Evelyn Waugh

(1903-1966)

Born 1903 in Hampstead. Father publisher and literary critic. Brother Alec Waugh, a novelist. Educated in Oxford, concerned himself with modern history. Travelled in Europe to the Near East, Africa, tropical America. 1930 he was received into the Roman Catholic Church. During the 2nd World War he served in the Middle East and Yugoslavia. He was married and had six children. He died in 1966.

Works:

  • Decline and Fall 1928
  • Vile Bodies
  • Black Mischief
  • A Handful of Dust
  • Put Out More Flags
  • Brideshead Revisted
  • The Loved One
  • Men at Arms
  • Edmund Campion
  • Life of Ronald Knox
  • Unconditional Surrender
 A Handful of Dust

Persons:

  • John Beaver
  • Tony Last
  • Brenda, his wife
  • Dr. Messinger, an explorer
  • Mr. Todd

A common element in Waugh’s work is the innocent, passive person who is betrayed by nature, by fate or like in “A handful of dust” by the machinations of people. Tony Last is betrayed by Brenda, but not because of her illnature, but of her egotism, irresponsibility and boredom. Waugh’s description of the character is very detached.

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