Flight of Birds new review from Littlewriter, on Waterstone’s website

littlewriter

Waterlooville, England

Age: 18

This is a book which fills your mind with wonder. The characters live on in your mind long after the last page has been turned and the story is clever, deserving applause for the gripping plots. This book is a book to read if you want to experience a beautiful piece of writing which will stay with you forever.

Thank you, littlewriter, whoever you may be. What a very nice thing to say (last sentence)!

If you ever read this, can you put it up on Amazon, too, please? Thanks.
Oh, and by all means feel free to get in touch with me here.

The History of Titus Groan, radio series, begins Sun July 10

This cycle of six radio plays by Brian Sibley, The History of Titus Groan, begins its broadcasts on BBC Radio 4 on Sunday 10 July at 15:00 and runs until 14 August with repeat broadcasts on Saturday evenings at 21:00 from 16 July-20 August.

To read more about its background, go to Sibley’s blog:

http://briansibleysblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/casting-continuity.html



And the Guardian celebrates the achievement of Mervyn Peake:

Mervyn Peake, creator of Gormenghast, is now recognised as a brilliant novelist and artist. Michael Moorcock, China Miéville, Hilary Spurling and AL Kennedy celebrate his achievements

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/jul/01/mervyn-peake-gormenghast?INTCMP=SRCH

And 

The Worlds of Mervyn Peake is at the British Library, London, from 5 July to 18 September 2011. www.bl.uk

The Worlds of Mervyn Peake

Tue 5 Jul 2011 - Sun 18 Sep 2011

Coming soon

Mervyn Peake (1911-68) is best known as the creator of Gormenghast, but he was also an accomplished painter, playwright, illustrator and poet. Using materials from the British Library’s collections, including the recently acquired Peake archive, this exhibition examines his achievements through the prism of the worlds he inhabited, both real and imagined.
In the Folio Society Gallery

Plus two events:

Mon 11 Jul: Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast
Tue 25 Jul: Mervyn Peake: A Celebration

Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast

Mon 11 Jul 2011, 19.30 - 21.00

Price: £7.50 / £5 concessions

Book now for 11 Jul 2011, 19.30 - 21.00

The Gormenghast novels, with Titus, Steerpike and Dr Prunesquallor among an extraordinary set of characters, were written by Mervyn Peake from 1946 to 1959. They form a tour de force of imaginative writing, memorably illustrated by the author.
This event celebrating the books features the launch and first reading of Titus Awakes, the recently unearthed fourth in the series, and contributions by China Miéville, Sebastian Peake, John Sessions, Brian Sibley and other special guests.

Mervyn Peake: A Celebration

Tue 26 Jul 2011, 18.30 - 20.30

Price: £7.50 / £5 concessions

Book now for 26 Jul 2011, 18.30 - 20.30

Mervyn Peake (1911-1968) was the brilliant creator of the Gormenghast trilogy but also a, poet, painter, writer of children’s books and nonsense verse and a war artist. His idiosyncratic interpretations of such classic texts as Treasure Island, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, The Ancient Mariner, The Hunting of the Snark and many others mark him as one of the greatest book illustrators of all.

An evening of words, memories and images with Peake's associates, experts and family members. Speakers on the night will include Fabian Peake, Sebastian Peake, Clare Penate, Brian Sibley, Hilary Spurling and others, with a specially filmed contribution by Michael Moorcock.

And I cannot go to either of them!