Alms for Oblivion by Simon Raven
Alms for Oblivion is a book written by British writer and playwright Simon Raven and first published in 1966. It is the second installment of Raven’s novel sequence The First-Born of Egypt, and tells the story of the fictional British aristocratic family, the Mallorys, in the years between the World Wars.
Plot Summary
Alms for Oblivion follows the story of the Mallory family, an aristocratic British family living in London in the early twentieth century. The family is composed of the father, Charles; his three sons, William, Frederick, and Edward; and the mother, Constance. Charles, a retired military officer, is a violent and tyrannical patriarch, who is determined to keep the Mallorys’ traditional values and ways of life intact.
Charles’s eldest son, William, is an artist and a bohemian. He is also a soldier and an intellectual, who has a deep interest in social issues. William’s middle brother, Frederick, is a successful businessman and a ladies’ man. Frederick is also an adventurer and a gambler, who enjoys the good life and is not afraid to take risks. Edward, the youngest of the brothers, is a sensitive and introspective young man who is not particularly interested in the family’s traditional values.
As the story progresses, the Mallorys are forced to confront the realities of the changing times and their own individual desires and ambitions. The novel follows their struggles as they attempt to reconcile their traditional values with their personal ambitions and the changing social landscape of the time.
Themes and Teachings
Alms for Oblivion is an exploration of the changing times and the struggles of an aristocratic family in the face of the changing social landscape. It is also a commentary on the conflict between traditional values and individual ambitions. The novel is also a commentary on the class distinctions of the time, and the power and influence of the upper class.
The novel also explores themes of love, loyalty, and betrayal, as well as the power of family ties. It also examines the struggle between tradition and modernity, as well as the consequences of individualism and ambition. Finally, the novel examines the themes of justice, morality, and the importance of personal responsibility.
Interesting Facts
- Alms for Oblivion was the second installment of Simon Raven’s novel sequence The First-Born of Egypt.
- The novel was adapted into a BBC miniseries in 1978, starring Michael York, Ian Ogilvy, and John Gielgud.
- The novel was praised by critics for its complex and nuanced portrayal of the changing social landscape of the time.
- The novel was also praised for its exploration of the conflict between traditional values and individual ambitions.
FAQs
Q. Who wrote Alms for Oblivion?
A. Alms for Oblivion was written by British writer and playwright Simon Raven and first published in 1966.
Q. What is Alms for Oblivion about?
A. Alms for Oblivion follows the story of the Mallory family, an aristocratic British family living in London in the early twentieth century. The novel explores the conflicts between traditional values and individual ambitions, as well as themes of love, loyalty, and betrayal.
Q. What is the novel sequence The First-Born of Egypt?
A. The First-Born of Egypt is a novel sequence written by Simon Raven, of which Alms for Oblivion is the second installment. The novel sequence follows the story of an aristocratic British family living in London in the early twentieth century.
Q. Was Alms for Oblivion made into a movie or TV show?
A. Yes, Alms for Oblivion was adapted into a BBC miniseries in 1978, starring Michael York, Ian Ogilvy, and John Gielgud.
Q. What have critics said about Alms for Oblivion?
A. Critics have praised Alms for Oblivion for its complex and nuanced portrayal of the changing social landscape of the time, as well as its exploration of the conflict between traditional values and individual ambitions.