I watched this on TV when it first came out. I already knew and loved the Alms For Oblivion series, but hearing Simon Raven quoting Latin and Greek authors suddenly sparked something in me, and despite working somewhat long hours on the London Underground, I enrolled in extra-mural classics courses at London University. Twenty-five years later, I'm a professor of Greek at an Italian university. And it's entirely down to Simon Raven, who I never got to meet. God bless his shade. Hope he's drunk and happy!
I've just finished the first four novels in the Oblivion series, having being laid up for some days with a strained right arm (kiln-dried beech is such a damned hard wood to work -- and it's surprisingly easy to forget that I'm no longer 25). Bought the Vintage paperback editions on Peter Hitchens' (Eeyore reincarnate) recent recommendation in the Spectator. 'Oblivion': Intelligent, mellifluous, enjoyable writing ... and a visit to a foreign world for me, a Norwegian woodworker ... the class-stratified society very exotic to me (not that we don't have our social distinctions here in N. -- but of a different kind), as is the boarding school homosexuality. In short: an insight into a society (now lost?) that makes me realize how limited, but also how ... different, how secure and secluded a life I've led in Norway. I'll never be a Professor of Greek, 'tho I did have Latin with my Physics & Maths at my Gymnasium. I am, however, both drunk and happy, most days -- and I enjoyed your Raven-inspired life-anecdote. Live well, my unknown friend!
@@barkebaat I did exactly the same! Bought the first one on Hitchens' recommendation, and immediately bought all the rest. I have also just finished the fourth one. I had never even heard of Simon Raven until I read Peter Hitchens' article. (Just as a side note, I suspect a lot of that life still goes on in the upper echelons of our society).
Thank you for re-posting this. Simon Raven was my favourite author and I loved his earlier works. Simon was an exceptional man, I do not think his like will be seen again.
To answer my own question, the racecourse is definitely Goodwood, and the companion the late John Budden, a schoolmaster, racing commentator and journalist on the much missed Sporting Life
Wouldn't it be AMAZING if this video were to attain minimal literacy by having the date of the interview posted, along with the usual waves of words (commercial/internet gibberish) that mean nothing? How old is this information? One ad for malt whiskey shows the label: "1996." Was the interview has taken place sometime between 1996 and 2001?
Hi Don it aired on the 14th December 1997. I was so surprised when Melvyn Bragg and the South Bank Show had Simon on their series. It was at the at the end of Simon’s career and his novels were selling in minute quantities. So pleased the South Bank Show did.
By his own admission, Raven was 'anti-democracy'. 'Says it all, really, and not in Latin or ancient Greek! I wonder what the other retirees at Charterhouse Almshouses though of him? In my opinion, Raven was a nasty piece of work covered in a rather flimsy veneer of civility.
I watched this on TV when it first came out. I already knew and loved the Alms For Oblivion series, but hearing Simon Raven quoting Latin and Greek authors suddenly sparked something in me, and despite working somewhat long hours on the London Underground, I enrolled in extra-mural classics courses at London University. Twenty-five years later, I'm a professor of Greek at an Italian university. And it's entirely down to Simon Raven, who I never got to meet. God bless his shade. Hope he's drunk and happy!
extraordinary story. i salute you.
Simon left his mark on many people
I've just finished the first four novels in the Oblivion series, having being laid up for some days with a strained right arm (kiln-dried beech is such a damned hard wood to work -- and it's surprisingly easy to forget that I'm no longer 25). Bought the Vintage paperback editions on Peter Hitchens' (Eeyore reincarnate) recent recommendation in the Spectator.
'Oblivion': Intelligent, mellifluous, enjoyable writing ... and a visit to a foreign world for me, a Norwegian woodworker ... the class-stratified society very exotic to me (not that we don't have our social distinctions here in N. -- but of a different kind), as is the boarding school homosexuality. In short: an insight into a society (now lost?) that makes me realize how limited, but also how ... different, how secure and secluded a life I've led in Norway.
I'll never be a Professor of Greek, 'tho I did have Latin with my Physics & Maths at my Gymnasium. I am, however, both drunk and happy, most days -- and I enjoyed your Raven-inspired life-anecdote.
Live well, my unknown friend!
@@barkebaat Thank you for your kind comment. I raise my glass to you!
@@barkebaat I did exactly the same! Bought the first one on Hitchens' recommendation, and immediately bought all the rest. I have also just finished the fourth one. I had never even heard of Simon Raven until I read Peter Hitchens' article.
(Just as a side note, I suspect a lot of that life still goes on in the upper echelons of our society).
Thank you for re-posting this. Simon Raven was my favourite author and I loved his earlier works. Simon was an exceptional man, I do not think his like will be seen again.
Yes, but we will hear that ignoble cliche uttered a million times, perhaps by the end of next week.
Have you read the writings of David Walliams ? More than a match for Raven’s works, ‘Gangster granny’ to name but one.
Just read and immensely enjoyed The Rich Pay Late. Tx for putting this up.
Thank you for uploading - just reading and loving Alms for Oblivion now after visiting the Charterhouse and watching this.
Thanks for posting this - one of my favourite authors
Thank you so much for uploading this video. I've been looking for it for many years!
Many thanks for uploading this.
Fascinating. I agree with Anthony Blond that Simon Raven never wrote an ugly sentence.
I've been looking for this forever, well since it was aired. Please upload it again if you can....please.
Thank you! I have been looking for this for ages. (SR has a clip on the Special Edition DVD of On Her Majesties Secret Service, BTW)
SR fans: dont miss Michael Barber's biog "The Captain". Deliriously enjoyable!
Can anyone identify the racecourse which Raven and a friend visit early in the programme? Goodwood? And can anyone identify his companion?
To answer my own question, the racecourse is definitely Goodwood, and the companion the late John Budden, a schoolmaster, racing commentator and journalist on the much missed Sporting Life
Wouldn't it be AMAZING if this video were to attain minimal literacy by having the date of the interview posted, along with the usual waves of words (commercial/internet gibberish) that mean nothing? How old is this information? One ad for malt whiskey shows the label: "1996." Was the interview has taken place sometime between 1996 and 2001?
Hi Don it aired on the 14th December 1997. I was so surprised when Melvyn Bragg and the South Bank Show had Simon on their series. It was at the at the end of Simon’s career and his novels were selling in minute quantities. So pleased the South Bank Show did.
Does anybody here have the TV series POINT COUNTER POINT?
He visited Haut de la Garenne Children's Home and Elm Grove Guest House. Vile , vile vile👌🏾
By his own admission, Raven was 'anti-democracy'. 'Says it all, really, and not in Latin or ancient Greek! I wonder what the other retirees at Charterhouse Almshouses though of him? In my opinion, Raven was a nasty piece of work covered in a rather flimsy veneer of civility.