Simon James Holliday Gray (21 October 1936 – 7 August 2008) was an English playwright and memoirist who also had a career as a university lecturer in

English literature English literature is literature written in the English language from the English-speaking world. The English language has developed over more than 1,400 years. The earliest forms of English, a set of Anglo-Frisian languages, Anglo-Frisian d ...

Queen Mary, University of London Queen Mary University of London (QMUL, or informally QM, and formerly Queen Mary and Westfield College) is a public research university in Mile End, East London, England. It is a member institution of the federal University of London. Today, ...

, for 20 years. While teaching at Queen Mary, Gray began his writing career as a novelist in 1963 and, during the next 45 years, in addition to five published novels, wrote 40 original stage plays, screenplays, and screen adaptations of his own and others' works for stage, film and television and became well known for the self-deprecating wit characteristic of several volumes of memoirs or diaries. (Gardner and other sources cite the date of Gray's death as 6 August 2008; some sources, including the obituary by Billington and the book review by Scurr, give the day of Gray's death as 7 August 2008.)

Biography

Simon James Holliday Gray was born on 21 October 1936 on Hayling Island, in

Hampshire Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Berkshire to the north, Surrey and West Sussex to the east, the Isle of Wight across the Solent to the south, ...

, England to James Gray and his wife Barbara (née Holliday). His father, who later became a

pathologist Pathology is the study of disease. The word ''pathology'' also refers to the study of disease in general, incorporating a wide range of biology research fields and medical practices. However, when used in the context of modern medical treatme ...

, worked on the island as GP. In 1939, during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, when he was three years old, Simon and his elder brother Nigel were evacuated to

Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

, Quebec, Canada, to live in "a house where his grandfather and is grandfather'salcoholic wife were attended upon by a younger aunt"; in 1945, when he was nearly 10, he returned to England, where he was educated at

Westminster School Westminster School is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school in Westminster, London, England, in the precincts of Westminster Abbey. It descends from a charity school founded by Westminster Benedictines before the Norman Conquest, as do ...

, in London. In 1957, he received a B.A. from

Dalhousie University Dalhousie University (commonly known as Dal) is a large public research university in Nova Scotia, Canada, with three campuses in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Halifax, a fourth in Bible Hill, Nova Scotia, Bible Hill, and a second medical school campus ...

Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and most populous municipality of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the most populous municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of 2024, it is estimated that the population of the H ...

; and, in 1961, another B.A. from

Trinity College, Cambridge Trinity College is a Colleges of the University of Cambridge, constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII, Trinity is one of the largest Cambridge colleges, with the largest financial endowment of any ...

. In 1965, he was appointed a lecturer in English at Queen Mary College, London. He married his first wife, Beryl Kevern, in 1965; they had two children, a son, Benjamin, and a daughter, Lucy, and were divorced in 1997. During their marriage, he had an eight-year affair with another Queen Mary lecturer, Victoria Katherine Rothschild (b. 1953), a daughter of Victor Rothschild, 3rd Baron Rothschild; in 1997, after his divorce, they married, living together in west London, until his death. In 2004 he was appointed

Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

for services to drama and literature. Suffering from both lung cancer and

prostate cancer Prostate cancer is the neoplasm, uncontrolled growth of cells in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system below the bladder. Abnormal growth of the prostate tissue is usually detected through Screening (medicine), screening tests, ...

and related ailments at the time of his death, he died of an

abdominal aortic aneurysm Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a localized enlargement of the abdominal aorta such that the diameter is greater than 3 cm or more than 50% larger than normal. An AAA usually causes no symptoms, except during rupture. Occasionally, abdo ...

, on 7 August 2008, at the age of 71.

Career

When he was still in his 20s, he began his writing career as a novelist with ''Colmain'', published by

Faber and Faber Faber and Faber Limited, commonly known as Faber & Faber or simply Faber, is an independent publishing house in London. Published authors and poets include T. S. Eliot (an early Faber editor and director), W. H. Auden, C. S. Lewis, Margaret S ...

in 1963. His career in drama began when he adapted one of his own short stories, '' The Caramel Crisis'', for television. He subsequently wrote a number of plays for, amongst others, ''

The Wednesday Play ''The Wednesday Play'' is an anthology series of United Kingdom, British television plays which ran on BBC One, BBC1 for six seasons from October 1964 to May 1970. The plays were usually original works written for television, although dramatic ...

'' and ''

Play for Today ''Play for Today'' is a British television anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and transmitted on BBC1 from 1970 to 1984. During the run, more than three hundred programmes, featuring original television plays, and adaptations of stage ...

'' BBC anthology series, frequently in collaboration with the producer Kenith Trodd. Gray wrote 40 plays and screenplays for the stage, television, and film and eight volumes of memoirs based on his diaries. '' Wise Child'', an adaptation of a TV play deemed too shocking for the small screen, was his first stage play. It starred Simon Ward and

Alec Guinness Sir Alec Guinness (born Alec Guinness de Cuffe; 2 April 1914 – 5 August 2000) was an English actor. In the BFI, British Film Institute listing of 1999 of BFI Top 100 British films, the 100 most important British films of the 20th century ...

and was produced by Michael Codron at

Wyndham's Theatre Wyndham's Theatre is a West End theatre, one of two opened by actor/manager Charles Wyndham (the other is the Criterion Theatre). Located on Charing Cross Road in the City of Westminster, it was designed c. 1898 by W. G. R. Sprague, the arch ...

in 1967. Subsequently, he wrote original plays for both radio and television and adaptations, including a TV adaptation of '' The Rector’s Daughter'', by F. M. Mayor, and stage adaptations of ''

Tartuffe ''Tartuffe, or The Impostor, or The Hypocrite'' (; , ), first performed in 1664, is a theatrical comedy (or more specifically, a farce) by Molière. The characters of Tartuffe, Elmire, and Orgon are considered among the greatest classical theat ...

'' and ''

The Idiot ''The Idiot'' (Reforms of Russian orthography, pre-reform Russian: ; post-reform ) is a novel by the 19th-century Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky. It was first published serially in the journal ''The Russian Messenger'' in 1868–1869. The titl ...

''. His original television screenplays include '' Running Late'', '' After Pilkington'', '' Unnatural Pursuits'', and '' A Month in the Country''. His 1971 play '' Butley'', produced by Codron, began a long creative partnership with

Harold Pinter Harold Pinter (; 10 October 1930 – 24 December 2008) was a British playwright, screenwriter, director and actor. A List of Nobel laureates in Literature, Nobel Prize winner, Pinter was one of the most influential modern British dramat ...

as director of both the play and the film versions and continued the partnership with the actor

Alan Bates Sir Alan Arthur Bates (17 February 1934 – 27 December 2003) was an English actor who came to prominence in the Cinema of the United Kingdom#The 1960s, 1960s, when he appeared in films ranging from ''Whistle Down the Wind (film), Whistle Down ...

begun with Gray's 1967 television play ''Death of a Teddy Bear''. In all Bates starred in 11 of Gray's works, while Pinter directed 10 separate productions of Gray's works for stage, film, and television, beginning with ''Butley''. The last one was a stage production of '' The Old Masters'', starring

Peter Bowles Peter John Bowles (16 October 1936 – 17 March 2022) was an English screen and stage actor. He gained prominence for television dramas such as '' Callan: A Magnum for Schneider'' and '' I, Claudius''. He is best remembered for his roles in sit ...

and Edward Fox. (Converted to a memorial site after death of Alan Bates.) As with '' Butley'' (1971) and '' Otherwise Engaged'' (1975), whose London productions and films both starred Bates, and '' Quartermaine's Terms'' (1981), starring Fox, Gray "often returned to the subject of the lives and trials of educated intellectuals." He wrote many other successful stage plays, including ''

The Common Pursuit ''The Common Pursuit'' is a Play (theatre), play by Simon Gray which follows the lives of six characters who first meet as undergraduates at University of Cambridge, Cambridge University when they are involved in setting up a literary magazine ca ...

'', '' The Late Middle Classes'', '' Hidden Laughter'', '' Japes'', '' Close of Play'', ''

The Rear Column ''The Rear Column'' is a play by Simon Gray set in the jungle of the Congo Free State in 1887–88. The story begins after explorer Henry Morton Stanley, has gone to Emin Pasha Relief Expedition, relieve Emin Pasha, governor of Equatoria, from ...

'', and '' Little Nell'', several of which he directed himself. In 1984, at the suggestion of Robert McCrum,

Faber Faber may refer to: People * Faber (surname) Companies * Faber & Faber, publishing house in the United Kingdom * Faber-Castell, German manufacturer of writing instruments * Faber Music, British sheet music publisher * Eberhard Faber, German ...

editor-in-chief at that time, he kept a diary of the London premiere of ''

'', directed by Pinter at the

Lyric Hammersmith The Lyric Theatre, also known as the Lyric Hammersmith, is a nonprofit theatre on Lyric Square, off King Street, Hammersmith, London."About the Lyric" > "History" ''Lyric'' official website. Retrieved January 2024. Background The Lyric Theatre ...

, resulting in the first of his 8 volumes of theatre-related and personal memoirs, ''An Unnatural Pursuit'' (

1985), and culminating in the critically acclaimed trilogy entitled ''The Smoking Diaries'' (Granta, 2004–2008). Gray's play about

George Blake George Blake ( Behar; 11 November 1922 – 26 December 2020) was a Espionage, spy with Britain's Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) and worked as a double agent for the Soviet Union. He became a communist and decided to work for the Minist ...

, '' Cell Mates'' (1995), starring Rik Mayall,

Stephen Fry Sir Stephen John Fry (born 24 August 1957) is an English actor, broadcaster, comedian, director, narrator and writer. He came to prominence as a member of the comic act Fry and Laurie alongside Hugh Laurie, with the two starring in ''A Bit of ...

and Simon Ward, attracted media attention when

suffered a nervous breakdown and abruptly "fled to

Bruges Bruges ( , ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders, in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is in the northwest of the country, and is the sixth most populous city in the country. The area of the whole city amoun ...

" after the third West End performance, thus leaving the show without its lead actor. Gray subsequently wrote his theatrical memoir ''Fat Chance'', providing an account of the episode. In August 2008, shortly before his death, he attracted further press attention with his criticism of the

Royal National Theatre The National Theatre (NT), officially the Royal National Theatre and sometimes referred to in international contexts as the National Theatre of Great Britain, is a performing arts venue and associated theatre company located in London, England, ...

's "cowardice" in dealing with the subject of radical

Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...

Posthumous tributes and related developments

Gray's final volume of diaries, ''Coda'', "so named because it rounds off the trilogy of 'Smoking Diaries' (The Smoking Diaries, The Year of the Jouncer and The Last Cigarette) ... a meditation on death, or rather dying, an account of living on borrowed time," was published posthumously by Faber and Faber and ''

Granta ''Granta'' is a literary magazine and publisher in the United Kingdom whose mission centres on its "belief in the power and urgency of the story, both in fiction and non-fiction, and the story's supreme ability to describe, illuminate and make ...

'' in November 2008. From 8 to 12 December 2008, in five 15-minute episodes, actor Toby Stephens read from this "candid and darkly comic account of coming to terms with terminal cancer" for

BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. The station replaced the BBC Home Service on 30 September 1967 and broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes from the BBC's headquarters at Broadcasti ...

's '' Book of the Week''. ''Simon Gray: A Celebration'', directed by Harry Burton, who directed Gray's last stage production in Spring 2008 ('' Quartermaine's Terms'' at Theatre Royal, Windsor), was held at the Comedy Theatre, in London, on 15 March 2009. A production entitled ''The Last Cigarette'', based on Gray's and Hugh Whitemore's adaptation of the three volumes of his memoirs called ''The Smoking Diaries'' and directed by Richard Eyre, opened at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester, England, in April 2009. The production, with

Felicity Kendal Felicity Ann Kendal (born 25 September 1946) is an English actress, working principally in television and theatre. She has appeared in numerous stage and screen roles over a more than 70-year career, including as Barbara Good in the television ...

, Nicholas Le Prevost, and Jasper Britton, then transferred to the

Trafalgar Studios Trafalgar Theatre is a West End theatre in Whitehall, near Trafalgar Square, in the City of Westminster, London. The Grade II listed building was built in 1930 with interiors in the Art Deco style as the Whitehall Theatre; it regularly staged ...

, in London's West End, An official web site was launched in October 2009. According to Young, she learned from talking with actor and director Harry Burton that Simon Gray's widow, Victoria Gray, "was thinking of creating a website for her late husband, as an online resource for anyone interested in his work", and Young, who says she creates websites for magazines, "leapt at the chance. Can't think of anything nicer than working on a literary website for a change (instead of magazine ones, which is what I am doing at the moment)." Young recounts meeting with Victoria Gray to discuss details about creating such a website. '' The Late Middle Classes'' finally received its London premiere on 27 May 2010 at the

Donmar Warehouse The Donmar Warehouse is a 251-seat, not-for-profit Off-West End theatre in Covent Garden, London, England. It first opened on 18 July 1977. Sam Mendes, Michael Grandage, Josie Rourke and Michael Longhurst have all served as artistic direc ...

in London, directed by David Leveaux and starring Helen McCrory, Eleanor Bron, Peter Sullivan and Robert Glenister. The original production of the play, directed by Harold Pinter, was prevented from reaching its intended

West End theatre West End theatre is mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres in and near the West End of London.Christopher Innes"West End"in ''The Cambridge Guide to Theatre'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998), pp. 1194–1195, ...

by a musical about a boy band. Gray's experience of this production is the subject of his diary ''Enter a Fox''. In May–June 2014 ''In the Vale of Health'', consisting of three unseen plays and one revival—''Japes'', ''Michael'', ''Japes Too'' and ''Missing Dates''—was performed at the

Hampstead Theatre Hampstead Theatre is a theatre in South Hampstead, in the London Borough of Camden. It specialises in commissioning and producing new writing, supporting and developing the work of new writers. History The original ''Hampstead Theatre Clu ...

, London, directed by Tamara Harvey and starring Gethin Anthony, Jamie Ballard, Imogen Doel, Tom Mothersdale and Laura Rees. The plays tell the story, from different perspectives, of two brothers who fall in love with the same woma

Plays

*'' Wise Child'',

(1967) *'' Dutch Uncle (play), Dutch Uncle'', Aldwych Theatre (1969) *''

'' (adapted from Dostoyevsky),

Old Vic Old or OLD may refer to: Places *Old, Baranya, Hungary *Old, Northamptonshire, England *Old Street station, a railway and tube station in London (station code OLD) *OLD, IATA code for Old Town Municipal Airport and Seaplane Base, Old Town, Mai ...

(1970) *'' Spoiled'',

Haymarket Theatre The Theatre Royal Haymarket (also known as Haymarket Theatre or the Little Theatre) is a West End theatre in Haymarket, London, Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in ...

(February 1971) *'' Butley'', Criterion Theatre (1971) *'' Otherwise Engaged'', Queen's Theatre (1975) *''Dog Days'', Oxford 1976; Eyre Methuen (1976) *''Molly'', stage adaptation of his television play ''Death of a Teddy Bear'' (1967), based on the Francis Rattenbury 1935 murder case, Comedy Theatre (1978) *''

'', The Globe Theatre (1978); Eyre Methuen (1978) *'' Close of Play'', National Theatre Lyttelton (1979) *'' Stage Struck'', Vaudeville Theatre (1979) *'' Quartermaine's Terms'', Queen's Theatre (1981) *''

'' (adaptation),

Kennedy Center The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, commonly known as the Kennedy Center, is the national cultural center of the United States, located on the eastern bank of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. Opened on September 8, ...

, Washington, D.C. (1982) *''

'',

(1984) *''Melon'' (later revised as '' The Holy Terror''),

Theatre Royal Haymarket The Theatre Royal Haymarket (also known as Haymarket Theatre or the Little Theatre) is a West End theatre in Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in use. Samuel Foote ...

(1987) *'' Hidden Laughter'', Vaudeville Theatre (1990) *''The Holy Terror'', Temple of Arts Theater,

Tucson, Arizona Tucson (; ; ) is a city in Pima County, Arizona, United States, and its county seat. It is the second-most populous city in Arizona, behind Phoenix, Arizona, Phoenix, with a population of 542,630 in the 2020 United States census. The Tucson ...

(1991) *'' Cell Mates'',

Albery Theatre Albery is a name. It may refer to: Given name * Albery Allson Whitman (1851−1901), African American poet, minister and orator Surname * A. S. Albery, British politician * Bronson Albery (1881−1971), English theatre director and impresario * Do ...

(1995) *''Simply Disconnected'', sequel to ''Otherwise Engaged'', Minerva Theatre, Chichester (1996) *''

Life Support Life support comprises the treatments and techniques performed in an emergency in order to support life after the failure of one or more vital organs. Healthcare providers and emergency medical technicians are generally certified to perform bas ...

'', Aldwych Theatre (1997) *''Just the Three of Us'', Yvonne Arnaud Theatre (1997); Nick Hern Books (1999) *'' The Late Middle Classes'',

Watford Watford () is a town and non-metropolitan district with Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough status in Hertfordshire, England, northwest of Central London, on the banks of the River Colne, Hertfordshire, River Colne. Initially a smal ...

Palace (1999) *'' Japes'', Peter Hall Company,

Mercury Theatre, Colchester The Mercury Theatre is a theatre in Colchester, producing highly regarded original work under the title "Mercury Productions" and also receiving touring shows. The theatre has two auditoria, and is led by Steve Mannix (Executive Director & CEO ...

(2000) and

(2001) *''Japes Too'' and ''Michael'', published in ''Four Plays'' by Faber (2004) *''The Pig Trade'', published in ''Four Plays'' (2004) *''The Holy Terror'' (revival),

Duke of York's Theatre The Duke of York's Theatre is a West End theatre in St Martin's Lane, in the City of Westminster, London. It was built for Frank Wyatt and his wife, Violet Melnotte, who retained ownership of the theatre until her death in 1935. Designed by ...

(2004) *'' The Old Masters'' featuring art critic Berenson and art dealer Duveen, Comedy Theatre (2004) *''Little Nell'',

(2006); Theatre Royal, Bath (2007) *''Missing Dates'',

(1 March 2008) *'' Quartermaine's Terms'' (revival), Theatre Royal, Brighton, Theatre Royal. Bath and

(2013)

Screenplays

*'' Butley'' (1974) *'' A Month in the Country'' adapted from the novel by J. L. Carr (1987)

Television plays

*'' The Caramel Crisis'' (

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

, Thirty Minute Theatre, 25 April 1966) *''Death of a Teddy Bear'', based on the Francis Rattenbury 1935 murder case (BBC, ''

'', 15 February 1967) *''A Way with the Ladies'' (BBC, ''The Wednesday Play'', 10 May 1967) *''Sleeping Dogs'' (BBC, ''The Wednesday Play'', 11 October 1967) *''The Princess'', adapted from a D. H. Lawrence short story (BBC, ''The Jazz Age'', 1968) *''Spoiled'' (BBC, Wednesday Play 28 August 1968); Methuen Plays (1971) *''Mother Love'', adapted from

W. Somerset Maugham William Somerset Maugham ( ; 25 January 1874 – 16 December 1965) was an English writer, known for his plays, novels and short stories. Born in Paris, where he spent his first ten years, Maugham was schooled in England and went to a German un ...

(BBC, August 1969) *''Pig in a Poke'' ( ITV, Saturday Night Theatre, March 1969) *''The Dirt on Lucy Lane'' (ITV, Saturday Night Theatre, April 1969) *''The Style of the Countess'', adapted from the novel by Gavin Lambert (ITV, Playhouse, August 1970) *''Man in a Side-Car'' (BBC, ''

'', May 1971) *''Plaintiffs and Defendants'' (BBC, October 1975) *''Two Sundays'' (BBC, October 1975) *''

'' (BBC, 1980)

Films for television

*'' Quartermaine's Terms'' (BBC, 1987) *'' After Pilkington'' (BBC, January 1987) *''Old Flames'' (BBC, 1990) *''They Never Slept'' (BBC, March 1991) *''

'' (BBC, March 1992) *''Running Late'' (BBC, October 1992) *''Unnatural Pursuits'' (semi-autobiographical, two-part satire, BBC, December 1992) *''Femme Fatale'' (BBC, February 1993)

Novels

*''Colmain'', Faber (1963) *''Simple People'', Faber (1965) *''A Comeback for Stark'' (writing as Hamish Reade), Putnam (1968), Faber (1969) *''Little Portia'', Faber (1986) *''Breaking Hearts'', Faber (1997)

Memoirs

*''An Unnatural Pursuit and Other Pieces'', Faber (1985) *''How's that for Telling 'em, Fat Lady?'', Faber (1988) *''Fat Chance'', Faber (1995) *''Enter A Fox'', Faber (2001) *''The Smoking Diaries'', Granta Books (2004) *''The Year of the Jouncer'', Granta Books (2006) *''The Last Cigarette: Smoking Diaries Volume 3'', Granta Books (2008) *''Coda'', Granta Books (2008)

Collected plays

''The Definitive Simon Gray''. In 4 vols. London:

, 1992–1994. :Vol. 1: Butley ''and Other Plays'' (1992). . :Vol. 2: Otherwise Engaged ''and Other Plays'' (1992). . :Vol. 3 (1993). . :Vol. 4 (1994). . ''Key Plays''. Introd.

. London:

, 2002. . (Includes: '' Butley''; '' Otherwise Engaged''; '' Close of Play''; '' Quartermaine's Terms''; and '' The Late Middle Classes''.)

Honours and awards

*1967 Writer's Guild Award for Best Play, for ''Death of a Teddy Bear'' *1971 Evening Standard Award, for '' Butley'' *1975 Best Play, New York Drama Critics' Circle and Evening Standard Award, for '' Otherwise Engaged'' *1977 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play (foreign), for '' Otherwise Engaged'' *1982 Cheltenham Literary Prize, for '' Quartermaine's Terms'' *1987 Prix Italia, for '' After Pilkington'' *1993 Golden Gate Award for a Television Feature, San Francisco International Film Festival, for ''Running Late'' *1999 Barclays Theatre Award for Best New Play, for ''The Late Middle Classes'' *2004 Appointed

(CBE) for services to Drama and Literature in the

2005 New Year Honours New Year Honours were granted in the United Kingdom and New Zealand at the start of 2005. Among these in the UK were knighthoods awarded to Mike Tomlinson, the educationalist; Derek Wanless, who led a review of the National Health Service; ...

"New Year Honours--United Kingdom"
''The London Gazette of Thursday 30 December 2004 Supplement No. 1''.

Notes

External links

Simon Gray Papers
at the

Harry Ransom Center The Harry Ransom Center, known as the Humanities Research Center until 1983, is an archive, library, and museum at the University of Texas at Austin, specializing in the collection of literary and cultural artifacts from the Americas and Europe ...

Simon Gray
articles index in the '' Guardian''. * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Gray, Simon 1936 births 2008 deaths 20th-century English dramatists and playwrights 20th-century English male writers 20th-century English memoirists 20th-century English novelists 20th-century English screenwriters 21st-century English dramatists and playwrights 21st-century English male writers 21st-century English memoirists Academics of Queen Mary University of London Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Dalhousie University alumni English male dramatists and playwrights English male non-fiction writers English people of Scottish descent Fellows of the Royal Society of Literature People educated at Westminster School, London People from Hayling Island