6th April 2010
Doors at 6 pm, Talk commences at 7 pm
Mervyn Laurence Peake, the English modernist writer, artist, poet and illustrator, is best remembered for his Gormenghast trilogy. This series of novels are often referred to as one of the most original and sustained flights of imaginative writing of the 20th century. Less well known however, is his prolific output as a painter and writer of children’s books, nonsense verse, work as a war artist, poet, and illustrator. Join us as his son, Sebastian, gives us an insight on the home life, upbringing, school days, and influences of his father.
Sebastian Peake, born in 1940, has worked in various branches of the wine trade for most of his life, although after leaving school he studied foreign languages for five years while travelling around different European countries. He studied drums for a year in the late 1950s with the then leading modern jazz drummer in the country, and visited the wonderful annual Antibes Jazz Festival in 1963 where, during a break in the performance, he managed to persuade Miles Davis to join him and his Swedish girlfriend in a bottle of Provence rosé. In 1964 he was the drummer in the trio whose pianist came second in the National Young Pianist of the Year competition - the award being presented by Dave Brubeck, who gave a warm, encouraging speech. Jazz remains a lifelong love of his, but a penchant for the great wines of Bordeaux runs neck and neck. The promoting of his father’s work really accelerated after his mother’s death in 1983 when, in the first of what are now regular speaking events, he addressed the English faculty at the University of Krakow. Since then he has been speaking at literary festivals, bookshops, private gatherings, schools and universities both at home and abroad.
Talk at 11 Mare Street - please click here to buy tickets
