Lord Copper, newspaper magnate and proprietor of the Daily Beast, has always prided himself on his intuitive flair for spotting ace reporters. That is not to say he has not made the odd blunder, however, and may in a moment of weakness make another.Acting on a dinner-party tip from Mrs Algernon Smith, he feels convinced that he has hit on just the chap to cover a promising little war in the African Republic of Ishmaelia. One of Waugh's most exuberant comedies, Scoop is a brilliantly irreverentsatire of Fleet Street and its hectic pursuit of hot news.
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From the Back Cover
Lord Copper, proprietor of the Daily Beast, is persuaded to send fashionable novelist John Boot as a foreign correspondent to cover the civil war in the African republic of Ishmaelia; but, owing to a most unfortunate case of mistaken identity, he actually sends William Boot, a contributor of charming nature notes to the Beast who has rarely ventured out of his rural retreat.
Evelyn Waugh's tale of an innocent abroad is a hilarious satire on journalism, set amidst the powerful currents of the 1930's, and contains a memorable collection of comic creations.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.About the Author
Evelyn Waugh was born in 1903 and was educated at Hertford College, Oxford. In 1928 he published 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). In 1945 he published Brideshead Revisited and he won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize in 1952 for Men at Arms. Evelyn Waugh died in 1966.
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While still a young man, John Courteney Boot had, as his publisher proclaimed, 'achieved an assured and enviable position in contemporary letters.' Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
While still a young man, John Courteney Boot had, as his publisher proclaimed, 'achieved an assured and enviable position in contemporary letters.' Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is an incredibly funny novel, and a must read for anybody interested in the politics of the world during the 30's, or the farcical nature of the press. All the way through it is funny, and I can think of no novel similar to it.
In regard to the novel being racist, I don't think it is. It must be taken in the context of it's time, much of the language is outdated, and would never be used now for fear of offence, but was, at the time acceptable. The African characters in the book are never criticised more than the white characters, and if anything, the African's end up fooling the journalists and being portrayed as intelligent, insightful characters. How this could be considered racist is a mystery to me.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Waugh effortlessly sucked me into this barmy but beguiling world where everyone speaks their mind but no-one pays any attention. If I said it was about journalism, international relations, nepatism, government, privilege, and philosophy you'd get totally the wrong idea, but it is. If I said it was firstly laugh-out-loud funny, secondly, a classic depiction of life for a certain class of people at a certain time in Britain and thirdly, based around an interesting set of observations I think I'd be getting closer to the truth. You see Waugh, I believe, didn't write about the answers to the injustices, or contradictions he saw. He just redrew them for his reader to make up his or her mind. Which is what I think you should do with Scoop. Remember, laugh first.
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By I. Curry
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
Waugh is both appreciated and reviled for much the same qualities. The same caustic wit and social observation that sliced through the ridiculous class structure of his time also brought a flippancy and 'carelessness' which in our politically correct age reads uncomfortably.
Scoop is a classic example, essentially involving a mix up in the assignment of a plum overseas journalism posting to cover the Ishmalian civil war. This is written in the age of Goebbels and Stalin, and so it is no surprise to see that the power of the press is essentially responsible for destabilizing the otherwise unassuming African state. Where the journalists decide there is a story, a story will exist. Is it really that different today?
Waugh uses his social observation skills to almost ludicrous extremes, with portraits of Lord Copper, Boot of the Beast and the other journalists in the pack being both ghastly and stunningly incompetent. The novel retains its comic touch, although has dated slightly more than some of Waugh's other works. Essentially many of the caustic barbs would be more suited to an age familiar with the excesses of Beaverbrook and Rothermere.
This is essentially classic Waugh, and thus should be approached with a little prior knowledge of his style. If you like him, you'll love this - I devoured it in a day.
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Scoop is a classic that has long none of its relevance since Waugh satirised the haphazard process of news gathering and reporting.
With the rise of "television news", the crazy mix between internal agendas and accident has perhaps become more wayward. If readers and listeners only knew the half of it ...
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio Cassette
SCOOP is probably the most purely enjoyable of Evelyn Waugh's books and Simon Cadell's wonderful reading has enhanced my pleasure in it. His characterisation is subtle and very very funny. When I read the book for myself I now hear Simon Cadell's interpretation of Corker, Gretchen, and Lord Copper. A flawless rendition of a marvellous novel.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By Mr. Robert Kelly
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
Evelyn Waugh was without doubt one the funniest writers that 20th century Britain produced, and this is one of the best examples of his work. Written during the interwar period, the book parodies the battles of mass market Fleet Street as the rivalry between the Daily Brute and the Daily Beast.
William Boot mistaken for his travel writing cousin is sent to Africa to report on a possible coup in the independent state of Ishamlia.
Having previously only produced a nature column called lush places, Boot's journey is a superb comedy of errors. This book is not only excellent in it's own right but provides a superb introduction to the rest of Waugh's work. Waugh might be best known these days for 'Brideshead Revisited,' but his earlier comedies are for me at least as rewarding.
William Boot mistaken for his travel writing cousin is sent to Africa to report on a possible coup in the independent state of Ishamlia.
Having previously only produced a nature column called lush places, Boot's journey is a superb comedy of errors. This book is not only excellent in it's own right but provides a superb introduction to the rest of Waugh's work. Waugh might be best known these days for 'Brideshead Revisited,' but his earlier comedies are for me at least as rewarding.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Waugh effortlessly sucked me into this barmy but beguiling world where everyone speaks their mind but no-one pays any attention. If I said it was about journalism, international relations, nepatism, government, privilege, and philosophy you'd get totally the wrong idea, but it is. If I said it was firstly laugh-out-loud funny, secondly, a classic depiction of life for a certain class of people at a certain time in Britain and thirdly, based around an interesting set of observations I think I'd be getting closer to the truth. You see Waugh, I believe, didn't write about the answers to the injustices, or contradictions he saw. He just redrew them for his reader to make up his or her mind. Which is what I think you should do with Scoop. Only laugh first.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By MonkeyUK
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
It is widely known that Waugh's books are witty, observant and highly readable. This is no different, the depiction of the newspaper business then, is probably nearly just as relevant now. The book is amusing and clever to the extreme. The plot moves from traditional British farce (although highly believable) to cutting observant wit that stirs the grey matter. Excellent.
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4.3 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
funny, dated in style but still relevant
The book is 75 years old and so seems a bit dated but once you get into it that isn't important. The message still has relevance as newspapers, and news tv, can be biased at best... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mr. K. L. Hollinshed
4.0 out of 5 stars
Timelessly funny
This was my first Evelyn Waugh novel so I was unsure what to expect. It was a quick and very entertaining read and generated an excellent discussion at my book group. Read more
Published 4 months ago by BookWorm
4.0 out of 5 stars
scoop
mums book club enjoyed and discussed this some didnt get it too old?? in their minds. or unfamiiar with setting
Published 4 months ago by alygogs
3.0 out of 5 stars
A book of three thirds
This is undoubtedly a novel of three thirds: The first third of the book drags its heels and the last third seemed almost indecipherable to me, but thankfully the middle third -... Read more
Published 4 months ago by D. Sedgwick
2.0 out of 5 stars
How to ruin a great book
The novel is excellent but the numerous misprints irritate. By the end, I had got used to having to substitute 'the' for 'die' almost invariably.
Published 5 months ago by P
1.0 out of 5 stars
Kindle edition full of text errors - Jan 2013
Will be trying to get refund - the text is so full of errors ( "th" rendered as "dl" ) that I gave up and bought a printed copy.
Published 5 months ago by Tom Whitwell
4.0 out of 5 stars
Book group read
This book was a little scruffy but that didn't matter as it was for a book group read and probably would not be kept. After reading it , it was not kept!
Published 5 months ago by Mrs. L. C. Dowd
1.0 out of 5 stars
Full of spelling mistakes
Throught the text of the book th has been replaced by di
e.g the = die
This is very difficult to read.
Fortunately I have been promised a refund. Read more
e.g the = die
This is very difficult to read.
Fortunately I have been promised a refund. Read more
Published 6 months ago by VINCENT PAUL VERNONlenn
2.0 out of 5 stars
Kindle edition still dodgy
I was very pleased to find SCOOP available in Kindle once again, as I had to re-read it for a book club event and my old Penguin paperback had of course gone yellow and fallen to... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Geoscribe
4.0 out of 5 stars
Up to a Point, Lord Copper
If you are looking for a book with depth, then this is not it. Instead, it's a light-hearted satirical look at newspaper men in the early part of the 20th century. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Minijax
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