Trivia question: who was the first author to write a telephone conversation into a novel? Answer: Evelyn Waugh, in Vile Bodies, 1930.
Born in 1903 to a literary family, Waugh was educated at Lancing Public School and later went on to study at Oxford University. It’s easy to imagine him (growing up as he did amidst quads and spires and Sunday cricket) to be old-fashioned and consequently irrelevant. However, he was a thoroughly modern man, a great literary innovator, one who broke boundaries and loved to shock his audience.
Reading one of his novels is a unique experience. He leads you by the hand through the noisy hustle and bustle of 1930s Fleet Street in Scoop, detailing every inch of the exuberant scene and making you feel the irresistible charm of the city. In the same novel, the reader is hurled into the hot, sticky tropics of a warzone – yet all the time, still laughing at the humour of Waugh’s satire on the world of cut-throat journalism. Vile Bodies allows us a glimpse into the private world of the ‘Bright Young Things’ of the 1920s (which is the name of Stephen Fry’s wickedly fun and aesthetically captivating screen adaptation of the book, from 2003). Through Waugh’s precise narrative and acerbic wit, we gain entry to the legendary parties of the Roaring Twenties, packed with the glamour of bobs and sequins, cocktail dresses and cocaine. Waugh somehow distilled the world in which he lived – in all its beauty and ugliness – leaving for us an intimate, honest, but most of all thrilling account of life in inter-war England.
If you’ve never read any Waugh, and you’re not sure where to start, I have no hesitation in recommending his masterpiece, Brideshead Revisited. Completely different from his earlier novels, this is a more sombre story which attempts to recapture a twilight world past, which was, for Waugh, irrevocably lost in the brutality of World War II. From his army barracks, our protagonist Charles Ryder reflects on his youth experiences with the aristocratic Catholic Marchmain family, their beautiful house, and one gorgeous summer of innocence and beauty. Brideshead Castle rises from the pages in all its decaying splendour, with sun-kissed domes and rippling fountains; if for no other reason, you should read this novel if only to indulge in a few hours of the perfect summer. Additionally, the Downton set will certainly appreciate it for the drama of a country house – except this is a lot, LOT better.
The book was first dramatized for TV in 1981, directed by Charles Sturridge. This adaptation is triumphant in its cinematography, musical score and casting. The young Jeremy Irons is a sublime Charles Ryder, effortlessly evoking the feelings of memory and desire which dominate the book. Lovers of the book: look no further for a faithful representation of the original work than this. A feature film was also made in 2008, starring Matthew Goode and Ben Whishaw. Whilst not so critically acclaimed, and not completely faithful to the book, it’s worth watching for the superb visual aesthetics, which Waugh’s imaginative writing easily lends itself to. It’s worth pointing out, in this award season, that Waugh loved film and the fact that his books translate so beautifully onto screen is testament to that. The real star of both productions is the setting, the magnificent Castle Howard. This elegant house sits prominently in beautiful grounds, and it’s just up the road, so is a ‘must see’ for York students. I’ve been there twice with my friends, once in summer and again in winter, and it is an extraordinary experience – a pilgrimage for any Waugh fan.
Evelyn Waugh is as relevant today as he ever was. He strikes an exact balance between sentimentality and satire, and his books should be read and read until the pages fall out. To sum up what I love about Waugh, I’ll end with that phone conversation, mentioned at the beginning:
“Oh I say Nina, there’s one thing – I don’t think I will be able to marry you after all.”
“Oh, Adam, you are a bore. Why not?”