Is anyone else a fan of Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast books? I discovered them about ten years ago after the BBC did the
amazing miniseries adaptation starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Steerpike (and just about
every famous British actor still working, in the best casting ever!). We were at a British Library talk a few weeks ago when I saw in the booklet that not only is there
an exhibition on now showing a lot of Mervyn Peake's drawings and original manuscripts, but there's a talk celebrating the series, featuring Peake's eldest son. So we rushed home and bought tickets (£7.50, bargain!) and
the event was last night.
I was flabbergasted to see that not only was Sebastien Peake speaking, but the man who's doing
the current Radio 4 adaptation of the series was also there, plus author China Miéville, and we were treated to readings by John Sessions, Zoe Wannamaker, and Miranda Richardson!! It was only a small room, but it was SUCH a treat to be read to by these fantastic actors!
And of course, I bought the newest (last!) book,
Titus Awakes, while I was there, too.
Has anyone read this yet? Any other Gormenghast fans out there? There's
another BL talk on 26 July that isn't sold out yet, too.
