Gormenghast (series) - Genre and Style

Genre and Style

The series is usually described as a fantasy work. However, the books have no magic and no intelligent races other than humans, which is unusual in high fantasy such as The Lord of the Rings. Another valid classification would be to place Gormenghast in the genre of the grotesque, with marked gothic and surrealist influences. It may also be considered a fantasy of manners.

Gormenghast is less focused on a central protagonist than many novels. Though Titus and Steerpike are often considered the main characters, they share the narrative with many of the other denizens of the castle. In a way, the main character could be seen as the setting itself, with the castle and social structure of Gormenghast taking a central role in unifying the story.

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