Titus Alone by Mervyn Peake is a classic piece of modernist literature available in paperback form from Penguin Classics. Written in English, this book is a part of the Modern Classics series, making it a must-read for fans of classicism. With its intriguing storyline and unique narrative style, Titus Alone is sure to captivate readers looking for thought-provoking literature.
The Titus Groan trilogy is a one-off. The most imaginative and brilliantly developed novel of its kind ever written. I'm not the first to have been taken under Mervyn Peake's spell. I have been re-reading it ever since I came across the novels by chance nearly 50 years ago. Even now, if I pick it up and start reading from the beginning I find it hard to stop. The prose is so wonderful and the author's imagination is expansive and completely original. That said, I always find Titus Alone is something of a disappointment after the intensity of the first two books. It somehow feels as if the author was getting worn out and the story loses its edge. Even Titus become less of a sympathetic character. The Penguin Modern Classic trilogy is my favourite of the various editions that have come out. I try and read and savour every word, every paragraph, putting off the moment when I get to the end.