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A morose widower, Mr Glowry lives with his only son Scythrop in his semi-dilapidated family mansion Nightmare Abbey, which is situated on a strip of dry land between the sea and the fens in Lincolnshire. Mr Glowry is a melancholy gentleman who likes to surround himself with servants with long faces or dismal names such as Raven, Graves or Deathshead. The few visitors he welcomes to his home are mostly of a similar cast of mind: Mr Flosky, a transcendental philosopher; Mr Toobad, a Manichaean Millenarian; Mr Listless, Scythrop's languid and world-weary college friend; and Mr Cypress, a misanthropic poet.
About the author
Thomas Love Peacock (1785-1866) was an English novelist, poet, and satirist known for his witty, dialogue-driven novels that explore social, political and philosophical ideas. Born in Weymouth, Dorset, Peacock was largely self-educated and cultivated a broad literary knowledge, which shaped his sharp, satirical style. His best-known novels, such as Headlong Hall(1815), Nightmare Abbey (1818) and Crotchet Castle (1831), feature eccentric characters who debate contemporary issues, blending humor with critique. Peacock was a close friend of Percy Bysshe Shelley, whose Romantic ideals he gently mocked in his works.
