Simon Raven
Note: His first novel, An Inch of Fortune, written circa 1951, was not published until 1980 2. "Alms for Oblivion" Novel Sequence The 10 novels cover the period 1945 to 1973 and centre on a group of upper and upper middle class characters, forming a novel sequence, if a somewhat loosely structured one. The early novels are robust satires of the English upper set of the mid-1950s, but the later tend to a more detached and philosophical tone, becoming concerned with the occult and supernatural, and including strange happenings. The titles in Alms for Oblivion are: Title Internal chronology Publisher Year The Rich Pay Late Fourth, set in 1955-56 Anthony Blond 1964 Friends In Low Places Fifth, set in 1959 Anthony Blond 1965 The Sabre Squadron Third, set in 1952 Anthony Blond 1966 Fielding Gray First, set in 1945 Anthony Blond 1967 The Judas Boy Sixth, set in 1962 Anthony Blond 1968 Places Where They Sing Seventh, set in 1967 Anthony Blond 1970 Sound The Retreat Second, set in 1945-46 Anthony Blond 1971 Come Like Shadows Eighth, set in 1970 Blond & Briggs 1972 Bring Forth The Body Ninth, set in 1972 Blond & Briggs 1974 The Survivors Tenth, set in 1973 Blond & Briggs 1976 3. "The First-Born of Egypt" Novel Sequence. This sequence is a continuation of Alms for Oblivion. with many of the same characters, but with storylines tending to centre on the "next generation" and the introduction of darker, mystic themes. These books were written strictly for money, and received little critical acclaim, but Raven had fun killing off many of the survivors from the earlier sequence, usually in absurd and/or humiliating circumstances. The titles in The First-Born of Egypt are: Title Publisher Year Morning Star Blond & Briggs 1984 The Face Of The Waters Anthony Blond 1985 Before The Cock Crow Muller, Blond & White 1986 New Seed For Old Frederick Muller 1988 Blood Of My Bone Frederick Muller 1989 In The Image Of God Frederick Muller 1990 The Troubadour Hutchinson 1992 4. Other novels Title Publisher Year The Roses Of Picardie Blond & Briggs 1980 September Castle Blond & Briggs 1984 Essays, reminiscences and polemics[edit] Title Publisher Year The English Gentleman (see note) Anthony Blond 1961 Boys Will Be Boys Anthony Blond 1963 The Fortunes of Fingel Anthony Blond 1976 Shadows on the Grass Blond & Briggs 1982 The Old School Hamish Hamilton 1986 The Old Gang Hamish Hamilton 1988 Bird of Ill Omen Hamish Hamilton 1989 Is there anybody there? said the Traveller Frederick Muller 1990 (withdrawn) Note: The English Gentleman was also published as The Decline Of The Gentleman Other writings[edit] (this table is not necessarily complete) Title Publisher Year Introduction to The Best of Gerald Kersh Heinemann 1960 Chriseis (Short Story) No details 1960 Contribution to The Vampire' (Anthology ed. Riva & Volta) Macmillan 1963 Places Where They Stay Anthony Blond 1970 Introductions to Trollope's "Palliser" novels Panther Books 1973 The Islands of Sorrow The Winged Lion 1994 Contribution to The Vampire Omnibus ed. Peter Haining Orion Paperbacks 1995 Remember Your Grammar and Other Haunted Stories The Winged Lion 1997 The World of Simon Raven (collected journalism) Prion Humour Classics 2002 He also wrote features and articles for: The Listener; Encounter; London Magazine; Spectator; New Statesman and other magazines and journals Plays, screenplays, TV and film adaptations[edit] Plays (this table is not necessarily complete) Title Performance History Publication History Royal Foundation No performance details Anthony Blond, 1966* The Move Up-Country No performance details Anthony Blond, 1966* The Doomsday School No performance details Anthony Blond, 1966* The Scapegoat TV "First Night" series 1964 Anthony Blond, 1966* Panther Larkin No performance details Anthony Blond. 1966* The High King's Tomb No performance details Anthony Blond, 1966* The Gaming Book TV Armchair Theatre series, 1965 Anthony Blond, 1966* Sir Jocelyn, The Minister Would Like a Word TV Wednesday Play series, 1965 Anthony Blond, 1966* The Case of Father Brendan 1968, London (no other details) No publication details Royal Foundation and Other Plays, Anthony Blond 1966 Screenplays, TV and film adaptations (this table is not necessarily complete) Title Type Year Notes The Scapegoat "First Night" TV play series 1964 Adapted from own stage play The Gaming Book TV Armchair Theatre 1965 Adapted from own stage play Sir Jocelyn, The Minister Would Like A Word TV Wednesday Play 1965 Adapted from own stage play A Soiree at Blossom's Hotel TV Wednesday Play 1966 A Pyre For Private James TV Wednesday Play 1966 Point Counter Point TV mini series 1968 Adapted from Aldous Huxley The Outstation Episode of TV series 1968 Episode 11 of The Jazz Age The Way We Live Now TV mini series 1969 Adapted from Anthony Trollope The Creative Impulse TV dramatisation 1969 From W Somerset Maugham story On Her Majesty's Secret Service James Bond film 1969 Credited with "ad