I’m out of new-release books at the moment, so I revisited the archives and dug out some Evelyn Waugh novels that I haven’t read for 15-20 years. I decided to start with his earliest novel, Decline and Fall, first published in 1928.
It’s a satire about English upper class society, as seen through the eyes of a decent young man, Paul Pennyfeather, who suffers an unfortunate set of circumstances.
Pennyfeather was training at Scone College, Oxford, to be a clergyman before being sent down for indecent behaviour. He was assaulted by members of a notorious drinking club, stripped naked and found by authorities running through the courtyard, although later myths described his movement as “dancing”.
In disgrace, the unfortunate Pennyweather lost his allowance and had to accept a teaching post at an obscure public school in North Wales.
Here he embarked on a series of adventures before falling in love and becoming betrothed to the rich widow and society darling, Margot Beste-Chetwynde.
Her business interests included a chain of “entertainment venues” (brothels) in South America, but Pennyweather didn’t know this.
On the eve of their wedding she asked him to visit Marseille and sort out a problem to do with visas for dancing girls enroute to Brazil.
Pennyfeather was arrested in a League of Nations swoop, charged and convicted on white slavery offences and sentenced to seven years in prison.
Margo married the Home Secretary to secure his release.
The humor and satire still resonates nearly 80 years after first publication. Waugh wrote witty and concise prose that transcends generations.
This novel wanders a little, and I know that I’ll enjoy Scoop and Black Mischief more, which I intend to read next.
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