“Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
“’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door—
Only this and nothing more.”” (The Raven, Edgar Allan Poe, 1845)
Sorry, there is more. I have started re-reading Simon Raven’s early novels. To put you in the picture, I recently read Elizabeth Taylor’s excellent novel, Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont; her penultimate novel, published in 1971, four years before her death. It encouraged me to buy her third novel, A View of the Harbour, published 1947. Sorry, I found it hard going and gave up but she was well into her stride with Mrs P – it was made into a film that I’ve not seen.
Elizabeth Taylor’s style is much admired but she doesn’t frighten the horses. Simon Raven’s pellucid style jolly well did. He wrote An Inch of Fortune in 1950 after he had been to work for and been sacked by Audrey Pleydell-Bouverie. He was her adopted son’s tutor and had spent too much of her money in Biarritz. Officially it was to do with the hotel laundry bill! He didn’t lay a finger on the boy, his golden goose. It was not published until 1980 as it was too accurate a portrayal of his time with this capricious millionairess. It’s not a very good novel, its interest chiefly being its veracity. His publisher was less cautious in 1991, publishing a second volume of his memoirs. (Shadows on the Grass had passed off without a hitch in 1982.) Is there Anybody There? Said the Traveller had to be withdrawn because of an indiscretion but is available on Abe Books these days, at a price. I have ordered a copy.
A better early Raven is Close of Play, 1962. It sets the tone for his later Alms for Oblivion series of novels: lust, betrayal, murder, depravity and occasional loyalty. Now I am re-reading Brother Cain, 1959. The themes are similar.
Dear Simon – I played cricket with him for a touring side, The Trogs, probably in the late 80’s. Among the team he was, simply, The Author. He still struck the ball hard and bowled little off breaks. Two Cowdreys, the late Graham and Jeremy, were among our number. Simon told tales of course, the best about a glamorous actress (who is still alive, just, so lips are sealed). I read Sabre Squadron on holiday in February.
The best early novel of Simon Raven is THE FEATHERS OF DEATH (1959), set during the Mau Mau in Kenya, about the love of a young officer for a drummer boy, a daring subject for the time…
Thank you for the book recommendations and especially the corresponding link to The South Bank Show.What a treat!