Titus Groan

By: Mervyn Peake

Narrated by: Saul Reichlin

Brought to you by Penguin.

Welcome to the world of Gormenghast, the classic fantasy series from the imagination of Mervyn Peake

As the first novel opens, Titus, heir to Lord Sepulchrave, has just been born: he stands to inherit the miles of rambling stone and mortar that stand for Gormenghast Castle. Inside, all events are predetermined by a complex ritual, lost in history, understood only by Sourdust, Lord of the Library. There are tears and strange laughter; fierce births and deaths beneath umbrageous ceilings; dreams and violence and disenchantment contained within a labyrinth of stone.

'A gorgeous volcanic eruption... A work of extraordinary imagination' New Yorker


©1968 The Estate of Mervyn Peake (P)2014 Random House Audiobooks

Critic reviews

Mr Peake's first novel holds one with its glittering eye - It has a genuine plot in the strictest sense, and it persuades you to read on simply in order to know what will happen - its gallery of characters is wonderful

A gorgeous volcanic eruption... A work of extraordinary imagination

The Gormenghast Trilogy is one of the most important works of the imagination to come out of [this] age (Anthony Burgess)

A stunning journey through a stunning world

The most beautiful use of language i have ever encountered, a riveting story with loveable and strange characters, brought to life by masteful narration

Masterpiece

Mervyn Peake’s way of using language is mesmerizing.
Titus Groan is both funny, grotesque, beautiful, macabre and romantic. And Saul Reichlins narration is exquisite.

much ado about nothing

An incredible stream of words and ambience and lots of humour made it (sort of) worthwhile, but I was left feeling dissatisfied by a lack of "proper" story.

Fantastic writing

Some of the most incredible use of English I have ever experienced. Excellent reader. Highly recommend.

A troll miror image of the human condition

I laughed a lot. This is one of the strangest styles of writing I have experienced. The narration in it self, makes the story worth listening to.