The Complete Short Stories (Penguin Modern Classics)
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Product Description
Product Description
In this unique collection of short stories composed between 1910-62, Evelyn Waugh's early juvenilia are brought together with later pieces, some of which became the inspirations for his novels. 'Mr Loveday's Little Outing' is a blackly comic tale of a mental asylum and its favourite resident; 'Cruise' sees a hilarious series of letters from a naïve young woman as she travels with her family; 'A House of Gentlefolks' observes a group of elderly eccentric aristocrats and their young heir; and in 'The Sympathetic Passenger' a radio-loathing retiree picks up exactly the wrong hitchhiker. These witty and immaculately crafted stories display the finest writing of a master of satire and comic twists.
About the Author
Evelyn Waugh was born in Hampstead in 1903, second son of Arthur Waugh, publisher and literary critic, and brother of Alec Waugh, the popular novelist. He was educated at Lancing and Hertford College, Oxford, where he read Modern History. In 1928 he published his first work, a life of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and his first novel, Decline and Fall, which was soon followed by Vile Bodies (1930), Black Mischief (1932), A Handful of Dust (1934) and Scoop (1938). Waugh travelled extensively and also wrote several travel books, as well as a biography of Edmund Campion and Ronald Knox. Other famous works include his Sword of Honour trilogy, and Brideshead Revisited (1945).
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Waugh is one of the great writers of the 20th century, as much a defining chronicler of his environment as Joyce or Steinbeck or Woolf. By definition, the editor has to include some second-rate stuff - some of the student material is decidedly naff - but when he's good he's marvellous - Tatical Exercise is worthy of Hitchcock. But his most poignant story is his last, Basil Seal Rides Again. It derives its impact from the rakes, femmes fatales and bright young things of Waugh's early books degenerating into bumptious old age. To get the joke, you have to have read the novels, and that is where EW's genius is best discovered. This collection is a fascinating trove for the completist and diehard, but not the best introduction - read Decline & Fall or Vile Bodies.
Format:Hardcover
"The Complete Short Stories of Evelyn Waugh," major, British writer of the twentieth century, who tended to comedy, is certainly the product of thorough editing, including, as it does, several of his short short juvenile, and Oxford, pieces. It also includes several fragments of novels excised from the final, or never completed, and, of course, the many stories Waugh published in magazines during his lifetime.
The earliest work, dating from the 1920's, shows Waugh as the skillful, amusing and witty social commentator we see in the novels then published, such as, A Handful of Dust (Penguin Modern Classics) and Decline and Fall (Penguin Modern Classics). "Bella Fleace Gave A Party," published in "Harpers' Bazaar," U.K., and U.S, is an amazingly brief masterpiece of social detail, as an Irish landowner sets about giving her last ball. If you've never given a ball, you could follow the instructions Waugh gives -- though, thankfully, we don't have to lick stamps anymore -- and give one successfully. Mind you, though, success will require mailing the invites. "The Man Who Liked Dickens," substantially expanded, became the ending of HANDFUL; that novel's alternate ending is also published here. Two chapters of an unfinished novel give us an entertaining closeup of the wealthy bohemian social life of the period.
From somewhat later in his career, World War II and afterwards, we find "Charles Ryder's Schooldays," excised from Waugh's masterwork, "Brideshead Revisited." The level of detail and dialogue in this is such as to lead a reader to think the young Waugh must have been keeping voluminous diaries before he could spell properly. "Compassion" is a bitter World War II story about the wartime treatment of Jews: his characters did not always seem that fond of the race. "Love Among The Ruins," set in the post-war period, is apparently Waugh's only stab at science fiction, and not too successful. "Scott-King's Modern Europe" is hilarious, and witty too. Consider his resonant description of air travel:
"He had left his hotel at seven o'clock that morning; it was now past noon and he was still on English soil. He had not been ignored. He had been shepherded in and out of charabancs and offices like an idiot child; he had been weighed and measured like a load of merchandise; he had been searched like a criminal; he had been cross-questioned about his past and his future, the state of his health and of his finances, as though he were applying for permanent employment of a confidential nature. Scott-King had not been nurtured in luxury and privilege, but this was not how he used to travel. And he had eaten nothing except a piece of flaccid toast and margarine in his bedroom....<A> voice said: 'Passengers for Bellacita will now proceed to Exit D,' .... while, simultaneously, the conductress appeared in the doorway and said: 'Follow me, please. Have your embarkation papers, medical cards, customs clearance slips, currency control vouchers, passports, tickets, identity dockets, travel orders, emigration certificates, baggage checks and security sheets ready for inspection at the barrier, please.'"
After all that, the man's got to sneak back into the country. If this sort of thing is your cup of tea, then it'll be your cup of tea.
The earliest work, dating from the 1920's, shows Waugh as the skillful, amusing and witty social commentator we see in the novels then published, such as, A Handful of Dust (Penguin Modern Classics) and Decline and Fall (Penguin Modern Classics). "Bella Fleace Gave A Party," published in "Harpers' Bazaar," U.K., and U.S, is an amazingly brief masterpiece of social detail, as an Irish landowner sets about giving her last ball. If you've never given a ball, you could follow the instructions Waugh gives -- though, thankfully, we don't have to lick stamps anymore -- and give one successfully. Mind you, though, success will require mailing the invites. "The Man Who Liked Dickens," substantially expanded, became the ending of HANDFUL; that novel's alternate ending is also published here. Two chapters of an unfinished novel give us an entertaining closeup of the wealthy bohemian social life of the period.
From somewhat later in his career, World War II and afterwards, we find "Charles Ryder's Schooldays," excised from Waugh's masterwork, "Brideshead Revisited." The level of detail and dialogue in this is such as to lead a reader to think the young Waugh must have been keeping voluminous diaries before he could spell properly. "Compassion" is a bitter World War II story about the wartime treatment of Jews: his characters did not always seem that fond of the race. "Love Among The Ruins," set in the post-war period, is apparently Waugh's only stab at science fiction, and not too successful. "Scott-King's Modern Europe" is hilarious, and witty too. Consider his resonant description of air travel:
"He had left his hotel at seven o'clock that morning; it was now past noon and he was still on English soil. He had not been ignored. He had been shepherded in and out of charabancs and offices like an idiot child; he had been weighed and measured like a load of merchandise; he had been searched like a criminal; he had been cross-questioned about his past and his future, the state of his health and of his finances, as though he were applying for permanent employment of a confidential nature. Scott-King had not been nurtured in luxury and privilege, but this was not how he used to travel. And he had eaten nothing except a piece of flaccid toast and margarine in his bedroom....<A> voice said: 'Passengers for Bellacita will now proceed to Exit D,' .... while, simultaneously, the conductress appeared in the doorway and said: 'Follow me, please. Have your embarkation papers, medical cards, customs clearance slips, currency control vouchers, passports, tickets, identity dockets, travel orders, emigration certificates, baggage checks and security sheets ready for inspection at the barrier, please.'"
After all that, the man's got to sneak back into the country. If this sort of thing is your cup of tea, then it'll be your cup of tea.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Waugh. As always, superb.
15 May 2009
Format:Hardcover
Evelyn Waugh cannot be outdone. He can never cease to please. His style is sly, it is witty, and of course contagiously beautiful, which I will make no effort to explain. Just read him. One cannot have an expectation too high to be fulfilled.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Some Golden Oldies Here
5 Nov 2007
Format:Hardcover
"The Complete Short Stories of Evelyn Waugh," major, British writer of the twentieth century, who tended to comedy, is certainly the product of thorough editing, including, as it does, several of his short short juvenile, and Oxford, pieces. It also includes several fragments of novels excised from the final, or never completed, and, of course, the many stories Waugh published in magazines during his lifetime.
The earliest work, dating from the 1920's, shows Waugh as the skillful, amusing and witty social commentator we see in the novels then published, such as, "A Handful of Dust," and "Decline and Fall." "Bella Fleace Gave A Party," published in "Harpers' Bazaar," U.K., and U.S, is an amazingly brief masterpiece of social detail, as an Irish landowner sets about giving her last ball. If you've never given a ball, you could follow the instructions Waugh gives -- though, thankfully, we don't have to lick stamps anymore -- and give one successfully. Mind you, though, success will require mailing the invites. "The Man Who Liked Dickens," substantially expanded, became the ending of "Handful;" that novel's alternate ending is also published here. Two chapters of an unfinished novel give us an entertaining closeup of the wealthy bohemian social life of the period.
From somewhat later in his career, World War II and afterwards, we find "Charles Ryder's Schooldays," excised from Waugh's masterwork, "Brideshead Revisited." The level of detail and dialogue in this is such as to lead a reader to think the young Waugh must have been keeping voluminous diaries before he could spell properly. "Compassion" is a bitter World War II story about the wartime treatment of Jews: his characters did not always seem that fond of the race. "Love Among The Ruins," set in the post-war period, is apparently Waugh's only stab at science fiction, and not too successful. "Scott-King's Modern Europe" is hilarious, and witty too. Consider his resonant description of air travel:
"He had left his hotel at seven o'clock that morning; it was now past noon and he was still on English soil. He had not been ignored. He had been shepherded in and out of charabancs and offices like an idiot child; he had been weighed and measured like a load of merchandise; he had been searched like a criminal; he had been cross-questioned about his past and his future, the state of his health and of his finances, as though he were applying for permanent employment of a confidential nature. Scott-King had not been nurtured in luxury and privilege, but this was not how he used to travel. And he had eaten nothing except a piece of flaccid toast and margarine in his bedroom....<A> voice said: 'Passengers for Bellacita will now proceed to Exit D,' .... while, simultaneously, the conductress appeared in the doorway and said: 'Follow me, please. Have your embarkation papers, medical cards, customs clearance slips, currency control vouchers, passports, tickets, identity dockets, travel orders, emigration certificates, baggage checks and security sheets ready for inspection at the barrier, please.'"
After all that, the man's got to sneak back into the country. If this sort of thing is your cup of tea, then it'll be your cup of tea.
The earliest work, dating from the 1920's, shows Waugh as the skillful, amusing and witty social commentator we see in the novels then published, such as, "A Handful of Dust," and "Decline and Fall." "Bella Fleace Gave A Party," published in "Harpers' Bazaar," U.K., and U.S, is an amazingly brief masterpiece of social detail, as an Irish landowner sets about giving her last ball. If you've never given a ball, you could follow the instructions Waugh gives -- though, thankfully, we don't have to lick stamps anymore -- and give one successfully. Mind you, though, success will require mailing the invites. "The Man Who Liked Dickens," substantially expanded, became the ending of "Handful;" that novel's alternate ending is also published here. Two chapters of an unfinished novel give us an entertaining closeup of the wealthy bohemian social life of the period.
From somewhat later in his career, World War II and afterwards, we find "Charles Ryder's Schooldays," excised from Waugh's masterwork, "Brideshead Revisited." The level of detail and dialogue in this is such as to lead a reader to think the young Waugh must have been keeping voluminous diaries before he could spell properly. "Compassion" is a bitter World War II story about the wartime treatment of Jews: his characters did not always seem that fond of the race. "Love Among The Ruins," set in the post-war period, is apparently Waugh's only stab at science fiction, and not too successful. "Scott-King's Modern Europe" is hilarious, and witty too. Consider his resonant description of air travel:
"He had left his hotel at seven o'clock that morning; it was now past noon and he was still on English soil. He had not been ignored. He had been shepherded in and out of charabancs and offices like an idiot child; he had been weighed and measured like a load of merchandise; he had been searched like a criminal; he had been cross-questioned about his past and his future, the state of his health and of his finances, as though he were applying for permanent employment of a confidential nature. Scott-King had not been nurtured in luxury and privilege, but this was not how he used to travel. And he had eaten nothing except a piece of flaccid toast and margarine in his bedroom....<A> voice said: 'Passengers for Bellacita will now proceed to Exit D,' .... while, simultaneously, the conductress appeared in the doorway and said: 'Follow me, please. Have your embarkation papers, medical cards, customs clearance slips, currency control vouchers, passports, tickets, identity dockets, travel orders, emigration certificates, baggage checks and security sheets ready for inspection at the barrier, please.'"
After all that, the man's got to sneak back into the country. If this sort of thing is your cup of tea, then it'll be your cup of tea.
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