Mervyn Peake (1911 - 1968) was an English writer, artist, poet, and illustrator. He is best known for what are usually referred to as the Gormenghast trilogy. The three works, Titus Groan , Gormenghast and Titus Alone, were part of what Peake conceived as a lengthy cycle, the completion of which was prevented by his death. Even so the books are now seen as classics in the genre and a shorter fourth book was written by Peake's wife.