Books

Octavo, three volumes, cloth. First editions. Comprises TITUS GROAN (1946), GORMENGHAST (1950), and TITUS ALONE (1959), the three published books of the "Gormenghast" sequence. TITUS GROAN is signed by Peake on the front free endpaper. Barron (ed), Fantasy Literature 3-285. Cawthorn and Moorcock, Fantasy: The 100 Best Books 64. Manlove, Modern Fantasy, pp. 207-57. Pringle, Modern Fantasy: The Hundred Best Novels 1, 10, and 23. Schlobin, The Literature of Fantasy 867-869. Survey of Modern Fantasy Literature IV, pp. 1947-53. Reginald 11248, 11244 and 11246. TITUS GROAN is a fine copy in fine first state dust jacket (no "Second / Impression" statement and no extracts from six book reviews printed on front flap; printed price "15s/Net"); GORMENGHAST is a fine copy in very good to near fine dust jacket with rubbing along spine and flap folds, touch of wear at spine ends, and some mild age-darkening, mostly to spine panel; TITUS ALONE is a fine copy in fine dust jacket. Peake's signature is uncommon and is rarely found in a first issue copy of TITUS GROAN. A stunning set overall. (#111943).

Titus Groan is the first novel in the Gormenghast series by Mervyn Peake. It tells the story of the eponymous castle, the Groan family who inhabits it, and the servants and retainers who fill its halls. It paints a richly detailed picture of a gothic landscape and the bizarre rituals and traditions that dominate the lives of its characters.