Gormenghast (novel) Gormenghast (novel) Gormenghast is a fantasy novel by British writer Mervyn Peake, the second in his Gormenghast series. It is the story of Titus Groan, 77th Earl of Groan and Lord of Gormenghast Castle, from age 7 to 17. As the story opens, Titus dreads the pre-ordained life of ritual that stretches before him. To Titus, Master of Ritual Barquentine and his apprentice Steerpike are the embodiment of all he wants to rebel against. An important sub-plot involves Titus at school, where he encounters the professors, especially Bellgrove, who becomes Headmaster of Gormenghast school. Steerpike, despite his position of authority,
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