Reading the 20th Century discussion

Every month we will discuss a book on a specific era or a theme. This book will be the winner of a group poll. The approximate timings are...

1st of the month - request nominations
6th of the month - publish poll
12th of the month - announce winner

Our fifth theme is Evelyn Waugh and we will be reading and discussing the winning book in May 2018

If you feel inspired, please nominate a book by, or about, Evelyn Waugh that you would like to read and discuss.

It can be either fiction or non-fiction.

Please supply the title, author, a brief synopsis, and anything else you'd like to mention about the book, and why you think it might make a good book to discuss.

If your nomination wins then please be willing to fully participate in the subsequent discussion.

Happy nominating.

The only Evelyn Waugh book of note that I have not already read is Vile Bodies but, I am not feeling inclined to nominate it, as the reviews are so patchy. That said, if someone else nominates its, and it wins, then I will definitely read it.

I will happily read, or re-read, anything by Evelyn Waugh. However, I will nominate one of his travel books:

Remote People

Perhaps the funniest travel book ever written, Remote People begins with a vivid account of the coronation of Emperor Ras Tafari - Haile Selassie I, King of Kings - an event covered by Evelyn Waugh in 1930 as special correspondent for The Times. It continues with subsequent travels throughout Africa, where natives rub shoulders with eccentric expatriates, settlers with Arab traders and dignitaries with monks. Interspersed with these colourful tales are three 'nightmares' which describe the vexations of travel, including returning home.

I loved Labels, another travel book by Evelyn Waugh, and have been meaning to read Remote People for many a moon. So, in short, yes! Great nomination.


Nominations so far...

Susan: Remote People by Evelyn Waugh

I was thinking that a travel book would be a good nomination too, so that is three votes for Remote People: A Report from Ethiopia & British Africa 1930-31.

I'll nominate A Handful of Dust, which I read many years ago, and remember as being a magnificent novel, up there with Brideshead Revisited.


Taking its title from T.S. Eliot's modernist poem The Waste Land, Evelyn Waugh's A Handful of Dust is a chronicle of Britain's decadence and social disintegration between the First and Second World Wars.
After seven years of marriage, the beautiful Lady Brenda Last is bored with life at Hetton Abbey, the Gothic mansion that is the pride and joy of her husband, Tony...

There was also a good TV film directed by Charles Sturridge, who also directed the TV series of Brideshead.

Always meant to read that, Judy. Is it the 'divorce' novel?

I believe so, Susan.

I read A Handful of Dust as a teenager and suspect I was too young to appreciate it then so would love to re-read it now - hope it's still somewhere on the bookshelves. And yes, it's the book that supposedly draws on Waugh's divorce.

It's a classic. Very dark. Thanks Judy.


Nominations so far...

Susan: Remote People by Evelyn Waugh
Judy: A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh

There is such an embarrassment of riches in Waugh's bibliography.


What other Waugh books are people considering as nominations?

For what it's worth, my ratings for the Waugh titles I have already read, and forced ranked (best to least best - they're all, of course, varying degrees of great)...


Sword of Honour 5/5
Brideshead Revisited 5/5
A Handful of Dust 5/5
The Loved One 4/5
Decline and Fall 4/5
Labels 4/5
Scoop 4/5
Black Mischief 3/5
Put Out More Flags 3/5

And this is a wonderful book about Brideshead Revisited and also Evelyn Waugh more generally...

Mad World: Evelyn Waugh and the Secrets of Brideshead by Paula Byrne 4/5

Paula Byrne set out to write this book because she believed that Evelyn Waugh had been consistently misrepresented as a snob and a curmudgeonly misanthropist. I, for one, am very glad that she did. Paula Byrne eschews the "cradle to grave" approach, instead focussing on those key moments in Evelyn Waugh's life, and in particular those that informed his work.

I'm not nominating this month as I'd really like to read A Handful of Dust and am cautious of splitting the vote.

Completely understandable RC.

I don't think I have ever disliked anything I have read by Waugh. I do agree with you that, "Mad World," is a wonderful book; especially good if read alongside Brideshead.

Mad World has been on my radar so thanks for the endorsement - and, of course, I'll have to re-read the sublime Brideshead alongside it. If only life didn't get in the way of reading!

Indeed, RC. Brideshead is just beautiful - I virtually know it word for word, which is the only reason why I never nominated it :)

Mad World is duly added to my TBR, which I really am going to sort out soon ;)

There's really no bad choices with Waugh. I'd like to reread Handful of Dust, so I, too, won't nominate anything.


Mad World really is great.

Thanks everyone. It looks as though it could be a two horse race this month.


However, if there is another book by or about Waugh you fancy nominating, then please, be bold, and go right ahead.

Nominations so far...

Susan: Remote People by Evelyn Waugh
Judy: A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh

I am happy to read either, or both. Have meant to read both for ages and always look forward to discovering more Waugh.

I'm happy to read any Waugh except Scoop, which I didn't like at all, and both nominations are appealing so will not nominate anything new.

I've just reserved Mad World at the library - both book and audiobook (CDs, how old-fashioned!) so can immerse myself in Waugh.

I may go back to Mad World: Evelyn Waugh and the Secrets of Brideshead - it got put down at some point and I haven't picked it back up lately. Maybe after I finish Flappers: Six Women of a Dangerous Generation - which I have just gone back to.

It sounds as though we are all planning a Waugh reading marathon :) Is Mad World being nominated?

No one has nominated Mad World: Evelyn Waugh and the Secrets of Brideshead yet, although a few people plan to read it, so we could perhaps set up a buddy read?

There is also a groundswell of support building up around both A Handful of Dust and A Handful of Dust so we might well see just two nominations this time round....

Nominations so far...

Susan: Remote People by Evelyn Waugh
Judy: A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh

Any more nominations?

A Mad World buddy read would be great - I didn't want to nominate it as a) quite a few people seem to have read it already, and b) my vote's going to A Handful of Dust.

I'd be interested in reading the first of his Second World War trilogy Men at Arms.

His WWII trilogy is great, Radiantflux.

A buddy read of Mad World sounds great. I have downloaded Brideshead on Audible and so might indulge myself...

Thanks Radiantflux


Nominations so far...

Susan: Remote People by Evelyn Waugh
Judy: A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh
Radiantflux: Men at Arms by Evelyn Waugh

Any more nominations?

I'll add Mad World: Evelyn Waugh and the Secrets of Brideshead to our buddy read list

By the by, regarding Men at Arms, here's some information you might find interesting and helpful....

'Sword of Honour' (1965) was originally published as three separate volumes Men At Arms (1952), Officers and Gentlemen (1955), and Unconditional Surrender (1961), however Waugh extensively revised these books to create a one-volume version 'Sword of Honour' in 1965, and it is this version that Waugh wanted people to read.

The Penguin Classics version of 'Sword of Honour', contains numerous informative and interesting footnotes and an introduction by Angus Calder, each time Waugh changed the text there is also a note. Most of sections that Waugh changed or removed was with a view to ensuring that his "hero" Guy Crouchback is perceived as more worldly and experienced than was the case in the original version of the books. I can see why Waugh would choose to change the emphasis in this way and I think it makes the overall narrative more convincing and effective.

I have Scoop/Decline and Fall/Brideshead but I haven't read them.

However, i'll add my vote to Remote People. That Amazon intro: 'perhaps the funniest travel book ever written'... is enough for me.

Thanks for the recommendation, Susan, i'm SOLD.

I'd be happy to read Mad World or Remote People. Not read those yet.

Anything by Waugh is bound to be brilliant. I believe Nigeyb has added Mad World to our, ever growing, Buddy Read list.

Last call for nominations


Nominations so far...

Susan: Remote People by Evelyn Waugh
Judy: A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh
Radiantflux: Men at Arms by Evelyn Waugh

Any more nominations?

Mad World: Evelyn Waugh and the Secrets of Brideshead is now on our buddy read list

It's going to be an interesting vote this time. Not many nominations, but all very strong. I want to read Remote People and A Handful of Dust - the two I haven't read (Men at Arms is brilliant too). I need two votes ;)

Poll is up. Vote here....



https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...


Nominations...


Susan: Remote People by Evelyn Waugh
Judy: A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh
Radiantflux: Men at Arms by Evelyn Waugh

Looks as though A Handful of Dust will storm this one - it's already in a four point lead...


Judy: A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh - 6 votes, 75.0%
Susan: Remote People by Evelyn Waugh - 2 votes, 25.0%
Radiantflux: Men at Arms by Evelyn Waugh - 0 votes, 0.0%

#pollwatch

I have long been intrigued to read A Handful of Dust. I just downloaded it on Audible, so will listen to it whether it wins the vote or not (although it probably will!).

I think it's going to win Susan. A Handful of Dust now has an ever more commanding lead...


Judy: A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh - 9 votes, 75.0%
Susan: Remote People by Evelyn Waugh - 3 votes, 25.0%
Radiantflux: Men at Arms by Evelyn Waugh - 0 votes, 0.0%

#pollwatch

That's fine by me - looking forward to reading any Waugh. One of my very favourite authors.

I don't think I'm up for a reread of A Handful of Dust but look forward to the discussion, and discovering what others make of it.

It's a very dark and disconcerting tale, despite the black humour, but quite brilliant too.

I think most people who are going to vote have probably done so now, however there's still time


'A Handful of Dust' remains out in front but your vote could make the difference

Here's how the voting currently looks.....

Judy: A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh - 9 votes, 69.2%
Susan: Remote People by Evelyn Waugh - 4 votes, 30.8%
Radiantflux: Men at Arms by Evelyn Waugh - 0 votes, 0.0%

#pollwatch

Here's the link to the poll....

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

I’m (selfishly) glad it’s winning. I don’t have access to Remote People and Men at Arms would be a bit harder to swing right now, so go Handful of Dust! :) (Any Waugh is good Waugh though.)

Bronwyn wrote: "I’m (selfishly) glad it’s winning. I don’t have access to Remote People and Men at Arms would be a bit harder to swing right now, so go Handful of Dust! :) (Any Waugh is good Waugh though.)"
I agree, Bronwyn. For those of us in the US, Remote People isn't that readily available--no Kindle edition, Amazon only has it from 3 party sellers (mostly non-US), and mainly present only in university libraries. So I'm glad that Dust is winning (so far, anyway).

I'm very keen to read and discuss A Handful of Dust now - crossing my fingers for it, though I liked Men at Arms a lot too.

I would never have thought that Waugh's books would be difficult to get hold of.
It would be better to read something everyone can join in with.

I just found a couple of online stores with Remote People: A Report from Ethiopia & British Africa 1930-31 but $15-25. Powell's has it as new mass market at $23. And used from Abebooks for $15-18 and shipped from within US.

It is not going to win the poll, but if anyone in US wants to read it:

Do any of you use https://www.thriftbooks.com/aboutus.aspx?
They have a few copies, including one at $3.79
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/remote-...

Val wrote: "It is not going to win the poll, but if anyone in US wants to read it:

Do any of you use https://www.thriftbooks.com/aboutus.aspx?
They have a few copies, including one at $3.79
https://www.thrift..."

Just checked out your link and am quite excited! Another resource for books. I hadn't heard of them before but will definitely check them out for books I'm trying to find in the future. Thanks Val!