Once read, the novel rarely leaves our consciousness… for a non-believer, its themes are deep and complex … for those willing to take this journey with Waugh I think we we can all, ultimately identify with Charles Ryder - I have read and loved all of Waugh’s novels … and want to thank you for this wonderful celebration of a brilliant book
This was not a book I loved the first time but I have never gotten tired of talking about it. I recently sent someone the chapter about Rex’s superficial joining of the Church. Ostensibly because it was relevant to a conversation on conversion, but in reality because it is hilarious.
Helena was the book of Waugh that I fell in love with right away. I’ve bought copies for people but no one has shared my enthusiasm!
How had I never heard of Fowler’s Modern English Usage? I had to order a copy.
A few weeks ago, *something* prompted me to purchase Brideshead Revisited. I dont know why. But I want to read it right after Maugham's The Razor's Edge.
As an aside, Waugh's biography of Edmund Campion, the Elizabethian era Jesuit and martyr, is simply outstanding. A good reminder of what it means to actually stand for things that matter.
I enjoyed your essay Henry. I've always preferred the second half of Brideshead so I'm certainly with you there. I have to admit I do find the snobbery of it annoying though.
I do agree he's funny about it. How do you feel about the Sword of Honour novels? And do you think Waugh's general reputation for being absolutely horrible has now faded from the awareness of the average general reader or is it still very much live? Certainly when I read him as a teenager it's pretty much the first thing any adult would say -- "good writer, but absolutely awful person" / "ate the first banana for years in front of his children without letting them taste it" (or some similar anecdote) / "total monster [and a Papist too boot]" -- depending on sympathy.
I did some additional reading with one of the teachers and included Waugh, who was not criticised in that way, but then another teacher spoke to us and it was the first thing she said. It seemed to have spoiled the work for her. I never heard any Papist stuff. But my family is not bookish, so it wouldn't have come up. This would have been c. 2003.
I often tell people the banana story and they have never heard it. I suspect that he is not as well known as he once was. Journalists like him.
Sword of Honour I love, and in fact I love quite a lot of his work, including Helena. I can't imagine not enjoying anything he wrote, really! Do you not like them?
No I prefer them I think. I also really enjoyed Helena though haven't re-read it for ages. My family was also not at all intellectual, though well educated especially on my father's side; socially smarter on my mother's. The comments I'm remembering would all have been from the 90s. But my parents were quite old -- my father was born just before the war -- so attitudes and references were fairly old-fashioned. Reflex anti-Catholicism definitely still a real thing at the time. Funny that no-one else you've spoken to knows the banana story, it's still always the first thing I think of -- I have a vague idea it comes from Auberon Waugh's diaries? I think it particularly struck home with my parents, both of whom remembered rationing, and indeed my father never stopped hoarding sweets.
Ah I suppose Waugh was something of a contemporary figure for your father perhaps. I suspect my family wouldn’t know him. Auberon was a major journalist at the Telegraph/Private Eye (iirc) and very well known to that crowd. His novel did well to I think (something about Foxgloves, haven’t read it). Old school right wing people still mention him sometimes. He’s supposed to be funny but I don’t really see it myself.
In fact, thinking about it I'm pretty sure I was vaguely aware of Auberon Waugh a good bit before I knew who Evelyn Waugh was, and certainly before I read any of EW's books. I haven't heard anyone mention Auberon for yonks but he must have had a pretty high profile in the 80s/90s (and perhaps specialised in being rude about his dad?).
Enjoyed this essay a lot, although I found that I still respond to Waugh's Catholicism the same way I always did, with skepticism and even distaste. His descriptions of religious faith strike me as sentimental – or theoretical. Whereas he always really did truly love grand old houses. Even in Decline and Fall, King's Thursday features prominently if I remember.
Really enjoyed this essay - thank you. I read Brideshead for the first time recently and was blown away by the prose, so was interested in your comments on Waugh’s deliberate development of his style (eg via Fowler and Ruskin) - I’d be very grateful if you could point to where I can learn more about this!
Chagford is not halfway between London and Oxford. It is go to Oxford from London, bear left a bit, and keep going 3 times the distance you have already traveled.
Once read, the novel rarely leaves our consciousness… for a non-believer, its themes are deep and complex … for those willing to take this journey with Waugh I think we we can all, ultimately identify with Charles Ryder - I have read and loved all of Waugh’s novels … and want to thank you for this wonderful celebration of a brilliant book
thank you!
This was not a book I loved the first time but I have never gotten tired of talking about it. I recently sent someone the chapter about Rex’s superficial joining of the Church. Ostensibly because it was relevant to a conversation on conversion, but in reality because it is hilarious.
Helena was the book of Waugh that I fell in love with right away. I’ve bought copies for people but no one has shared my enthusiasm!
I love Helena! Might write about it. Important companion to Brideshead to understand his late work.
The new pope’s mother apparently gave a presentation on Helena to a women’s group in 1952 and I love thinking about this.
Oh yes that’s amazing
How had I never heard of Fowler’s Modern English Usage? I had to order a copy.
A few weeks ago, *something* prompted me to purchase Brideshead Revisited. I dont know why. But I want to read it right after Maugham's The Razor's Edge.
As an aside, Waugh's biography of Edmund Campion, the Elizabethian era Jesuit and martyr, is simply outstanding. A good reminder of what it means to actually stand for things that matter.
Oh fowler is splendid you’re in for a good time
I enjoyed your essay Henry. I've always preferred the second half of Brideshead so I'm certainly with you there. I have to admit I do find the snobbery of it annoying though.
Thanks! I do think he's funnier and more ambivalent about the snobbish stuff than he gets credit for, maybe I will write about that sometime...
I do agree he's funny about it. How do you feel about the Sword of Honour novels? And do you think Waugh's general reputation for being absolutely horrible has now faded from the awareness of the average general reader or is it still very much live? Certainly when I read him as a teenager it's pretty much the first thing any adult would say -- "good writer, but absolutely awful person" / "ate the first banana for years in front of his children without letting them taste it" (or some similar anecdote) / "total monster [and a Papist too boot]" -- depending on sympathy.
I did some additional reading with one of the teachers and included Waugh, who was not criticised in that way, but then another teacher spoke to us and it was the first thing she said. It seemed to have spoiled the work for her. I never heard any Papist stuff. But my family is not bookish, so it wouldn't have come up. This would have been c. 2003.
I often tell people the banana story and they have never heard it. I suspect that he is not as well known as he once was. Journalists like him.
Sword of Honour I love, and in fact I love quite a lot of his work, including Helena. I can't imagine not enjoying anything he wrote, really! Do you not like them?
No I prefer them I think. I also really enjoyed Helena though haven't re-read it for ages. My family was also not at all intellectual, though well educated especially on my father's side; socially smarter on my mother's. The comments I'm remembering would all have been from the 90s. But my parents were quite old -- my father was born just before the war -- so attitudes and references were fairly old-fashioned. Reflex anti-Catholicism definitely still a real thing at the time. Funny that no-one else you've spoken to knows the banana story, it's still always the first thing I think of -- I have a vague idea it comes from Auberon Waugh's diaries? I think it particularly struck home with my parents, both of whom remembered rationing, and indeed my father never stopped hoarding sweets.
Ah I suppose Waugh was something of a contemporary figure for your father perhaps. I suspect my family wouldn’t know him. Auberon was a major journalist at the Telegraph/Private Eye (iirc) and very well known to that crowd. His novel did well to I think (something about Foxgloves, haven’t read it). Old school right wing people still mention him sometimes. He’s supposed to be funny but I don’t really see it myself.
In fact, thinking about it I'm pretty sure I was vaguely aware of Auberon Waugh a good bit before I knew who Evelyn Waugh was, and certainly before I read any of EW's books. I haven't heard anyone mention Auberon for yonks but he must have had a pretty high profile in the 80s/90s (and perhaps specialised in being rude about his dad?).
This was an especially good read, Henry. Thank you very much for sharing. Deeply thought-provoking.
:)
I have just purchased the novel, after reading your splendid essay! Thanks Henry for the recommendation.
,
,
Excellent! Do lmk what you think!
Really enjoyed reading your essay on Brideshead. Thank you for it!
:)
I’ve been waiting for this!!
:)
Enjoyed this essay a lot, although I found that I still respond to Waugh's Catholicism the same way I always did, with skepticism and even distaste. His descriptions of religious faith strike me as sentimental – or theoretical. Whereas he always really did truly love grand old houses. Even in Decline and Fall, King's Thursday features prominently if I remember.
Yes he’s very good on architecture
Really enjoyed this essay - thank you. I read Brideshead for the first time recently and was blown away by the prose, so was interested in your comments on Waugh’s deliberate development of his style (eg via Fowler and Ruskin) - I’d be very grateful if you could point to where I can learn more about this!
Chagford is not halfway between London and Oxford. It is go to Oxford from London, bear left a bit, and keep going 3 times the distance you have already traveled.
Good article.
I see it was linked on Powerline.
ICYMI