Mervyn Peake [pref. Maeve Gilmore] — Shapes and Sounds

London, Village Press, 1974. Paperback. A posthumous edition of Mervyn Peake's poetical anthology written while writing the first drafts of his Gormenghast series, signed with a new preface by his wife Maeve Gilmore A posthumous edition of Shapes and Sounds, the wartime anthology written by the prolific English writer and artist Mervyn Peake, with a preface wirtten and signed by Peake's wife and fellow artist Maeve Gilmore. Published in 1974, first published in 1941. In the publisher's original paper wraps, with Gilmore signed inscription to the title leaf. An avant-garde artist who exhibited at London galleries , Gilmore and Peake met while both studying at Westminster School of Art and had a happy marriage before Peake's death in 1967. Gilmore had this edition of his early wartime anthology published, written while he were recovering from a mental breakdown and also writing the first drafts of his influential Gormenghast series. Gilmore finished an acclaimed posthumous fourth novel of the Gormenghast series Titus Awakes based on her husband's notes, which was later published in 2011 and received acclaim from Michael Moorcock. In the publisher's original paper wraps. Externally, mostly smart, with minimal marks to front wrapper and faint spots to rear. Slight browning to spine, with light rubbing to edges. Pastedowns are clean. Internally, firmly bound. Gilmore's signed inscription to the title leaf. Pages are bright and clean. Very Good . Ill.: None. Very Good .