Entries are in chronological order – and I confess that I have not been very diligent in keeping this list up to date over the last five years or so.
Please inform me of additions and corrections that I should make. It would help if you could send me a photocopy of any article you bring to my attention.
This listing includes articles printed in the Mervyn Peake Review from issue 1 (1975, when it was called the Mervyn Peake Society Newsletter) to issue 20 (1986). Subsequent issues did not contain critical articles; instead, the MPSoc published two volumes of articles, Peake Papers I and II (see Part F, items 8 and 9).
Articles printed in Peake Studies will be found under contents of back issues.

Anon, Two photographs: “Sending in day” and “First arrivals at the Royal Academy”. Sphere, vol.cxxv, no.1628, 4 April 1931, p.3.
Photographs of MP in London with his paintings; they are reproduced in Writings and Drawings (A19), pp.16 and 19.

Stephen Spender, Poetry in 1941. Horizon, vol.5, no.26, February 1942, pp.96–111.
Mentions MP (“technically weak, but there is a genuine feeling for life”) on pages pp.99, 100 & 102.

Bill Brandt, What our artists look like [photograph of Mervyn Peake]. Lilliput, vol.12, no.3, issue no.69, March 1943, p.[244].
Affirms that he has “completed the first quarter of a four-volume novel.” Accompanied by a tiny sketch (Part D).

Eric Newton, MP. Sunday Times, 18 June 1944, p.2.
Review of the 1944 Peter Jones’ exhibition (Part E); reprinted in In my View, Longmans, Green & Co., 1950, pp.155–57 (Part G).

Alan Reeve, Artist-poet leads a robust trend in British art. Illustrated, vol.vi, no.51, 10 February 1945, p.25. No.15 of a series entitled “Men of the Future”.
Journalistic portrait of MP in his mid-30s. With a caricature of MP (also by Alan Reeve).

Quentin Crisp, The genius of MP. Facet, vol.1, no.1, 1946, pp.8–13.
Perceptive and sympathetic; reprinted in MPR 14:37–42.

[John] Brodie, First impressions of literary people: MP and the fantasies of an extremely lively imagination. Books of Today, n.s. vol.1, no.1, January 1946, p.5.
Concentrates on the grotesque and fantastic aspects of the man and his work; “he writes poetry as well.” With a small photograph of MP.

Charles Rosner, English book jackets. Graphis, vol.2, no.14, March–April 1946, p.136.
Reproduces the cover of Shapes & Sounds (A2).

Noel Carrington, English illustrated books for young children. Graphis, vol.2, no.14, March-April 1946, pp.220–22.
Reproduces 8 pages from Captain Slaughterboard Drops Anchor (A1b).

Frances Sarzano, The book illustrations of MP. Alphabet & Image, vol.1, Spring 1946, pp.19–37.
See Part D. Judges MP’s work by the highest standards, and finds it unequal. Reprinted in MPR 17:4–8. Also appeared in French, German and Italian translations in Echo international, 1946.

Bernard Denvir, Mervyn Peake. Studio, vol.132, no.642, September 1946, pp.88–90.
“One of the outstanding artistic figures of our day.” Reprinted in MPR 15:36–38. See also Part D.

A. L. Lloyd, An artist makes a living. Picture Post, vol.33, no.12, 21 December 1946, pp.22–24.
Interview, with seven photographs by Raymond Kleboe of MP and MG at work and three illustrations (from The Hunting of the Snark and Household Tales).

David H. Keller, Titus Groan: an appreciation. Operation Fantast, n.s. vol.1, no.4, March 1950, pp.3–6.
Review-article of TG, reprinted in Paradox (ed. Bruce Robbins), 1968, no.6, then in Crucified Toad (ed. David Britton), 1974, no.4, [5pp].

Royal Society of Literature, General Anniversary Meeting, 26 June 1951: President’s address. Reports for 1949–50 and 1950–51, 1952, pp.35–39.
The Heinemann Prize speech by R. A. Butler, later Lord Butler, who affirms that he has read MP’s books, and been enthralled by them. Watney (F3), p.162, claims that he said that he had not read them.

E. L. Beckingsale, [Letter to the Editor]. Books. The Journal of the National Book League. no.283, January–February 1954, p.37.
Feedback on the December 1953 issue from Laura Beckingsale, who knew MP as a small child; she finds that Mr Pye “illustrates many of Mr. Toynbee’s points” and recommends the book.

?Anon, Is there a title? Books. The Journal of the National Book League. no.290, December, 1954, p.289.
“In few children’s books have [flat tints] been used more skilfully than in MP’s Captain Slaughterboard Drops Anchor . . . now remaindered at 2s. 6d.”

Ervine Metzl, Ghosts and things by MP. American Artist, February 1955, pp.24–29.
First American assessment of MP’s graphic work, underlining his “creativeness, versatility and power.” Reproduces 14 drawings.

D[onald] R[ooum], Exhibition: drawings by MP. Freedom, vol.19, no.50, 13 December 1958, p.2.
Eloquent review of Waddington Galleries exhibition (Part E).

Edwin Morgan, [Letter to the Editor]. London Magazine, vol.6, no.1, January 1959, p.64.
Surprised that MP was omitted from “New Novelists” survey in previous issue, he trusts there are others besides himself “who prefer the richness and humanity of Mr Peake ... to the tight-knit terrors of ... Mr Golding?”

G. A. J. Farmer, MP, book illustrator, and a checklist of his works. Australian Library Journal, July 1959, pp.134–37.
A brief presentation of MP followed by the first attempt at a Peake bibliography: 62 items.

Michael Moorcock, Architect of the extraordinary: the work of MP. Vector, no.8, June 1960, pp.16–19.
Readers’ reactions to this article were printed in Vector no.9, September 1960, pp.38–44.

Edwin Morgan, The walls of Gormenghast: an introduction to the novels of MP. Chicago Review, vol.xiv, no.3, Autumn/Winter 1960, pp.74–81.
First “academic” assessment of the Titus books which “comment upon society, upon the relation of the individual to traditional forms. . . . they are by no means ‘Gothick’ in their total effect.”

Maeve Peake, Profile of MP. Folio, January-March 1961, pp.8–11.
One photograph and two drawings. First reproduction of the painting later used on the front of A2b.

Michael Moorcock, MP: an appreciation. Science Fantasy, vol.20, no.60, 1963, pp.53–56.
Mainly biographical.

Michael Moorcock, Aspects of fantasy; part 4: conclusion. Science Fantasy, vol.22, no.64, 1964, pp.116–24.
Brief mentions of MP, contrasting him with Tolkien.

Michael Wood, Gormenghast. Cambridge Review, vol.85, no.2077, 23 May 1964, pp.440 & 443.
“A landscape of the mind . . . a world which, like Kafka’s, can really be discussed only in its own terms - the reverse of an allegory. . . . But it touches our [world] at many points.”

Henry Tube, Mervyn Peake. Spectator, 15 July 1966, p.81.
An overall assessment; “he is at his weakest when he approves too completely of his subject.” “What we need, what we must have, is a full-scale exhibition of Peake’s work.”

Langdon Jones, A reverie of bone. New Worlds, vol.51, no.176, October 1967, pp.51–54.
“The future will prize the works of MP, and he will regain a popularity that will then be lasting” for “here are some of the richest, most controlled novels of the language, a treasure-house of experience.” Reproduces 4 drawings.

Pooter, [untitled]. The Times, 20 January 1968, p.21.
Comments on the MS of A World Away (F1) which is of a difficult length for publication.

Hilary Spurling, Mighty Groan. Financial Times, 15 February 1968.
Review of TG.

Anon, Londoner’s Diary. [London] Evening Standard, 18 November 68 p.10.
A 150-word obituary. “A master of high Gothic fantasy. A man of great gentleness and sensitivity...”

Anon, Author Dies. [London] Evening News, 18 November 1968.
A 7-line obituary.

Anon, Mr Mervyn Peake. Guardian, 19 November 1968.
Obituary: “a curious but powerful writer in a nightmare style . . . and the inventor of a series of fantastic figures which have been aptly called ‘not wholly human’”.

Anon, Painter dies, “was ahead of his time”. Morning Star, 19th November 1968.
Obituary concentrating on the “Bohemian” side of Peake who wore “a bright blue shirt, copper tweeds and orange velvet tie . . . at a formal showing of his works.”

Anon, MP, 57, a British writer: Author of “Gormenghast” trilogy and painter dies. New York Times, 19 November 1968, p.40.
A 350-word obituary.

Anon, Mr Mervyn Peake: author and painter. Scotsman, 19 November 1968.
A 13-line obituary.

[Maurice Collis], MP: Artist and writer with a gift for the grotesque. The Times, 19 November 1968, p.13.
Obituary by one of Peake’s most faithful admirers and supporters.

David Holloway, MP, author and artist. Daily Telegraph, 19 November 1968.
A 450-word obituary; balanced and sensitive.

John Spurling, Behind the wardrobe. Financial Times, 20 November 1968. p.3
A 650-word obituary; “belongs to that select band of oddities who cannot conveniently be fitted into the central tradition of English writing, but who constitute a kind of second line of attack, perhaps even a commando force...”

J. W. M. Thompson, Spectator’s notebook. Spectator, vol.221, no.7326, 22 November 1968, p.727.
Obituary: “only a talent of singular power could have created so complete a world of the imagination during those dismal years when ‘reality’ shoved everything aside.”

Edwin Mullins, Homage to Peake. Sunday Telegraph, 24 November 1968, p.5.
A 300-word obituary by a man who had known MP for the last 10 years. “The best English illustrator this century.”

M[arcus] S. Crouch, MP 1911–1968: an appreciation. Junior Bookshelf, vol.32, no.6, December 1968, pp.346–49.
“A future critic – for I cannot believe that he will be forgotten – will, I think, note not only the Gothic imagination but also the fun, the uncloying tenderness and the wisdom of a great artist.”

Anon., Antiquarian Bookman, 9 December 1968, p.2032.
3-line obituary, reprinted in issue for 23 & 30 December 1968, p.2256.

Rodney Ackland, Thit and thefuther. Spectator, 20 December 1968, p.879.
Review of Gormenghast (A9d).

Tim Kirk, Gormenghast: a portfolio. Trumpet [Kansas City, Mo], no.10, 1969, pp.[7–12].
Five pages of drawings by Tim Kirk, showing a general view of Gormenghast (“title-page”), “The Tree Room”, “A Few [i.e. five] of the Professors of Gormenghast”, “Flay and Titus” and “Lord Sepulchrave”.

Oswell Blakeston, Peake’s hollow castle. Books & Bookmen, February 1969, p.14.
A review of Gormenghast (A9d). “I can’t see any real reason for critics to inflate this whole castle which is already too big for its boots.” Discussed by Gavin O’Keefe in PS 8:iv, 19–28.

Michael Moorcock, MP. New Worlds, no.187, February 1969, pp.57 & 58.
Obituary with 3 photographs of MP and family.

M. John Harrison, et alia, “Groan” – a letter to the Editor of Books & Bookmen, April 1969, p.47 & 65.
M. John Harrison, Langdon Jones, Michael Moorcock, Bob Marsden, R. G. Jones, Diane Boardman, Pauline Hensby, and Marek Obtulowicz object to Oswell Blakeston’s article (February 1969) and he responds.

Anon, Books Abroad, Spring 1969, p.213.
Obituary notice, giving date of death as 23 November.

Leslie Sklaroff, MP – a checklist. Collector’s Bulletin (Newport News, Newport, Va: National Fantasy Fan Federation), no.10, April 1969, pp.17–19.
The second attempt at a Peake bibliography; 161 items.

Anon, “Lead-in”. New Worlds, no.194, September/October 1969, p.1.

Langdon Jones, Titus Alone – a new edition. New Worlds, no.194, September/October 1969, pp.20 & 21.
A more complete Introduction than was printed in TA (A9d).

Anthony Burgess, The price of Gormenghast. Spectator, 20 June 1970, pp.819 & 820.

Alan Forrest, Another groan. Books & Bookmen, vol.16, no.2, issue 192, September 1971, p.45.
Reports on growing interest in MP – “a Gormenghast Society, specially formed to study his work” [not identified; not the Mervyn Peake Society, which was formed in 1975] – “a pop group called Titus Groan” – and MG was writing the fourth Titus book [she finished it but it has not been published].

Anon, In memory of a great man. Nova, January 1972, p.11.
Photograph of MG by Adrian Scott.

Maurice Collis, MP. Arts Review, vol.24, no.1, January 1972, p.11 (with a photograph of Beatrice Greek, MG, and Maurice Collis on p.7).

Alex Hamilton, Mervyn alone. Guardian, 5 January 1972,
Review-article about the 1972 NBL exhibition (Part E).

Terence Mullaly, The message of MP. Daily Telegraph, 15 January 1972, p.10. Review-article about the 1972 NBL exhibition (Part E).

[A special correspondent], MP at the NBL. TLS, 11 February 1972, p.154.

Georg Svensson, MP. TLS, no.3655, 17 March 1972, p.308.
Letter to the Editor about the illustrations for Alice.

Maeve Gilmore, Perfectly absurd. Observer, 12 November 1972, pp.37–39.
The Introduction to A Book of Nonsense (A17).

Joy Rome, 20th-century gothic: MP’s Gormenghast trilogy. Unisa English Studies, vol.xi, no.1, March 1973, pp.42–54.
Undistinguished and sometimes absurdly wrong-headed except for the occasional phrase.

Hugh Brogan, The Gutters of Gormenghast. Cambridge Review, vol.95, no.2217, 23 November 1973, pp.38–42.
One of the best general surveys of MP’s work. Reprinted in MPR 18:8–17, in Twentieth-Century British Literature, vol.4 (Part G, 1987), and in Mervyn Peake, Titus Alone (A12l). Woodstock, New York: Overlook Press, 1992. pp.234–45.

Herman Servotte, A miracle of rare device. Revue des langues vivantes, vol.xl, 1974, pp.489–96.
A revised version of his “Gids voor Gormenghast” which appeared in Dietsche Warande & Belfort, 116, 5, 339–49.

J. G. E., April bookshelf (a monthly appreciation of books both in and out of print). Retford, Gainsborough & Worksop Times, 4 April 1975.

J. B. Gadsdon, The master of menace. Sydney Morning Herald, 19 April 1975, p.13.

Maeve Gilmore, A Word of Welcome. Mervyn Peake Society Newsletter (subsequently MPR), Autumn 1975, no.1, pp.1.
On the founding of the Mervyn Peake Society, of which MG was honorary president; she believed that MP “would be very happy to know that the world he sought to create in his work [is] celebrated by a society that bears his name.”

Tim Mitchell, The Book illustrations of MP. Mervyn Peake Society Newsletter (subsequently MPR), Spring 1976, no.2, pp.5–10.
A much-revised version of an article first published in Illustration 63 (no.3, 1975).
Underlines the variety of techniques that MP employed, and the emotional impact he achieved.

G. Peter Winnington, The Critics’ reception of Titus Groan in French: an annotated checklist for 1974. Mervyn Peake Society Newsletter (subsequently MPR), Autumn 1975, no.1, pp.11–12.

Philip Guerrard, Strategic fantasies: the gargoyle cult of MP. City of San Francisco, 17 February 1976, pp.28–31.

Duncan Fallowell, Crackpot and after. Books & Bookmen, April 1976, pp.30–32.
Laudatory – and wildly inaccurate. All the relevant material (i.e. p.30) is reprinted in Twentieth-Century British Literature, vol.4 (Part G, 1987).

Françoise Roussetty, MP, an artist of life. Mervyn Peake Society Newsletter (subsequently MPR), Spring 1976, no.2, pp.11-16.
Underlines MP’s “thirst for life” and dynamic art, in his use of space, light and shade, colour symbolism pattern, and focalization on comic detail. Trans. from the French by GPW.

Brian Sibley, Peaks and chasms, with a bibliographical note by Selwyn H. Goodacre. Mervyn Peake Society Newsletter (subsequently MPR), Spring 1976, no.2, pp.17–24.
On MP’s illustrations for The Hunting of the Snark, followed by a checklist of impressions of the book.

[G. Peter Winnington as] Academicus, The Misfortunes of Captain Slaughterboard. Mervyn Peake Society Newsletter (subsequently MPR), Spring 1976, no.2, pp.25–27.
Denounces the modifications made to both text and drawings in the American edition of Captain Slaughterboard (A1c).

Herman Servotte, Guide for Gormenghast: MP’s trilogy. MPR, Autumn 1976, no.3, pp.5–9.

Elisabeth Gardaz, “The Reveries” in Titus Groan. MPR, Autumn 1976, no.3, pp.11–14.
Analyses the “reveries” in TG, which prove to be carefully structured, in contrast with “the word-spinning of the reveries themselves”. Trans. from the French by GPW.

Cristiano Rafanelli, Titus and the Thing in Gormenghast. MPR, Autumn 1976, no.3, pp.15–20.
A close analysis of chapter 68 of Gormenghast, “the core of the book – perhaps even of the whole trilogy” – maintaining that the Thing is “half way between the fabulous and the real”. Reprinted in Mervyn Peake, Titus Alone (A12l). Woodstock, New York: Overlook Press, 1992. pp.292–98.

[G. Peter Winnington as] Academicus, A Benighted editor of Peake. MPR, Autumn 1976, no.3, pp.29–31.
Denounces the numerous deviations in the Allison & Busby (Part C, prose) edition of “Boy in Darkness” from the text of first edition in Sometime Never.

Edmund Little, Gogol’s town of NN. and Peake’s Gormenghast: the realism of fantasy. Journal of Russian studies, no.34, 1977, pp.13–18.

E[ric] S. D[rake], In Memory: M.L.P. MPR, Spring 1977, no.4, p.2.

Eric Drake, Lost Archives. MPR, Spring 1977, no.4, pp.3–12.

John Watney, Planning and writing a biography of MP. MPR, Spring 1977, no.4, pp.13–16.

Maeve Gilmore, [untitled reminiscence]. MPR, Spring 1977, no.4, pp.17–18.

Dr Gordon Smith, [untitled reminiscence]. MPR, Spring 1977, no.4, pp.18–21.

Peter McKenzie, [untitled reminiscence]. MPR, Spring 1977, no.4, pp.21–23.

Emil Karafiat, [untitled commentary]. MPR, Spring 1977, no.4, pp.24.
On the ritual of Gormenghast.

Colin Greenland, The Smashing of the central vase. MPR, Spring 1977, no.4, pp.27–29.

David Sutton, Folkloristic elements in the Titus trilogy. MPR, Autumn 1977, no.5, pp.6–11.

Desmond Mason, Titus Groan: errors and flaws. MPR, Autumn 1977, no.5, pp.12–16.

G. Peter Winnington, Fuchsia and Steerpike: mood and form. MPR, Autumn 1977, no.5, pp.17–22.
Reprinted in Mervyn Peake, Titus Alone (A12l). Woodstock, New York: Overlook Press, 1992. pp.299–305.

Joy Backhouse, Yours faithfully. MPR, Autumn 1977, no.5, pp.24–25. [On the problems of printing Letters from a Lost Uncle.]

T. E. Little, MP and Nicolai Gogol. Essays in Poetics, vol.3, 1978, pp.87–103.

Roger C. Schlobin, An annotated bibliography of fantasy fiction. CEA critic, vol.40, 1978, pp.37–42.
Brief entry on TG on p.41.

Peter McKenzie, MP: sketch for an overview. MPR, Spring 1978, no.6, pp.4–9.

Bruce Hunt, Psychology of the Bildungsroman. MPR, Spring 1978, no.6, pp.10–17.
Reprinted in Mervyn Peake, Titus Alone (A12l). Woodstock, New York: Overlook Press, 1992. pp.306–14.

Brian Sibley, Through a darkling glass: an appreciation of MP’s illustrations to Alice. MPR, Spring 1978, no.6, pp.25–28.

Tom Pocock, Dreams and nightmares. The Times, 5 August 1978, p.5.
Reproduces the caricature of Hitler from Leader, May 1945 (Part D, 1945).

E. L. Peake, My Brother Mervyn. MPR, Autumn 1978, no.7, pp.6–9.

Ingrid Waterhouse, Mr Peake, Mr Pye, and the paradox of good and evil. MPR, Autumn 1978, no.7, pp.10–17.

Laurence Bristow-Smith, Mr Pye, or the evangelist and the dead whale. MPR, Autumn 1978, no.7, pp.19–24.

Brian Sibley, Pictures and conversations: more about the Alice illustrations. MPR, Autumn 1978, no.7, pp.26–29.

Denis Crutch, Editions of Alice illustrated by Peake: a bibliographical note. MPR, Autumn 1978, no.7, p.30.

Philip Oakes, Peake’s progress. Sunday Times, 12 November 1978, p.37.
Has the picture of Keda perched on the rock, silhouetted against a massive sun. First publication, that I know of, of this drawing.

Ronald Binns, Situating Gormenghast. Critical Quarterly, vol.21, no.1, 1979, pp.21–33.
Reprinted in Mervyn Peake, Titus Alone (A12l). Woodstock, New York: Overlook Press, 1992. pp.246–59.

G. Peter Winnington, Inside the mind of MP. Etudes de lettres [University of Lausanne], series iv, vol.2, no.1, January-March 1979, pp.99–106.
On the “spatialization of Peake’s mind” in his novels and poetry; the part on the novels is reprinted in Twentieth-Century British Literature, vol.4 (Part G, 1987).

Michael Moorcock, Peake: talent into genius. Books & Bookmen, April 1979, pp.32–33.
A review of Peake’s Progress; reprinted in MPR 9:28–31, and in Magical Blend, 1980, 1:37–38.

Geoffrey Moore, MP’s Writings and Drawings. The Oxford Art Journal, no. 2, April 1979. pp.49–51.
A balanced and sympathetic introduction to MP’s life and work, with emphasis on everything but the fiction, for once. 1775 words (not including the quotations).

Jacques Favier, Distortions of space and time in the Titus trilogy. MPR, Spring 1979, no.8, pp.7–14.

G. Peter Winnington, Tracking down the Umzimvubu Kaffirs. MPR, Spring 1979, no.8, pp.25–26.

E. J. S. Parsons, Opening speech. MPR, Spring 1979, no.8, pp.32–33.
Speech to open the Bodleian exhibition (see Part E), on which occasion Parsons produced the portrait that MP had drawn of him (reproduced in this issue) when they were in the Army together.

Lee Speth, Cavalier treatment: a Connecticut Yankee in Gormenghast. Mythlore, vol.6, no.2, issue no.20, Spring 1979, pp.46–47.
Observes similarities between the words of the Poet in Gormenghast and a 1937 New England poem by Mabel Ingalls Wescott. “If Peake did not know Mrs Wescott’s poem, how sure can anyone be about any derivation?”

Michael Moorcock, Wit and humour in fantasy. Foundation, no.15, 1979, pp.16–22.
Reprinted in Beyer & Zahorski, Fantasists on Fantasy, New York: Avon, 1984, pp.265–76, and in Moorcock’s Wizardry and Wild Romance: a study of epic fantasy, Gollancz, 1987, pp.105–119.

Brian Sibley, MP’s illustrations for “Alice”. Jabberwocky [the Journal of the Lewis Carroll Society], vol.8, no.3, Summer 1979, pp.70–73.
An updated re-write of “Pictures and Conversations” which appeared in MPR 7:26–29.

Eric Drake, The Rented Room, followed by a discussion between Maeve Gilmore and Eric Drake. MPR, Autumn 1979, no.9, pp.4–10.
Includes a photograph of the house where MP had a rented room in Battersea, in 1936.

David Sutton, The Religion of Gormenghast. MPR, Autumn 1979, no.9, pp.11–13.

Kay Fuller, Mervyn at the microphone. MPR, Autumn 1979, no.9, pp.24–27.

Diana Gardner, MP at the Westminster Art School, 1936–39. MPR, Spring 1980, no.10, pp.17–21.
Reminiscences by an ex-student.

André Dhôtel, Preface to the French translation of Titus Alone, trans. by Peter Stap. MPR, Spring 1980, no.10, pp.26–29.

Maeve Gilmore, Introduction to “The Voice of a Pencil” exhibition catalogue. MPR, Spring 1980, no.10, pp.31–33.
Contains some corrections to the version printed in the catalogue.

Edmund Little, Towards a definition of fantasy. Essays in Poetics, vol.5, 1980, pp.66–83.

Maeve Gilmore, I sometimes think about old tombs & weeds. The Green Book, vol.1, no.3, Summer 1980, pp.10–11.

Paul Wright, The gutters of Gormenghast – the voice of a generation. Astrological Journal, Summer 1980, pp.158–64, & 176.
An analysis of MP’s life and work, based on his astrological signs. Reprinted in Wright’s book, The Literary Zodiac, London: Anodyne Publishing and Sebastopol, Ca: CRCS Publications, 1987.

Andrew Murray, The Crested Wave. MPR, Autumn 1980, no.11, pp.7–8.
Includes a photograph of Andrew Murray, as a child, with MP.

G. Peter Winnington, “A Letter from China” Discovered. MPR, Autumn 1980, no.11, pp.3–7.
First reprinting of MP’s 1922 letter in News from Afar (see Part D, both prose and drawings) along with accompanying sketch.

Peter McKenzie, Manlove on Fantasy: Theories and their Consequences. MPR, Autumn 1980, no.11, pp.17–25.

R. J. Godfrey, Peake and Donaldson: a comparative study of their fantasies. MPR, Autumn 1980, no.11, pp.26–34.

C. N. Manlove, A world in fragments: Peake and the Titus books. MPR, Autumn 1980, no.11, pp.9–16.

E. A. Blignaut, MP: from artist as entertainer to artist as philosopher and moralist in the Titus books. English Studies in Africa, vol.24, no.2, 1981, pp.107–15.

Colin Greenland, From Beowulf to Kafka: MP’s Titus Alone. Foundation, No.21, 1981, pp.48–53.
On the unpalatable implications of TA. Reprinted in Twentieth-Century British Literature, vol.4 (Part G, 1987) and in Mervyn Peake, Titus Alone (A12l). Woodstock, New York: Overlook Press, 1992. pp.332–38. A very slightly different version of this article appeared in MPR 12:4–9.

Bryn Gunnell, The fantasy of MP. Malahat review, no.58, Spring 1981, pp.17–35.
After attempting to define fantasy, discusses the Titus books with reference to folktale, fairytale, fable, science fiction, surrealism, and the gothic.

L. Bristow-Smith, A Critical Conclusion: the end of Titus Alone. MPR, Spring 1981, no.12, pp.10–13.
Reprinted in Mervyn Peake, Titus Alone (A12l). Woodstock, New York: Overlook Press, 1992. pp.339–43.

Colin Manlove, McKenzie on Manlove on Peake. MPR, Spring 1981, no.12, pp.35–36.
With a final reaction from P. McKenzie on p.37.

John Wood, Mervyn Peake: a pupil remembers. MPR, Spring 1981, no.12, pp.15–28.
Illustrated.

G. Peter Winnington, The Mervyn Peake Manuscripts at University College London. MPR, Spring 1981, no.12, pp.29–30.

Ursula Le Guin, [a review of Peake’s Progress], [Washington Post] Book World, September 27, 1981, p.11.
A laudatory little essay, reprinted in her book, Dancing at the Edge of the world: Thoughts on words, women, places. New York: Grove Press, and London: Gollancz, 1989, pp.273–75.

G. Peter Winnington, Editing Peake. MPR, Autumn 1981, no.13, pp.2–7.

Dee Berkeley & G. Peter Winnington, Peake in Print: part A. MPR, Autumn 1981 no.13, pp.8–35.

Ronald Binns, The Meaning of Boy in Darkness. MPR, Spring 1982, no.14, pp.3–10.

Dee Berkeley & G. Peter Winnington, Peake in print: part B. MPR, Spring 1982 no.14, pp.15–35.

Pauline Turner, Peake in the Saleroom. MPR, Spring 1982, no.14, pp.43–44.

W. J. Thorne, The Visitors’ Book. MPR, Spring 1982, no.14, pp.11–14.

Roger Fowler, How to see through language: perspective in fiction. Poetics, vol.11, No.3, July 1982, pp.213–35.
See pages 226–33, where TG is used as an example for analysis.

Margaret Ochocki, Gormenghast: fairytale gone wrong? MPR, Autumn 1982, no.15, pp.11–17.
Reprinted in Mervyn Peake, Titus Alone (A12l). Woodstock, New York: Overlook Press, 1992. pp.315–21.

Rosa González, Peake among the masters of chiaroscuro. MPR, Autumn 1982, no.15, pp.4–10.

Dee Berkeley & G. Peter Winnington, Peake in print: part C. MPR, Autumn 1982 no.15, pp.18–29.

Geoffrey N. Leech & Michael H. Short, Style in Fiction. MPR, Autumn 1982, no.15, pp.30–35.
See Part G.

Anita Moss, “Felicitous space” in the fantasies of George MacDonald and MP. Mythlore, no.30, Winter 1982, pp.16, 17, & 42.
Applies the concepts developed by Gaston Bachelard in his Poetics of Space and gently takes issue with Manlove’s reading of the end of TA.

L. Bristow-Smith, Gormenghast in Morocco. MPR, Spring 1983, no.16, pp.17–19.

Dee Berkeley & G. Peter Winnington, Peake in print: part D. MPR, Spring 1983 no.16, pp.20–36.

Peter McKenzie, Pictorial and Descriptional. MPR, Spring 1983, no.16, pp.3–10.

G. Peter Winnington, Sotheby Peakes. MPR, Spring 1983, no.16, pp.38–41.

Gérard Georges Lemaire, From the invisible painting to the mute poem: the problematic relationship between words and images in the work of famous writers and painters. Flash Art, no.114, 1983, pp.44–48.
Only p.47 is relevant.

Maeve Peake, Memories of Bohemian Chelsea. Chelsea Society Report, 1983. pp.41–45, with a previously unpublished photograph of MP on p.40.
Life in the various studios that the Peakes rented in Chelsea in the 1940s, and the people they encountered. Noticed in [Evening] Standard, 18 January 1984. Reprinted without the photograph in MPR 19:3–10.

Anon [possibly J K Adair; see below], Of Gothic blackness and whimsy. 24 Hours [the monthly programme of Australian ABC Radio], Vol.8, No.10, November 1983, pp.6–7.
Introduces David Chandler’s 1983 radio adaptation of “the Gormenghast Trilogy” (Part E). Biographical, based on A World Away.

Eric Drake, Last Words. MPR, Autumn 1983, no.17, pp.12–13.

Diana Gardner, Maeve Peake: a portrait. MPR, Autumn 1983, no.17, pp.9–11.

Dee Berkeley & G. Peter Winnington, Peake in print: part E. MPR, Autumn 1983 no.17, pp.14–28.

Keith Hewlett, Mister Peake. Book People (Berne, Switzerland), no.2, 1984, pp.6–7.

Dee Berkeley & G. Peter Winnington, Peake in print: part F. MPR, Spring 1984 no.18, pp.18–20.

G. Peter Winnington, Peake’s Parents’ Years in China. MPR, Spring 1984, no.18, pp.21–30.
Reprinted, much revised, as the first chapter of Vast Alchemies (F11).

Gordon Smith, Ghastly genius. Observer [colour supplement], 15 July 1984, pp.8–10.
Reproduces 4 drawings, anticipating publication in Smith’s book (F5) by almost a month.

Michael Cable, Police man’s Peake. Radio Times, vol.245, no.3187, 8–14 December 1984, pp.4, 5 & 8.
On the BBC radio adaptation of the Titus books (Part E).

David Shayer, The Sark Novels of MP. Journal of the Société Guerneséiaise, 1985. pp.723–28.
The first half is a perceptive study of Mr Pye, developed in PS vol.4, no.4, 1996, pp.21–26; the second initiates the study of maritime and island images developed in “The Great Stone Island” (PS vol.4, no.3, 1995, pp.29–36).

Robert Macdonald, Central’s line to calamity. Guardian, 15 January 1985, p.9.
On MP’s teaching at the Central School. Reproduces a sketch by MP not seen elsewhere.

P[hilip] J. Best, Gunner Peake. London Magazine, vol.25, nos 1 & 2, April/May 1985, pp.129–32.
A highly-coloured reminiscence of MP’s early months in the Army during the war. Reprinted in London Magazine 1961–1985, edited by Alan Ross, Chatto & Windus, (Sept.) 1986, pp.279–81. (See also item for 22 March 1986.)

Dee Berkeley & G. Peter Winnington, Peake in print: parts G and H.
Printed as a supplement to MPR, Summer 1985, no.19, pp.i–xvi.

Brian Sibley, The sketching of the Snark. MPR, Summer 1985, no.19, pp.27–32.
Reproduces five pages of previously unpublished drawings.

Edwin Mullins, How many miles to Babylon? Some recollections of MP. MPR, Summer 1985, no.19, pp.33–38.

Brian Sibley, Peake listening: some confessions of a radio dramatist. MPR, Summer 1985, no.19, pp.39–45.

Ian Miller, A paper cosmos: an illustrator’s perspective on Gormenghast. MPR, Summer 1985, no.19, pp.47–50.

John Watney, Belle au bois dormant: a recollection of No.1 Drayton Gardens. MPR, Summer 1985, no.19, pp.51–[56].

Sarah Howell, On the wings of a dilemma. Observer [colour supplement], 2 March 1986, pp.22–23 & 25–26.
On the filming of Mr Pye on Sark (see Part E).

Philip [J.] Best, Gunner Peake on Parade. Spectator, 22 March 1986, pp.34–35.
A slightly different version of the article first published in London Magazine (above).

Colin Manlove, The elusiveness of fantasy. Fantasy Review (Florida Atlantic University), vol.9, no.4, issue no.90, April 1986, pp.13, 14 & 49.
An abridged version of Manlove’s speech to the International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts; contains brief mentions of MP as Manlove attempts to define fantasy.

J. K. Adair, The talent and torment of Mervyn Peake. 24 Hours [the monthly programme of Australian ABC Radio], Vol.11, no.5, June 1986, pp.12–13.
A biographical introduction to MP, introducing the repeat of the ABC adaptation of “the Gormenghast trilogy” (Part E). Repeats errors contained in similar item above, November 1983; so Adair possibly wrote the earlier article too.

Tanya Gardiner-Scott, War images and influences in MP’s Titus Alone. MPR, Summer 1986, no.20, pp.38–48.
First published in a French translation in Les Cahiers de l’Imaginaire, December 1985, no.19/20, pp.21–35.

Sebastian Peake, Two poems [“Bergen-Belsen KZ” and “Burpham Sussex: On a headstone that said it all”]. MPR, Summer 1986, no.20, pp.50–51.

Louise Collis, Memories of MP. Art & Artists, August 1986, pp.10–13.
Reprinted, slightly shortened, in Mervyn Peake, Titus Alone (A12l). Woodstock, New York: Overlook Press, 1992. pp.227–29.

E. L. “Lonnie” Peake, Young Mervyn. MPR, no.20, 1986, pp.3–8.
“Based on an interview that Lonnie Peake gave to John Watney in the summer of 1974,” this article forms the skeleton of the piece that appeared in MPR 7:6–9.

Sebastian Peake, Two Peake houses: Wepham and Wallington. MPR, no.20, 1986, pp.9–11.
MP’s son remembers his grandfather’s house at Wepham, later occupied by Lonnie and his family, and his father’s house at Wallington, where he lived from 1952 to 1960.

John Watney, Sporting Peake. MPR, no.20, 1986, pp.12–15.
Comments on MP’s early practice of various sports and later interest in them.

Kaye Webb, Peake remembered. MPR, no.20, 1986, pp.16–17.
Glimpses of MP in the 1940s.

Iain Beaton, Foreign illustrations for the “Titus” books : an introduction. MPR, no.20, 1986, pp.22–37.
Discusses the illustrations by Heinz Edelmann for the German translation of the “Titus” books and by Lucjas Mroz for the Polish translation of Titus Groan, and reproduces six of them.

Josette Leray, Nature et fonctions de l’irréel et de ses décors dans la trilogie de MP. La Licorne (Poitiers, France) 1986, 10: 31–43.

Tom Pocock, MP: Journey of dark discovery. Spectator, vol.258, No.8275, 14 February 1987, pp.44–45.
On the occasion of the opening of the exhibition at the Festival Hall (Part E), Pocock reverts to his visit to Germany with Peake in 1945.

Tanya Gardiner-Scott, Belsen recast: an exploration of holocaust themes and images in MP’s Titus Alone. Holocaust Studies Annual, vol.III, 1987, pp.94–105.
Covers much the same ground as her previous article on “War images” (1986). Illustrated with the five Belsen drawings published in Drawings (1949).

Tanya Gardiner-Scott, Memory emancipated: the fantastic realism of MP. Mythlore, issue 52, vol.14, no.2, Winter 1987, pp.26–29.

Roger Allen, The “fantastic” world of MP. Book Collector, no.52, July 1988. pp.38–45.
An introduction to MP’s life and works, particularly for the collector.

Tanya Gardiner-Scott, Mervyn Peake: the relativity of perception. Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts, vol.1, no.2, 1988, pp.13–24.

Philip Redpath, Mervyn Peake’s Black House: an allegory of mind and body. ARIEL [a review of international English lit], Calgary, Canada, Vol.20, No.1, January 1989. pp.57–74.
Not seen but Tanya Gardiner-Scott tells me that she feels it owes rather a lot to her work, without acknowledging it.

Tanya Gardiner-Scott, Through the maze: textual problems in MP’s Titus Alone. Extrapolation, vol.30, no. 1, 1989. pp.70–83.
Claims MP crafted TA more skilfully than published editions of the work would suggest, and offers samples of passages deleted by MP’s editors that would improve both our opinion and our reading of the text.

Greville Watts, A Poet in the Glasshouse. The Journal of the Glass Association, Vol.3, 1990.
Provides the industrial background to MP’s commission to illustrate glassblowers at work. Also reprints MP’s poem, “The Glassblowers”.

Charles Gilbert, MP and memory. London Magazine, Vol.35, nos 9 & 10, December 1995–January 1996, pp.69–80.
An excellent article on the function of memory in MP’s work. Reprinted (slightly revised) in PS 5:iv (April 1998).

Marcus Crouch, Looking back: a partial view of MP. Junior Bookshelf, Vol.60, no 1, February 1996, pp.3–6.
Laudatory, mainly on the illustrations for children’s books: “He belongs with Tenniel, Rackham, and Ardizzone.”

David Bratman, The Versions of Titus Alone. New York Review of Science Fiction, 8 (9 (93)): 7, May 1996.
Not seen.

David Bratman, MP, the Gormenghast Diptych, and Titus Alone. New York Review of Science Fiction, 8 (9 (93)): 1, 4–6, May 1996.

James Mulvihil, William Blake and MP’s Titus Groan. Notes on Contemporary Literature, 29 (2), pp.2–3. March 1999.

Richard Dalby, MP: the author of “Gormenghast” was also a prolific artist/illustrator. Book Collector, No 191, February, 2000, pp. 86–103.
A survey of Peake’s life and works (which does not benefit from Vast Alchemies unfortunately), ending with a bibliography with suggested secondhand prices.

John Gray, Draughtman’s Contract. New Statesman, 14 February, 2000.
Ostensibly a review of Estelle Daniel’s book about the making of the BBC adaptation (F10), this is one of the most sensitive and sensible reviews of the Titus books to appear in the last twenty years.

Joelle Prungnaud, Argol et Gormenghast, ou la mise en écriture du château. Roman 20-50: Revue d’Etude du Roman du XXe Siècle, 30, pp.141–52 December 2000.

Eric Lysoe, Titus Groan, Malpertuis, Das Schlos: Le Château comme espace sacré. Cahiers du Gerf, No 22, pp.49–68, Winter 2001-2002.
Not seen.

Demetrios J. Sahlas, Dementia with Lewy Bodies and the Neurobehavioural Decline of MP. Archives of Neurology, Vol.60, pp.889–892. June 2003.
The first serious attempt to diagnose MP’s medical condition since his death.
Dr Sahlas contributed another version of this article, revised for non-specialist readers, to PS vol.8 no.3 (October 2003).

Francesco M. Casotti, The Magic-Realist World of Gormenghast in Peake’s Trilogy. Anglistica Pisana, 1-2, pp.57-75, 2004.
Not seen.

Jamie A. Hughes, “I Have My Battleground No Less Than Nations”: Peake’s Daydream of Gormenghast. Journal of Evolutionary Psychology, Vol. 25, Nos 1-2), pp.24-31. March 2004.

Emery, Alan E. H., Treatment in art: I waxes and I wanes, sir. Clinical Medicine (London). Vol.4, No 3 (May-June) 2004.

Winnington, G. Peter, MP’s Lonely World. Wormwood, No 3, pp.1–21. Autumn 2004.
Reviewed by Mario Guslandi: “This intriguing view brings forth a new insight in the understanding of Peake’s body of work.”

Sophie Mantrant. MP’s Gormenghast Novels: a baroque hostility to straight lines. Etudes Britanniques Contemporaines: Revue de la Société d’Etudes Anglaises Contemporaines, 28, pp.71–82, June 2005.
Not seen.

Amy Palko, The Gothic Pedestrian: an analysis of the role of Steerpike in MP’s Titus Groan and Gormenghast. A paper read at the Montreal meeting, titled Deviance and Defiance, of the International Gothic Association, 2005.
Applies the concept of ‘Walking in the City’ developed by Michel De Certeau in The Practice of Everyday Life (1998). Not published.

George Pendle, Edifice Complex. Frieze, May 2006, p.27.
Mainly on Gormenghast castle; with a rarely reproduced sketch of the Mud Huts at the foot of the castle walls from the MS of TG.

Barnaby Rogerson, Possessed by Peake. Slightly Foxed [The Real Reader’s Quarterly, London], No 12, pp.19–27, Winter 2006.
“Titus Alone is one of the most pronounced examples of a failed sequence.”

Sebastian Peake, The Call of Sark. Slightly Foxed [The Real Reader’s Quarterly, London], No 12, pp.28–31, Winter 2006.
Autobiographical memoir, with one photograph and one illustration from Peake’s Sunday books.

There are also entries on Mervyn Peake and his main works in the online Literary Encyclopedia.

© G. Peter Winnington 2008