Mervyn Peake — Titus Groan

London, Book Club Associates, 1979 . Cloth. A smart, illustrated "Book Club Associates" edition of the first installment in Mervyn Peake's fantastical Gormenghast series, neatly encased in the scarce dust wrapper. In the publisher's original cloth binding, together with the increasingly scarce and unclipped dust wrapper. Illustrated with six plates, containing artwork by the author, and further examples in the text. The first installment in Mervyn Peake's successful Gormenghast trilogy, originally published in 1946, this edition featuring an introduction by Anthony Burgess. An impressive work of classic fantasy fiction, often noted as one of the first fantasy of manners novels, the series is set in the decaying Gothic structure of Castle Gormenghast and features a doomed lord, an emergent hero, and an array of bizarre creatures. Mervyn Peake is considered one of the "Big Three" of secondary world fantasy, alongside J. R. R. Tolkien and Robert E. Howard. In the publisher's original cloth binding, together with the increasingly scarce and unclipped dust wrapper. Externally, very smart with only minor bumping and rubbing. Dust wrapper also pleasing, a little age toned with the occasional mark and next to no shelf wear. Internally, firmly bound. Very bright and clean. Very Good Indeed . Ill.: Mervyn Peake. Very Good Indeed/Very Good Indeed.