Simon Raven

Simon Raven (December 28, 1927 - May 12, 2001) was a novelist, journalist and dramatist. He was born in Viginia Water, Surrey, England and died in London.

Novels

His major work was a series of ten novels under the umbrella title Alms for Oblivion. The novels cover the period 1945 to 1973 and centre around a group of upper and upper middle class characters.

The early novels are robust satires of the English upper set of the mid 1950s, but the later tend to a more detached and philosopical tone.

The titles in Alms for Oblivion are:

• Fielding Gray
• Sound the Retreat
• Sabre Squadron
• The Rich Pay Late
• Friends in Low Places
• The Judas Boy
• Places where They sing
• Come like Shadows
• Bring forth the Body
• The Survivors

Drama

The Pallisers, a 22-episode adaptation for the BBC of all six Palliser novels by Anthony Trollope, first broadcast in 1974.