Mervyn Laurence Peake (9 July 1911 – 17 November 1968) was an English writer, artist, poet, and illustrator. He is best known for what are usually referred to as the Gormenghast books. The four works were part of what Peake conceived as a lengthy cycle, the completion of which was prevented by his death. They are sometimes compared to the work of his older contemporary J. R. R. Tolkien, but Peake's surreal fiction was influenced by his early love for Charles Dickens and Robert Louis Stevenson rather than Tolkien's studies of mythology and philology.
Peake also wrote poetry and literary nonsense in verse form, short stories for adults and children (Letters from a Lost Uncle, 1948), stage and radio plays, and Mr Pye (1953), a relatively tightly-structured novel in which God implicitly mocks the evangelical pretensions and cosy world-view of the eponymous hero.
Peake first made his reputation as a painter and illustrator during the 1930s and 1940s, when he lived in London, and he was commissioned to produce portraits of well-known people. For a short time at the end of World War II he was commissioned by various newspapers to depict war scenes. A collection of his drawings is still in the possession of his family. Although he gained little popular success in his lifetime, his work was highly respected by his peers, and his friends included Dylan Thomas and Graham Greene. His works are now included in the collections of the National Portrait Gallery, the Imperial War Museum and The National Archives.
In 2008, The Times named Peake among their list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945".
Sol turns thousands of years of human wisdom from the world’s spiritual traditions into a totally unique personality profile. To get your own profile, check compatibility with friends and much more, download the Sol App today.
Some of their strengths
Mervyn Peake has many admirable traits.
Based on spiritual traditions from around the world, they are someone who can be described as Imaginative, Compassionate, Energetic, Intuitive, Creative, Loyal, and Caring.
Intuitive and Imaginative
According to Mysticism’s Astrology tradition, Mervyn Peake is someone who is a highly intuitive, creative and imaginative person who is very loyal, caring and compassionate to others. A person who is ambitious and motivated.
Active and Precise
Based on Daoism’s Ba-Zi or ‘Chinese Zodiac’ tradition, people who know Mervyn Peake well know them as someone who can be tough, active, and sharp, like a sword.
Methodical and Exacting
According to Hinduism’s Jyotisha or ‘Vedic Astrology’ tradition, many would also describe Mervyn Peake as someone who is careful, methodical, and a perfectionist.
A person who forms successful business partnerships, who appreciates the variety the world has to offer, who takes a frugal approach to life and tends to be a workaholic, and who engages in things that let them express their opinion.
Influential and Dynamic
Based on the Mayan Tzolk’in or ‘Mayan Astrology’ tradition, Mervyn Peake is someone who tends to be focused on spreading ideas, information, and activities.
They are also someone who is intuitive, imaginative, and an agent of change, and who is always dreaming of life's great possibilities and partnering with people to try to achieve those possibilities.
Traditional and Patient
According to Judaism’s Kabbalah tradition, Mervyn Peake tends to be someone who is a patient person that is very emotional, has a very sharp memory, has an ability to understand people, and who tends to be traditional and frugal.
Some of Mervyn Peake's challenges
While Mervyn Peake has many strengths, nobody is perfect. They also have some challenging traits they need to manage.
For example, Mervyn Peake can be Sensitive, Emotional, Standoffish, Impulsive, Careless, Hesitant, and Narcissistic.
Emotional and Standoffish
One of Mervyn Peake's key challenges is that they are someone who can be emotional and standoffish.
Mervyn Peake must also exercise caution as they can be short-tempered and aggressive.
Sensitive and Critical
Mervyn Peake is someone who can be insecure, critical, and pessimistic, who can have difficulty relaxing, can be possessive and jealous, and who can have difficulty listening to others' opinions and perspectives and make hasty decisions.
Sensitive and Money-oriented
Finally, Mervyn Peake also can have mood swings, be overly sensititive, and be a bit rigid and materialistic.
