Evelyn Waugh: Where to Begin?

[LoyalViews]

I’ll be the odd one out and suggest you start with “A Handful of Dust” and then go to “Brideshead Revisited.” Reason being is that Handful of Dust is very illustrative and a good story, and it will introduce you to the humour in a smaller way before you read Brideshead. Waugh combined subtle humour with grand theological themes. Start with the easiest.

 

[BartholomewB]

There are some typical Waugh comic episodes in Helena. I don’t want to post any spoilers, so I won’t give details. But, as in the best of his comic novels, there are occasional scenes in this book that are hilarious.

 

[jeannetherese]

That’s the one! The BBC has it out on DVD.