The Gormenghast Novels: Titus Groan, Gormenghast, Titus Alone: a trilogy by Mervyn Peake.

A doomed lord, an emergent hero, and an array of bizarre creatures haunt the world of the Gormenghast novels which, along with Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings," reigns as one of the undisputed fantasy classics of all time. At the center of everything is the seventy-seventh earl, Titus Groan, who stands to inherit the miles of rambling stone and mortar that form Gormenghast Castle and its kingdom. In these extraordinary novels, Peake has created a world where all is like a dream--lush, fantastical, vivid; a symbol of dark struggle. Accompanying the text are his own drawings, illustrating the whole assembly of strange, yet very real creatures that inhabit Gormenghast.

VHS:The glorious castle of Gormenghast is home to the ancient family of Groan, where nothing has changed for thousands of years. The dynasty is threatened by the charming and evil kitchen-boy, Steerpike. With the birth of a new heir, Titus Groan, Steerpike begins his ruthless ascent to power. As he charms, outwits and terrorizes the castle's inhabitants, only the young and timid Earl of Groan, Titus, stands in Steerpike's way. Who will ultimately rule Gormenghast?