Non-Fiction Books

British writer and artist Mervyn Peake is not only well-known for his Gormenghast trilogy of novels, but also for his work as an illustrator, most notably for Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland . In the Craft of the Lead Pencil, Peake draws on his own experience as an illustrator to offer an unusual and charming guide for anyone looking to experiment with pencil drawing. Originally published in 1946, this little treatise on the simple art of drawing is more than just a how-to book, placing Peake’s own literary and artistic sensibilities alongside many of his beautiful line drawings, which clearly illustrate his instructions and showcase his love of the medium. This will be a charming gift book for anyone interested in drawing, sketching, and process of making art as well as a treasured token for the numerous Peake fans.

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The eccentric talent of the legendary Mervyn Peake figures prominently in FIGURES OF SPEECH, a playful series of drawings that challenge the reader to guess what familiar saying each picture portrays. "We give no table of contents here, for to do so would spoil your pleasure," wrote author-illustrator Mervyn Peake when this quirky book was first published in 1939. "Each drawing represents a particular Figure of Speech." Following were twenty-nine drawings, identified only by number: a couple with their noses on fire; a gentleman cutting pages from a book; a tropical explorer resting his heels inside water glasses. Revealed in a key at the end were the "figures of speech" the drawings portrayed (in this case, "burning their bridges," "cutting a long story short," and, of course, "cooling his heels"). Now this idiosyncratic volume has been lovingly reissued, its original black-and-white drawings set against colorful panels. Whether enjoyed simply for its witty, intriguing, and masterly pictures or used as a game book with family or friends, Figures of Speech will delight devoted followers of Mervyn Peake and everyone else who loves visual puns.

He illustrated his spontaneous stories with delightfully vivid drawings of the characters in his tales, but never set down words to go with them. Now, decades after Peake¹s death, world-renowned fantasy writer (and friend of the Peakes) Michael Moorcock has written verses to go with Peake¹s drawings. This star collaboration--funny, surprising, and haunting by turns--is accompanied by an illuminating and elegiac introduction by Moorcock. Overlook is publishing The Sunday Books to mark the centenary of Peake¹s birth, which will be commemorated around the world on July 9, 2011.