Evelyn Waugh (Author of Brideshead Revisited)

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Evelyn Waugh

Born

in Combe Florey, Somerset, England, The United Kingdom

October 28, 1903

Died

April 10, 1966

Genre

Fiction, Biography, Memoir

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Evelyn Waugh's father Arthur was a noted editor and publisher. His only sibling Alec also became a writer of note. In fact, his book â€œThe Loom of Youthâ€� (1917) a novel about his old boarding school Sherborne caused Evelyn to be expelled from there and placed at Lancing College. He said of his time there, â€œâ€¦the whole of English education when I was brought up was to produce prose writers; it was all we were taught, really.â€� He went on to Hertford College, Oxford, where he read History. When asked if he took up any sports there he quipped, â€œI drank for Hertford.â€�

In 1924 Waugh left Oxford without taking his degree. After inglorious stints as a school teacher (he was dismissed for trying to seduce a school matron and/or inebriation), an appren Evelyn Waugh's father Arthur was a noted editor and publisher. His only sibling Alec also became a writer of note. In fact, his book â€œThe Loom of Youthâ€� (1917) a novel about his old boarding school Sherborne caused Evelyn to be expelled from there and placed at Lancing College. He said of his time there, â€œâ€¦the whole of English education when I was brought up was to produce prose writers; it was all we were taught, really.â€� He went on to Hertford College, Oxford, where he read History. When asked if he took up any sports there he quipped, â€œI drank for Hertford.â€�

In 1924 Waugh left Oxford without taking his degree. After inglorious stints as a school teacher (he was dismissed for trying to seduce a school matron and/or inebriation), an apprentice cabinet maker and journalist, he wrote and had published his first novel, â€œDecline and Fallâ€� in 1928.

In 1928 he married Evelyn Gardiner. She proved unfaithful, and the marriage ended in divorce in 1930. Waugh would derive parts of â€œA Handful of Dustâ€� from this unhappy time. His second marriage to Audrey Herbert lasted the rest of his life and begat seven children. It was during this time that he converted to Catholicism.

During the thirties Waugh produced one gem after another. From this decade come: â€œVile Bodiesâ€� (1930), â€œBlack Mischiefâ€� (1932), the incomparable â€œA Handful of Dustâ€� (1934) and â€œScoopâ€� (1938). After the Second World War he published what is for many his masterpiece, â€œBrideshead Revisited,â€� in which his Catholicism took centre stage. â€œThe Loved Oneâ€� a scathing satire of the American death industry followed in 1947. After publishing his â€œSword of Honour Trilogyâ€� about his experiences in World War II - â€œMen at Armsâ€� (1952), â€œOfficers and Gentlemenâ€� (1955), â€œUnconditional Surrender" (1961) - his career was seen to be on the wane. In fact, â€œBasil Seal Rides Againâ€� (1963) - his last published novel - received little critical or commercial attention.

Evelyn Waugh, considered by many to be the greatest satirical novelist of his day, died on 10 April 1966 at the age of 62.

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Average rating: 3.91 · 247,017 ratings · 17,939 reviews · 299 distinct works â€� Similar authors

	Brideshead Revisited: The Sacred and Profane Memories of Captain Charles Ryder really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 121,317 ratings — published 1945 — 469 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Handful of Dust 3.89 avg rating — 27,810 ratings — published 1934 — 220 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Scoop 3.79 avg rating — 21,691 ratings — published 1938 — 221 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Vile Bodies 3.72 avg rating — 16,917 ratings — published 1930 — 156 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Decline and Fall 3.83 avg rating — 15,195 ratings — published 1928 — 272 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Loved One 3.75 avg rating — 13,161 ratings — published 1948 — 285 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Men at Arms (Sword of Honour, #1) 3.91 avg rating — 3,494 ratings — published 1952 — 92 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Black Mischief 3.70 avg rating — 3,535 ratings — published 1932 — 112 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Put Out More Flags 3.80 avg rating — 2,495 ratings — published 1942 — 98 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Officers and Gentlemen (Sword of Honour, #2) 3.95 avg rating — 2,270 ratings — published 1955 — 114 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Series by Evelyn Waugh

Sword of Honour (3 books)
by

Evelyn Waugh

4.00 avg rating — 9,224 ratings

In most historical romances, love and marriage go together like...well, a horse and carriage. But whatÂ if the girl part of the girl-meets-boy...

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Which book would you like to read in December?

Empire of the Sun by J.G. Ballard

5 votes, 45.5%

Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh

4 votes, 36.4%

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

2 votes, 18.2%

11 total votes

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