Steerpike Steerpike Steerpike is a fictional character in Mervyn Peake's novels "Titus Groan" and "Gormenghast". Steerpike might be called the antagonist of the Gormenghast trilogy, but in truth he is more of an anti-hero; the first book for example is largely focused on him, only covering the first year of the eponymous hero Titus's life. Steerpike could also be considered an archetypal Machiavellian schemer: a highly intelligent, ruthless character willing to justify any and all means to reach his end. In the books, Mervyn Peake describes his personality as follows: if ever he had harboured a conscience in his tough narrow
Gormenghast (series) Groan; Mervyn Peake is credited in the sleeve notes. The "Gormenghast" series has influenced other fantasy works. Gormenghast (series) Gormenghast is a fantasy series by British author Mervyn Peake, about the inhabitants of Castle Gormenghast, a sprawling, decaying, gothic-like structure. Originally conceived as a single on-going novel, the series was ended by Peake's death and comprises three novels, "Titus Groan" (1946), "Gormenghast" (1950), "Titus Alone" (1959) and a novella, "Boy in Darkness" (1956), whose canonical status is debated. Peake was writing a fourth novel, "Titus Awakes" at the time of his death, which was later completed and released by Peake's