Editing Gormenghast (series) (section)

==Setting==
Gormenghast is a remote and reclusive [[earldom]] dominated by the huge Castle Gormenghast at its centre, and ruled by the [[noble family]] of Groan since time immemorial. The earldom derives its name from Gormenghast Mountain, and is isolated from the outside world by inhospitable regions on each side of it. To the North are marshy wastelands, to the South are grey [[salt marsh]]es (and presumably then the ocean), to the East are [[quicksand]]s and the tideless sea, and to the West are knuckles of endless rock.<ref>''Titus Groan'', Chapter: "The Burning"</ref>

To the West also lies the claw-like Gormenghast Mountain, with the Twisted Woods and Gormenghast River at its foot. East of them are [[escarpment]]s described as "an irregular [[Table (landform)|tableland]] of greeny-black rock, broken and scarred and empty", then desolate [[swamp]] before the vicinity of the castle is reached.<ref name="Grotto">''Titus Groan'', Chapter: "The Grotto"</ref> Gormenghast Mountain is said to be so large that from the castle it looks at most a few miles distant, whereas in fact it is a day's ride away on horseback.<ref name="Grotto"/> However, this is contradicted by events within the story, when various characters are able to travel on foot to the castle and back within a single day. Given that it is surrounded on three sides by watery regions, it is not implausible that the entire region can be flooded, as described in the second book, ''Gormenghast''.

At the centre of the earldom is the vast, largely deserted [[castle]], whose remaining inhabitants centre their lives on the ritual surrounding the ruling family of Groan. The castle is described as being like an immense island of stone, its every outline familiar to the inhabitants, who know "every bay, inlet and headland of the great stone island of the Groans, of its sheer cliffs, of its crumbling outcrops, the broken line of the towers".<ref>''Titus Groan'', Chapter: "In Preparation for Violence"</ref> Dominating the [[ivy]]-covered, crumbling castle is the highest tower, the Tower of Flints, which is inhabited by great numbers of [[owl]]s. The castle is so huge that most of the inhabitants do not venture outside except for ceremonies. Outside the castle, clustered under the northern walls, is a hodge-podge of [[Mud hut|mud dwellings]] inhabited by the "Bright Carvers", villagers whose only contact with the [[Aristocracy|aristocrats]] is their annual ritual of [[Wood carving|carving]] elaborate objects out of wood and presenting them to the Earl for his judging of the winning carving. They are in awe of the "Castles", as they call Gormenghast's elite inhabitants.

Some contact with the outside world is implied; Dr Prunesquallor at one point sketches an [[ostrich]] skeleton, while Steerpike procures a [[monkey]] from somewhere. Otherwise, the impression given is that Gormenghast is stagnant, insular and introspective. A recurring theme is the time-consuming, complex and pointless rituals that the inhabitants submit to regularly, the origin and purpose of which is long forgotten. Gormenghast makes a stark contrast with the industrious and technologically advanced city that is the setting of ''Titus Alone''.