Mervyn peake biography of alberta

Biography of Mervyn Laurence Peake

Mervyn Laurence Peake was an English writer, poet, playwright, and artist. Born in 1911 in the Chinese province of Jiangsu, Peake was the son of British parents. His father, Ernest Cromwell Peake, was a doctor for a British missionary organization. Growing up in China, Peake was influenced by the contrasts between the European and Chinese way of life, as well as the divide between the rich and poor in the country.

At a young age, Peake attended school in Tianjin before moving to London in 1923. It was there that his talent for art was recognized by his English teacher, Eric Drake. Peake continued his education at the Croydon School of Art and the Royal Academy of Arts, where he began to paint with oils and wrote his first long poem.

Peake's artistic career took off in the 1930s when he worked as an artist in London and spent time on the island of Sark, collaborating with Eric Drake and other artists. He exhibited his works in various galleries, including the Royal Academy of Arts and the Leger Gallery. In 1936, Peake returned to London and received a commission to create set designs and costumes for the play "Life of Insects," which received high praise from critics.

In addition to his artistic pursuits, Peake began teaching life drawing at the Westminster School of Art. It was there that he met and married his wife, Maeve Gilmore, in 1937. They had three children together. In 1938, Peake published his first book, "Captain Slaughterboard Drops Anchor," a children's book about pirates. This was followed by illustrations for various books, including Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" and the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm.

During World War II, Peake attempted to become a war artist but was instead drafted into the army, serving in the artillery and later in the engineering corps. However, his time in the army allowed him to develop his novel, "Titus Groan." After experiencing a nervous breakdown in 1942, Peake was hospitalized and eventually employed by the Ministry of Information as a draftsman. He documented the work of glassblowers producing cathode tubes for early radar installations.

The next five years were the most productive in Peake's career. He completed his novels "Titus Groan" and "Gormenghast" and illustrated several books by other authors. His poetry collection, "Rhymes Without Reason," was highly regarded by critics. In 1950, Peake and his family moved to Sark, where he continued to write and illustrate books.

In 1953, his novel "Gormenghast" was published to critical acclaim. Peake also ventured into playwriting, with his works being broadcasted on BBC Radio. He faced disappointment with the reception of his play "Mr. Pye" in 1957, which negatively affected his health and led to a hospitalization. Peake battled with Parkinson's disease, causing a decline in his artistic abilities. Despite this, he continued to create illustrations for Balzac's "Droll Stories" and his own collection of poems, "The Rhyme of the Flying Bomb."

Peake passed away in November 1968. His works, particularly the books about Gormenghast, gained significant popularity after his death and have been translated into numerous languages. His legacy lives on, with his grandson being named Titus in honor of the main character from the Gormenghast series.