Mary Ray (author)

Mary Ray
Born12 March 1932
Rugby, England
Died6 May 2003(2003-05-06) (aged 71)
Canterbury, England
Writing career
SubjectsChildren's literature about Ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, and Early Christianity

Mary Eva Pedder Ray (1932–2003) was an English author of historical fiction for children set in ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. Several novels depict early Christianity.

Early life and education

Mary Ray was born on 12 March 1932 in Rugby, England to William John and Dora (née Moule) Ray. She said she "had a passion for ancient history since the age of six."

Ray attended Birmingham College of Art and Crafts (1950-1952), then received a diploma in social studies from the College of the Ascension (1954). She then attended the University of Kent, from which she earned a Bachelor of Arts in classical civilization and a Master of Arts in church history.

Career

Ray published her first novel, The Voice of Apollo, in 1964, which became the first of six novels about Ancient Greece. She also wrote eight novels about the Roman Empire and Early Christianity, as well as three plays.

In addition to writing, Ray worked as a church social worker in Sheffield (1957–1961), a welfare worker in Warwickshire (1961–1962), and a civil servant in Birmingham and London (1962–1988).

Personal life

Ray died in Canterbury on 6 May 2003.

Publications

Novels of Ancient Greece

  • The Voice of Apollo. Illustrated by John Cooper. London, England: J. Cape. 1964.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  • Standing Lions. Illustrated by Janet Duchesne. London, England: Faber. 1968.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  • Living in Earliest Greece. Illustrated by Peter Branfield. London, England: Faber. 1969.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  • Shout Against the Wind. Illustrated by Peter Branfield. London, England: Faber. 1970.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  • Song of Thunder. London, England: Faber. 1978.
  • The Golden Bees. London, England: Faber. 1984.

Novels of the Roman Empire and Early Christianity

  • The Eastern Beacon. Illustrated by Janet Duchesne. London, England: J. Cape. 1965.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  • Spring Tide. Illustrated by Janet Duchesne. London, England: Faber. 1969.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  • A Tent for the Sun. London, England: Faber. 1971.
  • The Ides of April. London, England: Faber. 1974.
  • Sword Sleep. London, England: Faber. 1975.
  • Beyond the Desert Gate. London, England: Faber. 1977.
  • Rain from the West. London, England: Faber. 1980.
  • The Windows of Elissa. London, England: Faber. 1982.

Theater

  • The Mary Rose, 1983
  • Dragons and Dinosaurs, 1985
  • The Dolphin Boy, 1985

References

  1. 1 2 3 Peacock, Scot, ed. (2002). Something About the Author: Volume 127. Farmington Hills, Michigan: Gale Group. pp. 175–177. ISBN 0-7876-4715-2.
  2. ↑ "Ray, Mary (Eva Pedder)". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  3. ↑ Ridington, Edith Farr (1965). "Some Recent Historical Fiction and Juveniles, XI". The Classical World. 59 (3): 75–77. doi:10.2307/4345796. ISSN 0009-8418.
  4. ↑ Ridington, Edith Farr (November 1970). "Some Recent Historical Fiction and Juveniles, XVIII". The Classical World. 64 (3). Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press: 80. doi:10.2307/4347298. JSTOR 4347298.
  5. ↑ Arnott, W. Geoffrey; Du Quesnay, Ian; Mosley, D. J.; Shotter, D. C. A.; Sparkes, B. A.; Walcot, P.; McAuslan, I. (1981). "Brief Reviews". Greece & Rome. 28 (2): 214–234. ISSN 0017-3835.
  6. ↑ Killingray, Margaret (1979). "Review of The Shadow of Vesuvius; Song of Thunder". Teaching History (23): 38–38. ISSN 0040-0610.
  7. ↑ Ireland, Robert J. (1976). "Review of The Ides of April; Year Walk; The Dark Didn't Catch Me". Journal of Reading. 19 (4): 331–331. ISSN 0022-4103.
  8. ↑ Snell, Lawrence S. (1976). "Review of Sword Sleep". Teaching History. 4 (15): 277–277. ISSN 0040-0610.
  9. ↑ Killingray, Margaret (1980). "Review of Rain from the West". Teaching History (28): 46–46. ISSN 0040-0610.