability to emulate the idiosyncrasies peculiar to the hyena, sheep and goat for instance, such that one was totally convinced that the actors had indeed transmogrified into the particular beast.

This outstanding production - the director's grasp of the play for instance shone through from start to finish - also included some wonderful and eminently hummable music which only added to the sense that this was a play for everyone. This production deserves to live, and should quite rightly be staged again, and again, and again......as everyone in yesterday's full house would I'm sure agree.

The Last Night at the Blue Elephant Theatre

2011-12-15T11:17:00.003Z

On 20th December at 7.30 pm, the final performance of The Blue Elephant Theatre's wonderful adaptation of my father's Noah's Ark, will be staged. With total abandon and unrestrained enthusiasm the whole cast enters the spirit of the piece with a child-like joie de vivre, while both the youthful zest inherent in the play and the underlying philosophical observations of the nature of man, remain.

Following the performance I will answer questions from the audience, which if anything like the probing and incisive nature of those I received earlier in the run are to go by, will keep me on my toes. I cannot be any more partisan than I am about this outstanding homage to my father and his love of the theatre. Come and put me through my paces at the end of one of London's greatest gestures to Mervyn Peake FRSL.

Here's the latest review, from In-Spire LS Magazine.

Collectors' editions

2011-12-08T14:32:00.003Z

From Queen Anne Press

The David le Page Trio at the Deal Festival

2011-12-08T12:51:00.002Z

Following a performance of David le Page's The Hall of Bright Carvings at the Deal Festival of Arts & Music on 1st December, the audience rose as one in an outpouring of sustained vocal enthusiasm. This poignant, profound, and very powerful musical homage to the life and work of both Mervyn Peake, and his wife Maeve Gilmore, touched hearts and minds. To such an extent that apart from the intellectual impact the words and music had on those at the concert, numerous moist eyes attested to the emotional impact the sixteen short pieces had provoked. In short, a tour de force in which the composer lured the listener into his world, one which through his music, convinced us conclusively that he knew his subject through and through.

Having achieved great success earlier this year, performing the same work before an audience of over 350 at St James's Church, St Peter Port, Guernsey, and repeated in mid-summer in front of an even large public, le Page has now added a coda, Maeve Gilmore's conclusion to the Titus books having now been published. In her denouement to the sequence of books, the eponymous character, Titus Groan, arrives back on Sark, where in a scene unprecedented in all literature, both originator and character meet to become one.

Paintings and Drawings on Show

2011-12-08T12:46:00.002Z

An exhibition of paintings and drawings by Mervyn Peake and Maeve Gilmore, at the Astor Theatre, Deal, shows for the first time a range of fifteen works from different periods of their life together. The show, which will remain up until Christmas 2011 has several paintings produced on Sark during their stay in the mid to late 1940's.

Earlier water colours, produced when Mervyn Peake lived on the island during the mid 1930's, evoke the idyll of the inter-war years, with his view of the Sark church for instance set against a pastoral scene of hay fields.

A pierrot-like figure in oil dominates however with its strong colour, but other works display the eclecticism for which the artist is known. Influenced by the weather-beaten trees and hedgerows of the wind-blown lanes, Maeve Gilmore's own tableaux brings to life the vulnerability of the isolated island surrounded by the often raging seas for which the area is known.

Noah's Ark - excellent reviews

2011-12-06T11:24:00.008Z

More praise from The Stage for the new production at the Blue Elephant Theatre in Camberwell. The play runs until 20th December 2011 and Sebastian will be giving a talk on Saturday 10th December.

And in A Younger Theatre.

And now a review from Carolin Kopplin in UK Theatre.

Also in The British Theatre Guide.

And you can listen to views on London Live. It's about 2 hrs 40 mins in.

More reviews of the new books

2011-12-06T11:19:00.005Z

'Titus Awakes is a treasure salvaged from the ruins' New Statesman

'Peake does not, as some have said, defy classification; rather, he is beyond classification in any single genre, and therein perhaps lies his genius. In his centenary year it is to be hoped that the latest surge of interest in his enormous range of work will finally help to place him in his rightful position as one of Britain's most brilliant, original and creative figures' Times Literary Supplement

'A century after his birth, the gothic surrealism of Peake's fantasy world still attracts new fans. With more than 100 of his drawings, this splendid anniversary edition will entice even more into the towers, cellars and corridors of his blackly comic castle.'

'Gormenghast's unreality in terms of an outside world is beside the point. For the reader, as for Peake himself, its reality is in the imagination and as the story gathers speed and force, as the author grows more confident in his audacious set-piece inventions--... the reader too becomes an entranced inhabitant of Gormenghast... The energy and relish of the telling, the excitement of the passages of action, the developing imagination and expressive power of the storyteller make it, like The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, a spellbinder.' John Spurling in The Spectator.

A tour de force that ranks as one of the twentieth century's most remarkable feats of imaginative writing.

Peake's Progress audio review

2011-12-05T12:41:00.001Z

This excellent review is from Australia's Good Reading Magazine.

Sark Life reviews

2011-12-05T12:33:00.004Z

Sebastian writes reviews of The Illustrated Gormenghast and Titus Awakes for the Sark News magazine. Click on the image to read them.

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

2011-11-29T10:08:00.003Z

Reviews of a new production of Noah's Ark and an extended interview with Sebastian Peake in Living South, the colour magazine covering south London.

From The Stage.

And the interview with Sebastian in Living South.

A talk at Gresham College

2011-11-10T17:24:00.001Z

Sebastian Peake's amusing and informative talk at Gresham College in October 2011. A short film.

Originals in Guernsey

2011-11-10T17:13:00.002Z

Paintings and drawings by Mervyn Peake on loan to Credit Suisse, shown on display in the newly renovated conference room at their Guernsey HQ.

Worcestershire Literary Festival

2011-10-27T08:16:00.003Z

Details of the forthcoming talk by Sebastian on 29th October.

Rounding off the Centenary Year

2011-10-17T17:59:00.002Z

King's Place, the impressive new concert hall in York Way, King's Cross, will be the venue for a discussion on the life and work of Mervyn Peake. The event begins at 7pm, on 7th November. The writer and broadcaster Brian Sibley, whose recent BBC Radio Four adaptation of all four of the Titus Books was very well received will interview Peake's sons, Sebastian and Fabian, in a live discussion in this the writer's centenary year.

The Lines of Flight Exhibition at The Laing Gallery

2011-10-17T11:26:00.004Z

The impressive Laing Gallery in the centre of Newcastle, is the latest location for many of the illustrations of Mervyn Peake, originally shown at La Maison d'Ailleurs in Switzerland, as Lines of Flight.

In two very large galleries the work is set out against a maroon background with each set; Treasure Island, The Hunting of the Snark, Mr Pye all given ample space within which the viewer can take in the art.

The exhibition will be on until the beginning on January 2012 and is already receiving a lot of attention from both locals and from visitors from further afield. A show that fans must not miss.

Carshalton and Wallington

2011-10-06T07:38:00.003Z

There will be a talk on Mervyn Peake at Carshalton Library at 7.30pm on 27th October. Entitled The Significance of the letter P, it will be given by a great Peake enthusiast, John Monks.

Another point of local interest is the plaque erected on the site of 55 Woodcote Road, Wallington, a mile away from Carshalton. Now a block of flats, this homage to Mervyn Peake is affixed to the outside of the building, on the site of what was once his father's house.

Abiatha Swelter - one of the best . . .

2011-10-03T06:37:00.003Z

John Mullan, writing in The Guardian on 30th September suggests Swelter as one of the Ten Best Fat Men in Literature.

Stuart Olesker at the Peake Conference

2011-09-21T13:28:00.004Z

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

2011-09-21T13:19:00.002Z

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

2011-09-21T12:58:00.004Z

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

2011-09-15T17:54:00.004Z

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

2011-09-15T17:51:00.002Z

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

2011-09-15T17:40:00.003Z

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

2011-09-15T17:38:00.002Z

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

2011-09-06T11:47:00.002Z

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

2011-09-06T11:37:00.003Z

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

2011-09-06T11:28:00.002Z

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.

The Peake blog is back

2011-08-26T09:09:00.018Z

Regular readers of this blog may have noticed rather fewer new items than usual while we had a short break after the intense activities of the centenary period. However, there are now new things to report.

First, some films:

Michael Foreman, Sebastian Peake and Zoe Wilcox from the BBC programme about the British Library.

Sebastian Peake speaking at the National Archives, Kew. More information on the exhibition of the Hitler drawings here.

Some reviews:

In The Spectator, by John Spurling. And another by John Spurling.

Centenary comments in Design Week. Followed by an announcement also in Design Week about the forthcoming set of Peake books to be published by the Queen Anne Press.

Some exhibitions:

In the mean time the exhibition of illustration originally curated by Patrick Gyger for Maison d'Ailleurs has now travelled from Chichester to Carlisle and where it's currently on show at Tullie House. Sebastian Peake will be giving a talk there on 8th September.

Anyone travelling to Carlisle might like to also visit The Wordsworth Trust at nearby Grasmere where the illustrations for The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner are on permanent exhibition.

The next venue for this show is the Laing Gallery in Newcastle. This will be from 15th October 2011 to 8th January 2012.

And a concert

The Mervyn Peake concert given by the David le Page Trio at Candie Gardens on Guernsey on 29th August was very well received by a full audience, 200 of whom then attended the exhibition of Sark drawings at the Guernsey Museum and Art Gallery.

Alison Eldred

Titus Awakes reviewed by Michael Moorcock

2011-08-26T08:38:00.004Z

"A fascinating, intensely personal homage, "Titus Awakes," with its themes of baffled love and loss, takes the scraps of notes and list of chapter titles, turning them into a testament of Maeve's devotion as she sends Titus off into a world even more dream-like than the original."

So writes Michael Moorcock, in the Los Angeles Times.

A Lunchtime Concert in Guernsey

2011-08-18T08:52:00.006Z

A free concert is being held in Candie Gardens on Bank holiday Monday, 29 August 2011.

This year Guernsey Museum & Art Gallery is remembering the centenary of the birth of the artist and writer Mervyn Peake (1911-1968) with the exhibition ‘Mervyn Peake’s Sark’. The exhibition explores the work produced while Peake was on the island of Sark and it will remain at the museum until 11th September.

The History of Titus Groan - a review

2011-08-17T08:31:00.006Z

If there was anyone who could successfully reduce the three Titus Books and Maeve Gilmore's Titus Awakes into six hours of BBC radio drama then it had to be Brian Sibley whose knowledge of the books is so thorough. I know it was a huge undertaking for him, so that makes it all the better both for him and for the original authors that Elisabeth Mahoney has written such a much-deserved review in The Guardian.

Congratulations and many thanks to Brian and to all those involved in this production.

Alison Eldred

Centenary photos

2011-08-14T12:03:00.008Z

The various events which took place in July were so fast and furious that it's taken until now to report back. Perhaps the best way to sum it up is to show some photos which, I think, suggest the variety of venues and the good spirit of all those involved.

From the top: the opening of the Mervyn Peake and Maeve Gilmore exhibition at the Viktor Wynd Gallery on 9th July; the exhibition of the Hitler drawings at the National Archives at Kew; Sebastian Peake, Jon Fawcett and Brian Sibley at the opening of the exhibition at the British Library; and Miranda Richardson, Brian Sibley, Zoe Wanamaker, China Mieville, John Sessions, Sebastian Peake and Farah Mendelsohn on the panel at one of the talks at the British Library.

The Peake conference at Chichester University was organised very efficiently by Bill Gray and Jane Carroll, and below their photo is a good trio of Peake people who all gave fascinating talks - John Vernon Lord, Brian Sibley and Peter Winnington. Below them, just leaving at the end of the conference, two more people who both presented marvellous papers - Matthew Sangster and Zoe Wilcox from the British Library. There will be a full report in the next issue of Peake Studies, which I would recommend.

There were many more events and many people who were involved in so many different ways - and there have been some excellent reviews. The Peake family are so grateful to the people who been involved, not least the publishers who produced such a rich new selection of books in time for the celebrations.

Click on the image above to enlarge it.

Alison Eldred

Radio 4 blog on The History of Titus Groan

2011-08-11T16:48:00.008Z

Brian Sibley has contributed to the Radio 4 blog where he discusses the way in which he moves from Gormenghast to Titus Alone and Titus Awakes in the current radio adaptation . Brian's own contact with Maeve Gilmore when she was writing Titus Awakes make his own views of it all the more apt.

Interview for the Vintage Podcast

2011-07-29T16:45:00.003Z

At a filmed interview with my brother and sister in mid-July, our thoughts and feelings towards the centenary and the wonderful new Vintage publications including a re-jacketed Mr Pye, my mother's own Titus Awakes and the current best-seller The Illustrated Gormenghast, were discussed.

The Hitler Portfolio

2011-07-23T15:22:00.004Z

Maev Kennedy visited the National Archive at Kew recently when the Hitler drawings were put on display and Sebastian Peake gave a talk about his father's work. Inspired by what she saw and heard, she has now written a piece for today's Guardian, 23rd July 2011, and this is an extract from it. A selection of the drawings is now on display at Kew.

Alison Eldred

More praise for The History of Titus Groan

2011-07-23T15:08:00.002Z

Tim Crook writes in his blog, Libertarianspirit.

Also, in this week's Radio Times, Jane Anderson writes 'Everything about this production - writing, direction, sound effects and casting - is absolutely spot on. It has done Mervyn Peake and his family proud, and shows that when radio drama is really good it can knock TV and film out of their financially-privileged comfort zone.' Her piece is illustrated by the above illustration by Kevin Hauff, commissioned by Radio Times.

Three reviews and an exhibition

2011-07-20T21:37:00.006Z

John Gray has written the above piece in the New Statesman. Click on the image to read the full article which gives a very sensitive overview of Mervyn Peake's work and also Titus Awakes by Maeve Gilmore.

And today Brian Sibley has written a blog to describe the event which took place at Chris Beetles' gallery in London last night.

Jon Michaud has written in the New Yorker blog.

The next event will be the talk at the British Library, to be held on Tuesday 26th July.

The British Library event

2011-07-18T09:49:00.004Z

Jackie of Farm Lane Books has written about the exhibition of Mervyn Peake work at the British Library.

Peake Centenary Conference Weekend

2011-07-14T08:40:00.003Z

As Peake fans make their way to Chichester today to discuss many aspects of his work and digest the marvellous collection of new publications, there is a poignant trio of announcements today.

Firstly a very favourable review of Brian Sibley's BBC radio adaptation of Gormenghast (The History of Titus Groan) in The Independent. This was also discussed at the British Library on Monday evening when writers and actors gathered to present Peake's work in general to a packed house.

Secondly an enthusiastic blog posting from Quote Unquote about much of the centenary activity, and in particular quoting Fergus Fleming's comments in Literary Review. There have been so many mentions of Peake in blogs from all over the world and it seems that he is reaching a new audience which appreciates his work more and more. Thank you to Quote Unquote, whoever you are, and to all those people who are writing blogs.

Thirdly though, and perhaps best of all, is the news that Eric Popplewell is being recognised for his digital work and has won the Mervyn Peake Award for the competition open to anyone with Parkinson's. That Peake should have continued with his work when he was suffering with undiagnosed Parkinson's is well known but of course there are many people doing the same today, perhaps with better treatment, but with an equal amount of courage.

More details on the conference here. There are still places available as well as tickets for the evening performances.

An exhibition at the Chris Beetles Gallery

2011-07-11T14:07:00.004Z

THE GENIUS OF MERVYN PEAKE
A Centenary Celebration of his Art

An exhibition of 80 original artworks by Mervyn Peake with 45 new works from the Peake family archive

The exhibition is viewable online NOW at www.chrisbeetles.com

The exhibition runs from Monday 18 July until Saturday 13 August 2011, Monday to Saturday 10.00am-5.30pm, at 8 & 10 Ryder Street, St James's, London SW1Y 6QB

Join us for a special champagne private view to celebrate a centenary of the art of Mervyn Peake on Monday 18 July 2011, 6-8pm.

Sebastian Peake and Chris Beetles will introduce Jane Asher, Nick Grace and Natalie Walter, who will read a selection of Mervyn Peake’s enchanting and imaginative poetry at 7pm.

Chris Beetles will sponsor the event with a donation of £2000 to PARKINSON’S UK.

Chris Beetles Ltd, 8 & 10 Ryder Street, St James's, London, SW1Y 6QB
0207 839 7551. www.chrisbeetles.com

Centenary Weekend

2011-07-11T08:42:00.008Z

The exhibition of Mervyn Peake and Maeve Gilmore's work at The Last Tuesday Society/ Victor Wynd gallery in Hackney on Saturday afternoon was a huge success. Some of the paintings and drawings had not been seen for many years and it was fascinating to see the work of both artists hung side by side. Many people visited the exhibition, Sebastian entertained us with a speech and the party went on into the evening.

The first part of the new six-part radio adaptation by Brian Sibley, The History of Titus Groan, was broadcast on Sunday afternoon. It is an excellent cast, and Brian has used the device of Titus as narrator which is a poignant way of introducing each of the characters as it alludes to Maeve Gilmore's Titus Awakes conclusion to the Gormenghast books. More here, on Jeremy Mortimer's blog.

Reviews have been building up for the Illustrated Gormenghast, Titus Awakes and Clare Peake's Under a Canvas Sky.

Fergus Fleming in the Literary Review.

The Guardian has a collection of blogs (see above). Join the debate online.

David Blackburn writes in The Spectator.

The Irish Times.

Steve King in the Barnes and Noble Review.

A Sark-related comment by Matthew Bell in The Independent.

Under a Canvas Sky in Zaman.

Mervyn Peake, 1911-1968

2011-07-09T10:23:00.005Z

The culmination of a plethora of ideas many of which came to fruition while others not, today, 9th July 2011, celebrates my father's birth, on a mountainside in Kuling, South Central China, one hundred years ago.

Exhibitions, radio broadcasts, television programmes, an international conference, domestic and foreign editions of his novels, children's stories and magazine and newspaper articles, all the above have happened this year. Without the help of the dedicated and determined, unflinching and assiduous support of Alison Eldred, much of the above might not have happened. Together, we have promoted the work of a man whose centenary we celebrate today. So let's raise our metaphorical glasses and shout, long live Titus, long live art, and long live Mervyn Peake!

Sebastian Peake

The History of Titus Groan

2011-07-09T09:22:00.006Z

As this interview with Jeremy Mortimer suggests in his BBC blog, Brian Sibley is "a bit of a legend in radio". How fortunate for Mervyn Peake then, that Brian has had a long association with Gormenghast and that he was commissioned by the BBC to write a new radio adaptation of Gormenghast and Titus Awakes to celebrate the centenary of Peake's birth.

Brian was a friend of Maeve Gilmore's and would visit her at the time of writing Titus Awakes to discuss its progress. He was therefore also the ideal person to write the introduction to her book, which is being published today. This also informed his choice as to how to write (for a second time) a radio serial of the Titus books as this one combines Peake's work with his wife's.

It will be fascinating to hear how he does that when the first part is broadcast tomorrow (Sunday 10th July) at 3.00 pm on Radio 4. (To be repeated on the following Saturdays).

Brian is delighted with the production. The cast includes some well-known faces as well as some dynamic young people who Brian feels will soon join them at the top of their profession. The photographs above are by Islay Bell-Webb.

There is more about the production on Brian's own blog.

And a Facebook 'event' page for the series here.

Alison Eldred

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=188282447887732
http://briansibleysblog.blogspot.com/

Three Centenary Exhibitions

2011-07-09T08:16:00.010Z

Mervyn Peake was born 100 years ago today in China. Among the many centenary events there have been three exhibitions this week, each showing a remarkably different aspect of his work.

The exhibition at the British Library celebrates the acquisition of the Gormenghast and poetry manuscripts, the originals for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and a great deal of correspondence and other relevant documents and photographs. Beautifully displayed in the Folio Society Gallery, here you can also see photographs taken by Peake's father when he arrived in China, poetry both harrowing and amusing, and a presentation of Peake's playful work on a "line". It's marvellous to see his work in this most august of settings and to witness the wholehearted enthusiasm of the British Library for Peake's work. The photograph shows Sebastian Peake, Jon Fawcett (British Library Exhbitions Organiser) and Brian Sibley standing in front of the Alice display.

The National Archives at Kew brought out from their collection eighteen of the twenty-five extraordinary 'Hitler drawings'. Sebastian Peake gave a talk about his father's life to members of the Friends of the National Archive and all present were fascinated by both the talk and the work on show. Conceived in 1941, they show a suggested portfolio of work as if produced by Hitler himself. Prophetic in the extreme, the titles such as Family Group, Landscape with Figures and Still Life on a Table take on a hideous new perspective which, of course, materialised in reality by 1945.

This afternoon, an exhibition of original paintings and drawings by both Mervyn Peake and Maeve Gilmore opens at the Victor Wynd Gallery in Hackney. Primarily Maeve Gilmore's work, it will be a chance for people to see, for the first time in many years, the work of this talented artist whose loyalty and hard work sustained her husband in so many different ways. Also to celebrate the publication of her own book, Titus Awakes, a very personal account of her own view of Titus's homecoming.

Alison Eldred

More on the Mervyn Peake Conference

2011-07-07T08:36:00.005Z

The University of Chichester Department of English and Creative Writing in conjunction with the Sussex Centre for Folklore, Fairy Tales and Fantasy present a weekend of events on the 15th, 16th and 17th July 2011.

A conference will run for the entire weekend and keynote speakers include; Peter Winnington, Joanne Harris, Sebastian Peake, Colin Manlove, Farah Mendlesohn and Brian Sibley.

If you cannot attend for the entire weekend then you can come for individual public events. Speakers will be:

Joanne Harris - The Inspirational Mervyn Peake
Katherine Langrish - Exchanging Certainty for Uncertainty: Mervyn Peake Explores the Realms of Children's Fiction
Brian Sibley - Titus Aloud
A play written by Tim Franklin, directed by Kim Pearce titled ‘Boy In Darkness’

If you would like to attend for either the conference or any of the public events, please contact Jane Caroll on 01243 816479 or j.carroll@chi.ac.uk

Interview in the Radio Times

2011-07-05T08:42:00.003Z

From the latest Radio Times, 5th July 2011.

The Guardian and the Telegraph, 2nd July 2011

2011-07-02T09:31:00.005Z

"For decades, Mervyn Peake, creator of Gormenghast, was a neglected and marginalised 'gothic' writer. Today he's recognised as a novelist and artist of brilliance, and the centenary of his birth is being marked by an exhibition and several new editions. Four writers with a connection to the author celebrate his achievements."

So begins the coverage in today's Review section of The Guardian. My apologies to anyone who bought the paper on 1st July and found nothing on Peake - but today's edition has four beautifully written pieces by Michael Moorcock, Hilary Spurling, China Mieville and AL Kennedy. Just the kind of coverage Peake deserves.

More coverage in The Daily Telegraph here. Philip Womack interviews Sebastian, Fabian and Clare Peake.

Interview with Nick Briggs on Radio 4 Extra

2011-07-02T09:21:00.003Z

The Worlds of Mervyn Peake, the exhibition which opens at the British Library on 7th July 2011, will be discussed on Radio 4 Extra, (previously Radio 7) at 6.25pm on Wednesday 13th July. Sebastian Peake is interviewed by the winner of the Critic's Choice Award for London exhibitions in the current Time Out, and the voice of the Daleks, Nick Briggs.

Mervyn Peake on Radio 3

2011-07-01T10:55:00.002Z

On Friday 8th July at 10.00 pm Ian Macmillan will be discussing the work of Mervyn Peake with Joanne Harris. The programme is The Verb, on Radio 3.

Chris Beetles' Gallery and Parkinson's

2011-06-30T12:25:00.001Z

The Chris Beetles' Gallery of Ryder Street, St James's will be presenting a major fund-raising reading event and exhibition on 18th July, at which several well-known actors will be reading from Mervyn Peake's poetry. Sebastian Peake and Chris Beetles will have a 'battle of the poems' in which they will take it in turns to read out the Aunts & Uncles rhymes from the nonsense verse.

The Illustrated Gormenghast is reviewed

2011-06-30T12:21:00.002Z

This Friday 1st July 2011, the review section of The Guardian will be publishing China Mieville's introduction to the new Vintage hardback edition of Gormenghast.

Also, following this Friday's edition of Newsnight on BBC 2 Television, a panel will discuss the Illustrated Gormenghast on Newsnight Review.

Peake on Radio 4, 7th July

2011-06-30T12:17:00.001Z

Sebastian Peake presents a programme about his father's life and work on BBC Radio 4 at 11.30 am on 7th July.

Alison Eldred

The History of Titus Groan

2011-06-28T12:14:00.005Z

Next week's edition of The Radio Times to appear on 5th July 2011, will feature an article, including photographs, on Mervyn Peake while also announcing the new adaptation by Brian Sibley of Gormenghast and Titus Awakes, The History of Titus Groan, this year's Classic Serial on Radio 4.

The first in the six part series will be broadcast on Sunday, 10th July at 3.00 pm with subsequent parts on the following five Sundays. It will also be repeated on Saturday evenings at 9.00.

Joie de Lire to publish Captain Slaughterboard

2011-06-28T12:11:00.000Z

Good to see that a Swiss edition of Captain Slaughterboard will soon go on sale to the delight, I hope, of the French-speaking world. Apart from the Swiss canton that speaks French, the book will appear in Belgium, Canada & France.

Nonsense Poetry set to music by Richard Rodney Bennett

2011-06-28T12:00:00.003Z

A particularly opportune concert, given the imminent publication of two books of nonsense verse by Mervyn Peake will take place in a rural church in Nottinghamshire.
16th July, 7.30pm at St Mary's Church, Lowdham, Notts.

The East of England Singers will perform a selection of Mervyn Peake's Nonsense poetry set to music by Richard Rodney Bennett.

Full details of the concert are available on their website.

Lewis Carroll Society

2011-06-28T11:56:00.002Z

A talk on Mervyn Peake will be given to members of the Lewis Carroll Society on Friday 18th November.

Boyd Tonkin in The Independent

2011-06-24T09:02:00.001Z

Boyd Tonkin writing in The Independent today, captures not only the spirit incorporated into the highly original interpretations of the characters from Lewis Carroll's masterpiece, Alice, but sets the work in historical context. Mervyn Peake's life-changing experiences in immediate post-war Germany informed to a great degree the way in which his work developed. Malgre the awfulness of the witness, like Goya and Picasso his art would reach new heights of intuitive perception, unmatched in illustration.

Exhibitions in Chichester

2011-06-23T16:59:00.002Z

A film made by local Sussex BBC Television to highlight the current exhibitions at both Pallant House and the Otter Gallery in Chichester.

Also a piece from West Sussex Gazette about the exhibitions.

The Mervyn Peake Conference to be held at Chichester University from 15th to 17th July now has a very full programme. See their website for details of how to book tickets.

Parkinson's Award

2011-06-20T16:34:00.000Z

Another very happy recipient in one of the categories of the 10th Mervyn Peake Awards.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

The Sunday Times, 12th June 2011

2011-06-18T07:58:00.007Z

A keen Mervyn Peake enthusiast was kind enough to scan the wonderful article about all things Peake in the recent Sunday Times.

Titus Awakes - inThe Sunday Times

2011-06-10T18:51:00.002Z

Anyone keenly awaiting the publication of Maeve Gilmore's book, Titus Awakes, will be interested to know that this is going to be serialised in The Sunday Times from 12th June 2011.

Although this is often described as a sequel to Peake's Titus books, it is, of course told in a completely different voice. It describes the next stage in Titus's life and for those who know about Peake's own life and experiences there will be resonances which are both poignant and harrowing. I would recommend it to anyone who might want to identify with the woman who supported Peake in every way through good times and bad.

Alison Eldred

PN Review

2011-06-07T22:25:00.003Z

"A very incisive and well-written introduction to Mervyn Peake's book, Rhymes Without Reason by Rob Maslen, appears in the current edition of PN Review, one of the country's leading poetry magazines. Rob Maslen and Peter Winnington have worked as editors of Complete Nonsense, a comprehensive, and highly-colourful collection of Mervyn Peake's nonsense poetry, and details can be found in New Publications on this site.

Noah's Ark at the Blue Elephant theatre

2011-06-07T22:07:00.002Z

As a small but significant venue, The Blue Elephant Theatre of Camberwell, London, has been championing the plays of Mervyn Peake for the last year or two. They will be staging an edited version of Noah's Ark from late November 2011, in a three and a half week run which will introduce the piece to a children's audience.

The theatre is always looking for backers or people who would like to get involved with the production by way of investment, so if anyone is interested in finding out more they should contact Jasmine Cullingford. For any further details please call: 020 7701 0100

News from Chichester

2011-06-07T22:04:00.001Z

Real enthusiasm for the two concurrent Mervyn Peake Peake exhibition on in Chichester at the moment.

Parkinson's

2011-06-05T09:51:00.002Z

The whole purpose of the annual Mervyn Peake Awards, was to inspire those suffering from the effect of Parkinson's disease, into submitting either a photograph, drawing or painting. In the words of Malcolm Allen, winner in the digital category, "Having Parkinson's does not have to stand in the way of creativity, and I hope my success will inspire others to unlock their creative talents.".

Mervyn Peake and Maeve Gilmore - an exhibition of paintings and drawings

2011-06-04T15:43:00.005Z

An exhibition of Mervyn Peake and Maeve Gilmore's work will open on 9th July, the day which would have been Mervyn Peake's 100th birthday. A wide range of paintings and drawings by both artists will be on show at Viktor Wynd Fine Art, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP. For further details please call 020 7998 3617

More talks and events

2011-06-03T10:01:00.001Z

Clare Peake will be speaking about her wonderful new book, Under a Canvas Sky, published later this month by Constable & Robinson, on Saturday 4th June in an unnamed pub at 269 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton SW2.

Sebastian Peake will be speaking on Saturday 18th June at the Worcestersire Literary Festival, Worcester University. For details email lisa@worcslitfest.com

There will be a musical recital of certain works by Mervyn Peake, with readings by Sebastian and Fabian Peake at the 11th century St Mary the Virgin Church, Burpham, near Arundel Sussex at 6pm on 19th June. For further details robert.carrington@tesco.net

Clare Peake will be one of Libby Purves' guests on the BBC's Midweek programme on Radio Four, on Wednesday 22nd June at 10am

Clare Peake will be speaking about her parents and her new book at 2.30pm on 12th July at the prestigious Ways With Words Literary Festival, Dartington, Devon. For further details admin@wayswithwords.co.uk

Sebastian Peake will be speaking on Wednesday 13th July at the Ways With Words Literary Festival, Dartington, Devon. For further details admin@wayswithwords.co.uk

The Illustrated Gormenghast, anticipation from Vintage

2011-05-30T15:22:00.002Z

These highly enthusiastic words from the sales division of Vintage Books should auger well for The Illustrated Gormenghast, the new Random House edition which is due for publication in July.

VINTAGE PUBLISHING

"If I was to choose one title that has enthused all of my buyers from the CCV list this month it would have to be The Illustrated Gormenghast Trilogy! I didn’t realise that so many of my buyers were huge Mervyn Peake fans, they have been so thrilled personally to see this edition been published, I have absolutely no doubt that this book will have huge numbers of Staff Recommendations once published, a real booksellers book!"

The History of Titus Groan

2011-05-24T20:22:00.007Z

Brian Sibley's radio adaptation of the four Titus books (including Maeve Gilmore's Titus Awakes) is now going into production. I understand that there is a carefully-chosen team of well-known actors but unfortunately we can't yet tell you who they are. More here, on Brian's blog.

And more on the broadcasting dates on our 'Centenary Events'.

Mervyn Peake's character studies of the main characters (above) might just prove useful as inspiration.

Alison Eldred

The Guernsey Museum and Art Gallery

2011-05-22T16:12:00.005Z

The exhibition currently showing at the Guernsey Museum & Art Gallery until September 11th and titled Mervyn Peake's Sark - To the Sweep of a Steel Bay is an outstanding example of how the artist and writer's work can be displayed in all its glory in a relatively small space. The designer, curator and director of the gallery have given the local public and visitors to the island, a genuinely beautiful mix of water colours, pencil and oil paintings, within the octagonal gallery. So impressed was Credit Suisse on viewing the work before the show opened that they decided to contribute substantially, thus the presentation of the work graphics and tastefully-produced bench seating, has made this lovely exhibition something not to miss.

Visitor numbers are already above expectations, and two more oil paintings by Mervyn Peake on loan from their owners will be collected shortly from neighbouring Sark and will be added. The colour introduction to the show, provided by Credit Suisse's inspired largesse, in the form of a four part high-quality folding card, is so attractive that it is certainly likely to be kept by any visitor to this terrific show.

The Guardian, 7th May 2011

2011-05-08T10:38:00.005Z

How apt, that the excellent review by Ursula le Guin of China Mieville's latest novel, Embassytown, should appear in The Guardian yesterday. In the same paper, Sue Arnold's “Choice” of audio releases describes the new abridged edition of Titus Groan as “a veritable tour de force”. It's refreshing to find a reviewer who's new to the Titus Books and having listened to the first is itching for the next. Could this represent a whole new readership for these books? Always considered to be timeless and even ahead of their time, perhaps this is the case.

The relevance of the review of China's book in the same edition of the paper should be explained. He has written the introduction to the new illustrated edition of the Titus Books. Eloquent and passionate, there could not have been a better choice of writer. As you can tell from this small extract:

'Asserting the specificity of a part, he better takes as given the whole - of which, of course, we are in awe. This faux matter-of-fact method makes Gormenghast, its Hall of Bright Carvings, its Tower of Flints, its roofscapes, ivy-shaggy walls, its muddy environs and hellish kitchens so much more present and real than if it had been breathlessly explained. From this start, Peake acts as if the totality of his invented place could not be in dispute. The dislocation and fascination we feel, the intoxication, is testimony to the success of his simple certainty. Our wonder is not disbelief but belief, culture-shock at this vast strange place. We submit to this reality, that the book asserts even as it purports not to. Of course Gormenghast is.'

More on on the unabridged audio version of Titus Groan here, and an interview with Rupert Degas.

And Gormenghast here.

Alison Eldred

Mervyn Peake and Maeve Gilmore - An exhibition of paintings and drawings

2011-05-08T10:28:00.002Z

Opening on 9th July, Mervyn Peake's actual birthday, will be an exhibition of work by both him and his widow Maeve Gilmore. A wide range of paintings and drawings by both artists will be on show at Viktor Wynd Fine Art, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP For further details please call 020 7998 3617.

The Blue Elephant Theatre

2011-05-03T07:25:00.003Z

A significant contribution to the centenary year was made by the Blue Elephant Theatre in south east London. With three evenings devoted to Mervyn Peake's plays and poems, they came up with rehearsed readings of two of the plays; Mr Loftus and Noah's Ark and a particularly moving evening devoted to some of the poems.

There were many readings (of the poems) that held the attention of the packed house, but one or two had about them that extra quality which emanates from a true understanding and sympathy with the words. Two such were Rhondda Valley and To Live at all is Miracle Enough whose homage to the Welsh miner in the former, and fundamental wisdom in the philosophical observation of the latter, reduced some members of the audience to tears. The theatre is to be congratulated on it's marvellous work in bringing to the public's attention two lesser-known areas from the multi-talented writer and artist's life.

The theatre let it be known at the end of the very successful mini-season, that they would be very interested in taking to full production, either the plays, the poems or both. Perhaps if any fan of the work reading this, who just happens to run a theatre and would like to stage either, would step forward, I'm sure the Blue Elephant Theatre would be delighted.

The Ten Best Castles

2011-05-01T17:24:00.002Z

A second mention of Mervyn Peake's world in one week in The Guardian, sees Gormenghast Castle as the one 'to beat all others', according to the John Mullan.

2011-04-28T11:56:00.002Z

A Mervyn Peake talk at the National Archive, Kew.

Titled Landscape with Figures, the painting above is from the series produced early in the war, as if from Hitler's own portfolio.

The Sunday Books reviewed

2011-04-27T11:07:00.004Z

Alison Flood writes in The Guardian on 26th April.

And more about Mervyn Peake in previous articles in The Guardian here.

A peek at Peake

2011-04-25T10:07:00.005Z

Advising the publisher for whom he was scouting at the time, the writer Graham Greene suggested that Titus Groan, and later Gormenghast should not include the margin drawings which were included in the submitted manuscript. From 1946 until the summer of 2011 this remained the case with just a very few of the hundred plus character sketches and finished illustrations included for the reader's visual guidance. It is wonderful therefore that in a little under three months all the secrets of the original manuscript will be revealed to the world. Figures from the books will then be brought to radiant life.

2011-04-23T13:06:00.002Z

The British Library, which acquired the Mervyn Peake archive in the spring of 2010, have just announced a wide-ranging series of exhibitions and talks to be held during this centenary year. A selection of drawings, manuscripts and notebooks from the archive will be on display, with lectures held in the conference centre.

Under a Canvas Sky

2011-04-20T14:06:00.004Z

An extract from Clare Peake's book, to be published in June, has been made available by the publisher. Follow the link for a preview of this long-awaited memoir of life with her parents.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/53352994/Under-a-Canvas-Sky-Clare-Peake

Titus Awakes, introduction by Brian Sibley

2011-04-20T11:52:00.008Z

The writer and broadcaster, Brian Sibley, was a regular visitor of Maeve Gilmore's when she was working on this book. She discussed it with him in depth at that time so to have an introduction by Brian in the book's eventual published form so many years later is both a fascinating insight and an indication of the warmth with which she is still regarded by those around her at the time.

You will have to wait until 7th July when the book is published to read the full introduction but in the mean time, Brian writes:

"As the writing slowly progressed it evolved. What had begun as an act of homage - attempting to emulate Mervyn's narrative style - was now being expressed in Maeve's own distinctive voice which had already found eloquent expression in her emotionally charged memoir, A World Away (1970)."

Brian has also been commissioned by the BBC to write a new radio adaptation of the three Gormenghast books and Titus Awakes. This will be broadcast as the "Classic Serial" from Sunday, 10th July. Information on times can be found on Centenary Events.

Alison Eldred

Two more Parkinson's talks

2011-04-16T07:55:00.002Z

Sebastian Peake, with a few of the 75 strong audience after speaking about Mervyn Peake at the Plymouth branch of the Parkinson's UK on 12th April. The following day a separate talk was given at the Eden Project, St Austell, Cornwall where one of the famous vast white globes was filled with those with Parkinson's who had travelled from all over the county, including the Isles of Scilly.

The Centenary Celebrations begin

2011-04-12T20:18:00.014Z

It's now just three months until the centenary of Mervyn Peake's birth and, from my position as provider of digital images to publishers, galleries and museums, I now intend to write the occasional blog on Sebastian's behalf to bring readers up to date.

This week sees the opening of the exhibition at the Pallant House Gallery in Chichester. This will be the first chance to see (in the UK) the collection of illustrations originally brought together for the major exhibition in Switzerland last year at Maison d'Ailleurs. It's an excellent way to begin the centenary celebrations. It is a fine exhibition, and it includes Treasure Island, Grimm's Household Tales, Captain Slaughterboard, Rhymes without Reason and six detailed charater studies of characters from Gormenghast.

The permanent exhibition at this beautiful Queen Anne House includes work by Henry Moore, John Piper and Graham Sutherland as well as more modern artists. For that reason, we suggested that one or two of Mervyn Peake's oil paintings were included to remind visitors that he was also a painter. The painting above, of the two clowns, is one of them.

Here is a review of the exhibition by Dominic Smith of The Argus.

Chichester is the perfect place to open the celebrations as it will also be the venue for the first Mervyn Peake International Conference. Regular readers of the blog will know that this is planned for 14th to 16th July and is being run by the Department of English and Creative Writing at Chichester University together with The Sussex Centre for Folklore Fairy Tales and Fantasy.

You can follow the dedicated blog if you'd like to read more about the conference.

There are now many other events planned for the rest of this year and details can be found here, or in the main menu.

Many new publications are being planned, including the new Illustrated Gormenghast, and they can be found here, or in the main menu.

If you'd like to know more, you might like to "follow" this blog. Click here to find out more.

Alison Eldred

A Mervyn Peake Interview at King's Place

2011-04-11T07:56:00.004Z

The writer and broadcaster Brian Sibley, writer of the forthcoming serialisation of the Titus Books on BBC Radio, will be on stage at the wonderful new King's Place concert hall, for a discussion with both Fabian and Sebastian Peake on 7th November 2011, at 7.00 pm. The topics will range across poetry, art and literature, and will highlight the many new publications and exhibitions that have been a feature of this centenary year.

Further details: King's Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG 020 7520 1490 www.kingsplace.co.uk

Michael Moorcock

2011-04-11T07:51:00.004Z

Unfortunately Michel Moorcock, one of Mervyn Peake's greatest champions over the last few decades, will not be able to attend in person the Peake conference at Chichester University in July as noted on the conference website.

The Sunday Books, in English

2011-03-16T17:56:00.001Z

Duckworth, recently acquired by Bloomsbury, and thus able to use the sales force of the latter to augment their own, will be publishing The Sunday Books on 9th July, at a cost of £18.99 a copy. Overlook Press will be simultaneously publishing the colourful book in New York.

The Illustrated Gormenghast and Titus Awakes

2011-03-15T09:30:00.002Z

Vintage will be publishing both The Illustrated Gormenghast and Titus Awakes, my mother's conclusion to the Titus Trilogy on 7th July. In a visual tour de force, the illustrated book will display over a hundred for the most part previously-unseen margin illustrations from the manuscript, while the latter book will be quite a revelation.

The International Mervyn Peake Conference

2011-03-09T11:03:00.002Z

Further news about the previously named Symposium, now known as Mervyn Peake and the Fantasy Tradition at Chichester University. The late subject of this august-sounding gathering of academics,writers and others, would certainly have been mightily impressed.

Prints of The Glassblowers painting

2011-03-06T10:22:00.003Z

A Special Peake Centenary Offer from Manchester City Art Gallery.

Centenary events in "The Book Trade"

2011-03-05T10:01:00.000Z

The Book Trade in an article which appeared today, writes very enthusiastically and comprehensively about the many publications which will appear this year. With Vintage Books, Constable & Robinson, Peter Owen,Carcarnet and Methuen all bringing out both new and earlier editions of the work of Mervyn Peake, 2011 is certainly going to be a bumper year for the 77th Earl of Groan, Lord Titus.

The Blue Elephant Theatre, A Centenary Celebration

2011-02-28T21:25:00.004Z

A mini-festival of plays, poetry and readings will show that Peake's imagination and inspiration extended far beyond Gormenghast. Below, a programme of events to be held at the theatre in Bethwin Road, Camberwell, London SE5 OXT
For information and reservations: 020 7701 0100

TUESDAY 26th April at 8pm - Noah's Ark

A rehearsed reading of Noah's Ark. Intended for children, Peake's remarkable prose makes his behind-the-scenes account of this well-known biblical story just as engaging for adult audiences. Originally broadcast on BBC radio, this charming play is long overdue for a theatrical staging.

WEDNESDAY 27th April at 8pm - Mr Loftus or And a Horse of Air

The dust in his room is ankle deep yet Mr Loftus still insists on being served tea and brandy by his butler. With an eccentric anti-hero whose manners are decidedly ungentlemanly, this previously unseen play is Peake's distinctive take on the comedy of manners. "Mad? Did you say mad? I have gone sane, That's much more difficult"

THURSDAY 28th April at 8pm - The Poems of Peake

An evening of Peake's poetry read, staged, and interpreted by a range of artists. With an introduction to his father's poetry by Fabian Peake, and a post-performance Q & A with Sebastian Peake

Vintage Classics Day at Foyles Bookshop, London

2011-02-26T11:48:00.004Z

On Saturday 7th May Sebastian Peake will be speaking at The Gallery at Foyle's. The event will begin at 10.30 am and last an hour with questions and answers following the discussion. Viv Groskop of The Observer will chair the panel. Tickets are £18 with £15 concessions and £12 for those booking before 1st March.

A Centenary Call for Items

2011-02-24T09:49:00.002Z

KEMP BOOKSELLERS

The well-established Mervyn Peake collector, Michael Kemp, will be issuing a fascinating catalogue to celebrate the centenary, and it will be available this summer. The catalogue will include over 200 items, ranging from 1st editions to significant re-issues, and a selection of original art including drawings and paintings by Mervyn Peake.
email: mike@kempbooksellers.co.uk or telephone 01795 663675.

CAMERON HOUSE BOOKS

Another established collector and bookseller, is Lesley Sklaroff, who usually has a wide range of mint-condition 1st editions, fascinating magazine articles, books, pamphlets and other Peake-related items at his treasure trove business on the Isle of Wight.
email: ljs@cambooks-dimbola.freeserve.co.uk or
telephone 01983 754960

Three new publications from Methuen

2011-02-23T09:28:00.004Z

In June, Methuen will be publishing the first in a series of plays written by Mervyn Peake. The title of the first collection will be Mervyn Peake; Plays One. On the cover of the book will be one of the many illustrations produced to accompany The Wit to Woo, the play, begun in 1950, and given its first performance on 12th March 1957.
____________________________________

Conceived and written on the island of Sark, Letters From a Lost Uncle, a story for children but very much based on Mervyn Peake's love of adventures on the high seas, Methuen will also be reissuing the book in June. Originally published in 1948 by Eyre & Spottiswoode, the story tells the adventures of the Uncle who regularly writes home to his nephew in England. Beautifully illustrated, and written as though on a typewriter, many of the pages are apparently blood-stained from cuts to the writer's fingers.
_____________________________________

Methuen are also reissuing their earlier edition of The Hunting of the Snark Lewis Carroll's classic with illustrations by Mervyn Peake. Published by Chatto & Windus in December 1941 the drawings had been developing in the illustrator's mind during the previous year or so while in the army.

Selected Short Stories and Poems by Mervyn Peake, read by Fabian Peake and Sebastian Peake

2011-02-16T18:58:00.005Z

A double CD with sleeve note essay, photographs and a painting by Peake's widow, Maeve Gilmore, will be available in bookshops and other outlets from June 2011. The recordings, which were produced at the state-of-the-art studios at the British Library in London, will feature several hours of Mervyn Peake's stories and poems. An evening dedicated to these recordings will take place, in the late autumn, at King's Place in London, where the brothers will read both stories and poems in one of the concert halls at this new venue.

The Ancient Mariner at the British Library

2011-02-16T18:56:00.002Z

As well as the Alice illustrations in the Treasures Gallery at the British Library, a new exhibition in the Folio Society Gallery features an enlarged illustration from The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner. The exhibition, called simply The Ancient Mariner, is on the mezzanine floor at the British Library, and will be there for the next two months.