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(Book Jacket Status: Jacketed)
Evelyn Waugh's short stories are the marvelous, concentrated riffs of his comic genius, revealing in miniaturized perfection all the elements that made him the greatest comic writer of our century. We find in them Waugh's almost superhuman technical skill as a writer and his quicksilver attentiveness to the minutiae of human absurdity, as well as his worldly knowledge, his tenderness, his perceptive compassion, and his sophisticated, disabused, but nevertheless forceful idealism.
The thirty-nine stories collected here include such small masterpieces as "Mr. Loveday's Little Outing" and "Scott-King's Modern Europe"; an alternative ending to Waugh's novel A Handful of Dust ; a "missing chapter" in the life of Charles Ryder, the hero of Brideshead Revisited ; and two linked stories, remnants of an abandoned novel that Waugh considered his best writing.
This edition contains the original illustrations to "Love Among the Ruins," as well as more than thirty graphics produced by the author as an Oxford undergraduate in the 1920s.
Evelyn Waugh: Satirist of the English Aristocracy and the Shifting Sands of Society Evelyn Waugh, a name synonymous with biting wit, sharp social commentary, and an uncanny ability to capture the absurdities of human nature, remains one of the most distinctive voices in 20th-century English literature. His prolific career, spanning novels, travelogues, memoirs, and journalism, offered a panoramic, often unflattering, yet undeniably compelling portrait of a society grappling with profound change – the decline of the aristocracy, the ravages of war, the allure and eventual disillusionment with avant-garde movements, and the search for meaning in a rapidly secularizing world. Born Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh in 1903, his privileged upbringing within a literary family provided him with an intimate understanding of the upper echelons of English society, the very world he would so brilliantly dissect and satirize. He attended Lancing College and Hertford College, Oxford, though his academic career was marked by a certain bohemian flair and a rebellious spirit that would characterize much of his life and work. It was during his Oxford years that he began to forge the distinctive voice that would later define his literary output – a voice laced with irony, a keen eye for hypocrisy, and an almost morbid fascination with decadence and decline. Waugh's early novels, such as Decline and Fall (1928) and Vile Bodies (1930), plunged readers into the hedonistic, often chaotic, world of the Bright Young Things in inter-war London. These novels, brimming with a dizzying array of colorful characters, extravagant parties, and a pervasive sense of aimlessness, painted a vivid picture of a generation that, in its pursuit of pleasure and novelty, seemed determined to outrun the shadows of impending war and social upheaval. Through characters like the hapless Paul Pennyfeather and the irrepressible, yet ultimately tragic, Adam and Barbara, Waugh explored themes of societal disintegration, the superficiality of social circles, and the tragicomic consequences of a life lived without a moral compass. His prose in these works crackled with energy, his dialogue was razor-sharp, and his ability to craft memorable, often grotesque, characters was already evident. The publication of A Handful of Dust (1934) marked a significant turning point in Waugh's career. While retaining his characteristic wit, this novel delved into darker territory, exposing the moral bankruptcy and emotional cruelty that lay beneath the polished surface of aristocratic life. The story of Tony Last's catastrophic marriage and subsequent abandonment is a stark and devastating exploration of betrayal, loneliness, and the destructive power of indifference. The novel's unflinching depiction of human suffering, coupled with its intricate plot and richly drawn characters, solidified Waugh's reputation as a master storyteller capable of both profound insight and devastating emotional impact. The outbreak of the Second World War profoundly shaped Waugh's life and subsequent literary output. His experiences serving in the Royal Marines and later the Royal Air Force provided him with a unique vantage point from which to observe the war and its effects on individuals and society. The trilogy of novels that emerged from this period – Men at Arms (1945), Officers and Gentlemen (1952), and Unconditional Surrender (1961), also known collectively as the Sword of Honour trilogy – stands as one of the most significant literary accounts of the war. Through the eyes of Guy Crouchback, a sensitive and deeply Catholic protagonist, Waugh explored themes of duty, faith, heroism, and the moral compromises demanded by conflict. The trilogy is a complex tapestry of adventure, disillusionment, and spiritual searching, offering a nuanced perspective on the absurdity and tragedy of war, as well as the enduring search for personal integrity amidst chaos. Beyond his war novels, Waugh continued to produce works that cemented his reputation as a keen observer of the human condition. The Loved One (1948), a savage satire on the American funeral industry and the American preoccupation with death, showcased his enduring talent for transatlantic critique. Brideshead Revisited (1945), perhaps his most enduringly popular novel, offered a nostalgic yet critically charged look at the aristocratic Flyte family and the narrator Charles Ryder's enchantment with their world. This novel, imbued with a potent sense of memory and longing, explores themes of faith, class, nostalgia, and the complex web of human relationships. The evocative descriptions of Brideshead Castle and the lives of its inhabitants have captivated generations of readers. Waugh's personal life was as complex and often tumultuous as the worlds he depicted. His conversion to Roman Catholicism in 1930 was a profound event that deeply influenced his worldview and provided a moral framework for his later writings. This commitment to his faith, however, did not prevent him from engaging in sharp criticism of the Church itself, nor did it temper his lifelong skepticism towards modern trends and ideologies. He was known for his acerbic wit, his often-difficult personality, and his unwavering commitment to his artistic vision. Evelyn Waugh's literary legacy is one of enduring brilliance. His novels are characterized by their impeccable prose, their unforgettable characters, and their incisive social commentary. He possessed an extraordinary gift for capturing the absurdities and hypocrisies of the societies he inhabited, while simultaneously offering profound insights into the human heart. His work continues to resonate with readers for its timeless exploration of themes such as class, faith, love, loss, and the search for meaning in a complex and often bewildering world. Whether satirizing the follies of the upper classes or dissecting the moral dilemmas of wartime, Evelyn Waugh's voice remains as sharp, as relevant, and as captivating as ever.
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