Gormenghast is a huge city, filled with smaller cities subcomunities all dictated by class. The antagonist is Steerpike, a kitchen by (which is one of the lowest class) who is in love with Lady Fuchsia, the dreamer daughter of the presiding Lord Groan. He works his way up from the bottom to the top of the class system through killing and hurting, determined to have Fuchsia notice him.
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He wants revenge on Gormenghast because of its mistreating him and keeping him in the kitchen for his whole life up until the point when he escapes.
Titus Groan, the main character, is struggling with his position as the earl since he was one, when his father died. His sister, Fuchsia is the only one who really understands him. He hates Gormenghast, and all of the tedious rituals that are his whole life.
This first book mainly deals with introducing the fantastic array of supporting characters, the setting, and the basic outline of the many plots.
The review of this Book prepared by Clara
In the city-state of Gormenghast, the future ruler is born. Steerpike, an intelligent and sociopathic kitchen worker takes advantage of the celebrations to escape the kitchen and begin to explore the city; he quickly sees opportunity for advancement and begins using stealth, blackmail, and assasination to claw his way into power. Gormenghast itself is an ancient castle-like complex with no contact with other societies beyond the surrounding peasants; most of the book is dedicated to an exploration of the city, its exacting rituals, and its eccentric inhabitants.
The review of this Book prepared by Boris
