First published in 1831, "Crotchet Castle" is the sixth novel by Thomas Love Peacock. Similar to his previous novel "Headlong Hall", the story revolves around an interesting group of obsessive eccentrics and their witty and entertaining conversations. The story begins with a gathering in one of the character''s villa on the Thames and includes a canal journey towards Wales. Startlingly witty and infinity entertaining, "Crotchet Castle" is recommended for lovers of clever satirical writing and is not to be missed by fans of Peacock''s fantastic work. Thomas Love Peacock (18 October 1785 - 23 January 1866) was an English poet, novelist, and important figure in the East India Company. A good friend of Percy Bysshe Shelley, they both had a significant influence on each other''s work. Peacock was most famous for writing satirical novels, which usually involved characters sat around a table discussing contemporary philosophical ideas. Other notable works by this author include: "Headlong Hall" (1815), "Gryll Grange" (1861), and "Melincourt" (1817). Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with intoductory essays by Sir Walter Raleigh and Virginia Woolf.