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Evelyn Waugh

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Evelyn Waugh was a highly influential English writer of the 20th century.

Evelyn Waugh 1903 - 1966 writer lived here
Evelyn Waugh 1903 - 1966 writer lived here

He produced a wide variety of literature, including novels, biographies, and travel books. He was also a prolific journalist and a frequent book reviewer. Many critics recognize him as one of the greatest prose stylists in the English language. This means he had a remarkable command of how sentences are constructed. His writing often used humor to examine the world around him. His most famous works include the satires *Decline and Fall* (1928) and *A Handful of Dust* (1934).

Castle Howard, Yorkshire
Castle Howard, Yorkshire

He also wrote the celebrated novel *Brideshead Revisited* (1945) and the Second World War trilogy, *Sword of Honour* (1952–1961).

Waugh was born on 28 October 1903, in North London.

Henry Cockburn, Lord Cockburn
Henry Cockburn, Lord Cockburn

His father, Arthur Waugh, was a publishing director for Chapman and Hall. His mother was Catherine Charlotte Raban. Evelyn had an older brother, Alexander Raban Waugh, known as Alec, who also became a novelist. His family history included many distinguished figures. One of his great-great-grandfathers was the Scottish judge Lord Cockburn. Another relative was the natural scientist Philip Henry Gosse. These varied backgrounds contributed to the complex social world he later described in his books.

His education shaped his early interests in art and literature.

Lancing College (1392998994)
Lancing College (1392998994)

He first attended Heath Mount preparatory school, where he was a lively student. He even wrote his first story, "The Curse of the Horse Race," while there. Later, he attended Lancing College in West Sussex. At Lancing, he became an aesthete, a person who deeply appreciates beauty and art. He studied calligraphy, which is the art of decorative handwriting. He also won many prizes for his work in art and literature. He even had his decorative designs used for book jackets.

Waugh then moved to Hertford College, Oxford, in January 1922.

Hertford college Old Quadrangle under the snow
Hertford college Old Quadrangle under the snow

He went there to study Modern History. During his time at Oxford, he became part of an avant-garde social circle. This group was known as the Hypocrites' Club. As the club's secretary, he adopted many of their artistic and social values. He also worked as a critic for university magazines like *Cherwell* and *Isis*. However, his focus on social life led to a feud with his history tutor, C. R. M. F. Cruttwell. Waugh later used his tutor's name for various characters in his early novels.

In the 1930s, Waugh's life was defined by travel and observation. He worked as a special newspaper correspondent, traveling extensively. In 1935, he reported from Abyssinia during the Italian invasion.

CropSelassie
CropSelassie

This experience as a journalist helped him observe many different types of people. During the Second World War, he served in the British armed forces. He first served in the Royal Marines. Later, he served in the Royal Horse Guards. He used these diverse life experiences to add depth to his fictional characters.

Waugh's personal beliefs underwent a significant change in 1930. He converted to Roman Catholicism after his first marriage failed. He became a strong traditionalist within the Church. This meant he strongly opposed any attempts to reform religious practices. He was deeply disturbed by the changes brought by the Second Vatican Council between 1962 and 1965. Specifically, he disliked the introduction of the vernacular Mass, which is a service held in the local language rather than Latin. These religious shifts, along with a changing postwar culture, made his final years more difficult.

Despite these challenges, Waugh remained a dedicated writer until his death in 1966.

Evelyn Waugh Grave
Evelyn Waugh Grave

He often presented a mask of indifference to the world. However, he was known to be very kind to his close friends. His legacy grew even after his death through new media. Film and television versions of his books reached new audiences. A notable example is the 1981 television serial of *Brideshead Revisited*. His work continues to be studied for its unique style and perceptive social commentary.

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File:Henry Cockburn, Lord Cockburn.jpg
Henry Cockburn, Lord Cockburn.jpg
File:Evelyn Waugh 1903 - 1966 writer lived here.jpg
Evelyn Waugh 1903 - 1966 writer lived here.jpg
File:Lancing College (1392998994).jpg
Lancing College (1392998994).jpg
File:Hertford college Old Quadrangle under the snow.jpg
Hertford college Old Quadrangle under the snow.jpg
File:Dante Gabriel Rossetti 001.jpg
Dante Gabriel Rossetti 001.jpg
File:069 Canonbury Square.jpg
069 Canonbury Square.jpg
File:CropSelassie.jpg
CropSelassie.jpg
File:Helena of Constantinople (Cima da Conegliano).jpg
Helena of Constantinople (Cima da Conegliano).jpg
File:Combe Florey - near the Old Manor House - geograph.org.uk - 904793.jpg
Combe Florey - near the Old Manor House -...
File:Evelyn Waugh Grave.jpg
Evelyn Waugh Grave.jpg
File:Castle Howard, Yorkshire.jpg
Castle Howard, Yorkshire.jpg
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