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Gormenghast (TV Serial)
''Gormenghast'' is a four-episode television series based on the first two novels of the Gothic fantasy Gormenghast (series), Gormenghast series by Mervyn Peake. It was produced and broadcast by the BBC. First broadcast in June 2000, the series was designed for an early evening time-slot in much the same vein as the earlier adaptations of ''The Chronicles of Narnia (TV series), The Chronicles of Narnia''. The BBC conception was based on the idea that Peake's early life in China had influenced the creation of Gormenghast; thus, the castle in the series resembles the Forbidden City in Beijing as well as the holy city of Lhasa in Tibet. The series received widespread press attention in the UK, but initially impressive viewing numbers dropped 40% after two weeks. Plot The series covers the events of the first two books, ''Titus Groan'' and ''Gormenghast (novel), Gormenghast''. It does not cover any of the events from the third book, ''Titus Alone''. Cast Production At the ti ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Malcolm McKay (writer)
Malcolm McKay (born 12 July 1947) is a British writer and director. Early life McKay was born in Epping, Essex, Epping, London. He studied at St Joseph's Convent primary, King Edward V1 Grammar, Chelmsford and Canley College of Education, Coventry. He qualified as a teacher in 1969 and began a career in the theatre soon after. Novels He has published four novels: ''The Path'', about the personal, intellectual and spiritual inter-reaction between a group of international travelers on the Camino de Santiago; ''The Lack Brothers'', a journey by three brothers in search of their mother through a mythologised London of the last fifty years, published by Transworld; ''Breaking Up'', depicting the financial and interior collapse of a city trader as his domestic and professional life literally goes up in flames, published by Pegasus; ''Thistown'', a political fiction, political novel for teenagers set in a mythical town somewhere in the universe which is impossible to escape from and wh ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Forbidden City
The Forbidden City () is the Chinese Empire, imperial Chinese palace, palace complex in the center of the Imperial City, Beijing, Imperial City in Beijing, China. It was the residence of 24 Ming dynasty, Ming and Qing dynasty, Qing dynasty List of Chinese monarchs, Emperors, and the center of political power in China for over 500 years from 1420 to 1924. The palace is now administered by the Palace Museum. As a World Heritage Site, UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world. The Forbidden City is arguably the most famous Chinese palace, palace in all of History of China, Chinese history, and is the largest preserved Palace, royal palace complex still standing in the world. The Forbidden City was constructed from 1406 to 1420, and was the imperial palace and winter residence of the Emperor of China from the Ming dynasty (since the Yongle Emperor) to the end of the Qing dynasty, between 1420 and 1924. The Forbidden City served as ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
June Brown
June Muriel Brown (16 February 1927 – 3 April 2022) was an English actress and author. She was best known for her role as Dot Cotton on the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' (1985–1993; 1997–2020). In 2005, she won Best Actress at the Inside Soap Awards, ''Inside Soap'' Awards and received the British Soap Award for Outstanding Achievement, Lifetime Achievement award at the 2005 British Soap Awards. Brown was appointed a Order of the British Empire, Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2008 Birthday Honours for services to drama and to charity, and promoted to an OBE in the 2022 New Year Honours. In 2009, she was nominated for the British Academy Television Award for Best Actress, BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress, making her the second performer to receive a BAFTA nomination for their work in a soap opera, after Jean Alexander. In February 2020, at the age of 93, she announced that she had left ''EastEnders'' permanently. Early life Brown was born on 16 Feb ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fiona Shaw
Fiona Shaw (born Fiona Mary Wilson; 10 July 1958) is an Irish film and theatre actress. She did extensive work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre, as well as in film and television. In 2020, she was listed at No. 29 on ''The Irish Times'' list of Ireland's greatest film actors. She was made an Honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 2001. She won both the 1990 and 1994 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress for roles in the plays ''Electra'', ''As You Like It'', '' The Good Person of Szechwan'' (1990), and '' Machinal'' (1994) and received a further three Olivier Award nominations for her roles in ''Mephisto'' (1986), '' Hedda Gabler'' (1992), and ''Happy Days'' (2008). She made her Broadway debut playing the title role in ''Medea'' (2002) for which she earned a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play. She returned to Broadway in the Colm Tóibín play '' The Testament of Mary'' (201 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Sessions
John Sessions (born John Marshall; 11 January 1953 – 2 November 2020) was a British actor and comedian. He was known as a regular performer on comedy improvisation show '' Whose Line Is It Anyway?'', as co-creator, co-writer and co-star of the sitcom '' Stella Street'', as a panellist on '' QI'', and as a character actor in numerous films, both in the UK and Hollywood. Early life John Sessions was born as John Marshall on 11 January 1953 to John and Esme (née Richardson) Marshall. His family was Scottish; his father was a gas engineer from Largs, Ayrshire, and his mother was from Glasgow. He had an older brother, Bill, and a twin sister, Maggie. He was raised in Bedford and St Albans. Education Sessions was educated at Bedford Modern School, an independent school for boys (now co-educational), and Verulam School, St Albans, followed by the University College of North Wales in Bangor, from which he graduated with an MA in English literature. At university, he had begun to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Andrew N
Andrew is the English form of the given name, common in many countries. The word is derived from the , ''Andreas'', itself related to ''aner/andros'', "man" (as opposed to "woman"), thus meaning "manly" and, as consequence, "brave", "strong", "courageous", and "warrior". In the King James Bible, the Greek "Ἀνδρέας" is translated as Andrew. Popularity In the 1990s, it was among the top ten most popular names given to boys in List of countries where English is an official language, English-speaking countries. Australia In 2000, the name Andrew was the second most popular name in Australia after James. In 1999, it was the 19th most common name, while in 1940, it was the 31st most common name. Andrew was the first most popular name given to boys in the Northern Territory in 2003 to 2015 and continuing. In Victoria, Andrew was the first most popular name for a boy in the 1970s. Canada Andrew was the 20th most popular name chosen for male infants in 2005. Andrew was the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fuchsia Groan
Lady Fuchsia Groan is a fictional character in the ''Gormenghast'' series of fantasy novels by English writer Mervyn Peake. The daughter of Sepulchrave, 76th Earl of Groan, she appears in the first two volumes in the series, ''Titus Groan'' (1946) and ''Gormenghast'' (1950). In the BBC film adaptation (2000), Fuchsia is portrayed by Scottish actress Neve McIntosh. Fuchsia is also the subject of the song " The Drowning Man" by English rock band The Cure, which is about her death and mentions her by name. Early life and family The Earl of Groan and his Countess have a daughter, Fuchsia, but only a son can inherit the earldom and the family seat, Gormenghast. Consequently, Fuchsia has been largely ignored by both parents, and she spends most of her time with Nannie Slagg. While Fuchsia cares for Nannie Slagg deeply, she also delights in tormenting the old woman with childish antics and pranks. When Fuchsia is about fifteen, an heir-apparent is finally born. Like many firstborns, Fuchs ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Steerpike
Steerpike is a fictional character in Mervyn Peake's novels ''Titus Groan'' and ''Gormenghast''. Character Steerpike might be called the antagonist of the ''Gormenghast'' trilogy, but in truth he is more of an anti-hero; the first book for example is largely focused on him, only covering the first year of the eponymous hero Titus's life. Steerpike could also be considered an archetypal Machiavellian schemer: a highly intelligent, ruthless character willing to justify any and all means to reach his end. In the books, Mervyn Peake describes his personality as follows: if ever he had harboured a conscience in his tough narrow breast he had by now dug out and flung away the awkward thing — flung it so far away that were he ever to need it again he could never find it. High-shouldered to a degree little short of malformation, slender and adroit of limb and frame, his eyes close-set and the colour of dried blood, he is climbing the spiral staircase of the soul of Gormenghast, boun ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Titus Groan (character)
''Gormenghast'' () is a fantasy series by British author Mervyn Peake, about the inhabitants of Castle Gormenghast, a sprawling, decaying, Gothic structure. Originally conceived as a single on-going novel, the series was ended by Peake's death and comprises three novels: ''Titus Groan'' (1946), ''Gormenghast'' (1950) and '' Titus Alone'' (1959); and a novella, '' Boy in Darkness'' (1956). Peake was writing a fourth novel, ''Titus Awakes'', at the time of his death in 1968. The book was completed by Peake's widow Maeve Gilmore in the 1970s, but was not published until 2011 after it was discovered by their family. Although the first two installments do not contain any overtly fantastical elements, ''Gormenghast'' is almost unanimously categorised as fantasy because of the atmosphere and pseudo-medieval setting. The series has received widespread acclaim from the speculative fiction community and mainstream literary critics. The series has been included in ''Fantasy: The 100 Best ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Titus Alone
''Titus Alone'' is a novel written by Mervyn Peake and first published in 1959. It is the third work in the ''Gormenghast'' trilogy. The other works are ''Titus Groan'' and ''Gormenghast''. With the trilogy, a fourth work, the novella '' Boy in Darkness'', and a fifth, the fragment ''Titus Awakes'', are often considered part of a larger "''Gormenghast'' series". It was re-edited by Langdon Jones in 1970 using the original manuscript. In this novel, Titus has left the Medieval castle where he was raised and explores strange areas of his native world. He finds himself wandering in a modern city with skyscrapers and flying machines. After a brief romantic relationship with an older woman, Titus discovers a hidden area of tunnels and halls beneath the city's only river. It is populated by the city's outcasts, runaways and derelicts. Plot summary The story follows Titus as he journeys through the world outside Gormenghast Castle, having left his home at the end of the second bo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gormenghast (novel)
''Gormenghast'' is a fantasy novel by British writer Mervyn Peake, the second in his Gormenghast series. It is the story of Titus Groan, 77th Earl of Groan and Lord of Gormenghast Castle, from age 7 to 17. As the story opens, Titus dreads the pre-ordained life of ritual that stretches before him. To Titus, Master of Ritual Barquentine and his apprentice Steerpike are the embodiment of all he wants to rebel against. An important sub-plot involves Titus at school, where he encounters the professors, especially Bellgrove, who becomes Headmaster of Gormenghast school. Plot summary Steerpike usurps Barquentine Steerpike, despite his position of authority, is in reality a dangerous traitor to Gormenghast who seeks to eventually wield ultimate power in the castle. To this end, he kills Barquentine so that he can replace him and so advance in power. Although he is successful in his murder of Barquentine, the old master of ritual put up such a severe struggle that Steerpike is severely ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Titus Groan
''Titus Groan'' is a Gothic novel by Mervyn Peake, first published in 1946. It is the first novel in the ''Gormenghast'' series. The other books in the series are the novels '' Gormenghast'' (1950) and '' Titus Alone'' (1959) and the novella '' Boy in Darkness'' (1956). Plot introduction The book is set in the huge castle of Gormenghast, a vast landscape of crumbling towers and ivy-filled quadrangles that has for centuries been the hereditary residence of the Groan family and with them a legion of servants. The Groan family is headed by Lord Sepulchrave, the seventy-sixth Earl of Groan. He is a melancholy man who feels shackled by his duties as Earl, although he never questions them. His only escape is reading in his library. His wife is the Countess Gertrude. Large and imposing, with dark red hair, she pays no attention to her family or to the rest of Gormenghast. Instead, she spends her time either in her bedroom or in walking selected areas, in the company of a legion of bi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
