Gormenghast

[pip]

As i've posted in the book section several times i have over the last few months worked my way through the Gormenghast trilogy and i'm just finishiing the last part.
Great books built on vivid descriptions.
Several times when i'vce mentioned the books people recall the BBC series from 2000 .
Everyone seems to vaguely remember it so i picked up a copy of it from Play.com for a fiver.
Has anyone watched this recently or remember it well.
I'll let you know how it goes anyway.

 

[DaveC]

As i've posted in the book section several times i have over the last few months worked my way through the Gormenghast trilogy and i'm just finishiing the last part.
Great books built on vivid descriptions.
Several times when i'vce mentioned the books people recall the BBC series from 2000 .
Everyone seems to vaguely remember it so i picked up a copy of it from Play.com for a fiver.
Has anyone watched this recently or remember it well.
I'll let you know how it goes anyway.

So you can diss it with specifics or see it in a brand new light. I thought you hate JRM?

 

[Pearwood]

I've watched it a couple of times. The first 2 episodes that focus on Steerpike are excellent. Then he's suddenly made into a supporting character, his clever machinations shifted to the background. And instead it focuses on boring whine-merchant Titus and how no-one understands him. Yawn.

I've never read the books so I can't say on how they compare.

 

[pip]

As i've posted in the book section several times i have over the last few months worked my way through the Gormenghast trilogy and i'm just finishiing the last part.
Great books built on vivid descriptions.
Several times when i'vce mentioned the books people recall the BBC series from 2000 .
Everyone seems to vaguely remember it so i picked up a copy of it from Play.com for a fiver.
Has anyone watched this recently or remember it well.
I'll let you know how it goes anyway.

So you can diss it with specifics or see it in a brand new light. I thought you hate JRM?

I do hate JRM but hey its also got Stephen Fry in it so he can balance it out

 

[pip]

I've watched it a couple of times. The first 2 episodes that focus on Steerpike are excellent. Then he's suddenly made into a supporting character, his clever machinations shifted to the background. And instead it focuses on boring whine-merchant Titus and how no-one understands him. Yawn.

I've never read the books so I can't say on how they compare.

That is how the books go. Stterpike is an amazingly brilliant character but overall only a tool to the main plot and ideas.

 

[Jan Van Quirm]

I think with Gormenghast so much happens 'in the head' that it's really, really hard to present it visually - part of this is to do with Mervyn Peake who was primarily a painter/illustrator who could also describe his art in words to a really high degree so in that respect you don't actually need the visual input?

I only saw two episodes of the BBC production and whilst it was indeed stunning to look at, it completely missed the obsession and immersion you get in the book, so you don't really get that Gormenghast, the building itself, is alive and interacting with the denizens.

The best shot at dramatisation I think is still the radio version with Sting as Steerpike - about the only acting job where he's been as good as his hype

 

[pip]

I think with Gormenghast so much happens 'in the head' that it's really, really hard to present it visually - part of this is to do with Mervyn Peake who was primarily a painter/illustrator who could also describe his art in words to a really high degree so in that respect you don't actually need the visual input?

I only saw two episodes of the BBC production and whilst it was indeed stunning to look at, it completely missed the obsession and immersion you get in the book, so you don't really get that Gormenghast, the building itself, is alive and interacting with the denizens.

The best shot at dramatisation I think is still the radio version with Sting as Steerpike - about the only acting job where he's been as good as his hype

Good point.
Part of why i took breaks between the three books is because of how much it draws the reader in. The intensity is tiring.
Very hard to adapt this to screen. It would be impossible to get the castle and atmosphere right.
Have to look for a copy of the radio version . Cheers for that Jan

 

[DaveC]

Was in Glastonbury yesterday and bought one big book containing all three novels, the unfiished fourth plus some essays and two introductions......for £7 reduced from £19.99.



Will probably get to it in about 6 months after I've finished with Good Omens, Johnny series, Carpet Peeps and Nation and Snuff.

God, Glasto is so full of books shops!

 

[pip]

By the unfinished fourth do you mean Boy in Darkness or the couple of pages from Titus Awakes which is at the end of some versions of Titus Alone . Just curious , i've not read the Boy in the Darkness yet.
Seemingly they are releasing a fourth installment this year done by Peakes wife but i've heard nothing yet .

 

[DaveC]

By the unfinished fourth do you mean Boy in Darkness or the couple of pages from Titus Awakes which is at the end of some versions of Titus Alone . Just curious , i've not read the Boy in the Darkness yet.
Seemingly they are releasing a fourth installment this year done by Peakes wife but i've heard nothing yet .

I think it's Titus Awakes?

 

[pip]

Cool. Haven't read it yet and i haven't seen a copy either so good find

 

[pip]

Just checked up and they have released the book of titus awakes as finished by the wife from his notes . Cheers dave . would have missed this otherwise.

 

[DaveC]

Just checked up and they have released the book of titus awakes as finished by the wife from his notes . Cheers dave . would have missed this otherwise.

How old is she? When was it done, didn't Peake die in '68?

 

[pip]

She's dead as well. She wrote it in the 70's and the daughter has brought it out .

 

[Who's Wee Dug]

The TV series was good, Peake was one of the authors who influenced M.Moorcock. I might check on play if they still have or Amazon.

 

[pip]

Got the series off Play very cheap a while back