A Handful Of Dust/The Loved One/Men At Arms

by Evelyn Waugh

Three Waugh novels in one volume

Genres: Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Evelyn Waugh's father Arthur was a noted editor and publisher. His only sibling Alec also became a writer of note. In fact, his book “The Loom of Youth” (1917) a novel about his old boarding school Sherborne caused Evelyn to be expelled from there and placed at Lancing College. He said of his time there, “…the whole of English education when I was brought up was to produce prose writers; it was all we were taught, really.” He went on to Hertford College, Oxford, where he read History. When asked if he took up any sports there he quipped, “I drank for Hertford.”

In 1924 Waugh left Oxford without taking his degree. After inglorious stints as a school teacher (he was dismissed for trying to seduce a school matron and/or inebriation), an apprentice cabinet maker and journalist, he wrote and had published his first novel, “Decline and Fall” in 1928.

In 1928 he married Evelyn Gardiner. She proved unfaithful, and the marriage ended in divorce in 1930. Waugh would derive parts of “A Handful of Dust” from this unhappy time. His second marriage to Audrey Herbert lasted the rest of his life and begat seven children. It was during this time that he converted to Catholicism.

During the thirties Waugh produced one gem after another. From this decade come: “Vile Bodies” (1930), “Black Mischief” (1932), the incomparable “A Handful of Dust” (1934) and “Scoop” (1938). After the Second World War he published what is for many his masterpiece, “Brideshead Revisited,” in which his Catholicism took centre stage. “The Loved One” a scathing satire of the American death industry followed in 1947. After publishing his “Sword of Honour Trilogy” about his experiences in World War II - “Men at Arms” (1952), “Officers and Gentlemen” (1955), “Unconditional Surrender" (1961) - his career was seen to be on the wane. In fact, “Basil Seal Rides Again” (1963) - his last published novel - received little critical or commercial attention.

Evelyn Waugh, considered by many to be the greatest satirical novelist of his day, died on 10 April 1966 at the age of 62.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evelyn_W...

Reviews

[Realini Ionescu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sword of Honour by Evelyn Waugh, adapted for The BBC
9 out of 10

Notes and thoughts on other books are available at:

- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... and http://realini.blogspot.ro/

Evelyn Waugh is one of my favorite authors and the author has masterpieces included on the lists of the best books:

- A Handful of Dust, Scoop, Brideshead Revisited

These three are on The Modern Library list of 100 Best Novels, which includes the best works written in the last century:

- http://www.modernlibrary.com/top-100/...

Guy Crouchback is the hero of the narrative and we follow him as he joins the effort in World War II in various locations.
He first joins the Royal Halberdiers, a name that sounds funny and to some extent, it is a rather unmilitary regiment.

One of the men in the regiment is Apthorpe and he is involved in a laughable incident, as he insists on having his own “thunder- box” a portable toilet that he thinks will keep him away from disease, only to see it appropriated by a superior officer.
Guy Crouchback is not living with his wife, Virginia, but one night, he tries to have sex with her and she is upset with him.

On mission in Africa, during the Dakar Expedition, the British have to retreat from the shore with a surprising guest on board, a general that they had not known would join them.
Apthorpe dies in Freetown and Guy had been trying to make his suffering less severe by giving the patient a bottle of…whiskey.

This was not just against regulations, but it may have caused the deterioration of the man’s condition and Guy was sent home.
Back in Britain, the authorities did not know what to do with the protagonist, but he eventually has a place in a…commando.

Guy Crouchback is involved in the evacuation of Crete, which entails chaos, and an operation with casualties.
After they make it to Egypt, in a small boat and helped by a Corporal of Horse named Ludovic, the hero is helped by a Mrs. Stitch.

Back in England, Guy Crouchback has to try again to find a suitable place for himself, and the war seems to be boring for him.
Meanwhile, Virginia is suffering hardship on account of the war and has to deprive herself of some benefits.

And she becomes pregnant, tries to get some help from a doctor and the scene was funny to some extent and sad.
When the man tells her she is pregnant, Virginia is really unhappy and seems somewhat surprised, prompting the doctor to say something about sexual intercourse with the husband when the woman says it is a terrible situation…

I have not seen my husband in four years is the reply and then she wants to have something done to end the pregnancy.
The doctor is not only unwilling, but very upset to be asked, although after being asked to understand gives the address of someone who can do it.

At the address the illegal operation was closed and Virginia is looking for alternative solution to the problem.
Guy Crouchback’s father has died and left a considerable fortune, with important sums given to institutions and individuals in distress.
This is where it is not clear if Virginia decides to re-marry her former husband because of changed feelings of for his wealth.

Guy Crouchback, after Italy, Africa, Crete and Egypt arrives in what used to be Yugoslavia, where he meets some partisans.
I am not sure if they could be called “complex characters” because they had fought the Nazis with fervor.

It is more likely that the suitable manner would be to just call them villains, given the way they treated men and women in distress.

Guy Crouchback tries to help a group of Jewish people but finds it nearly impossible, given the opposition of the partisans and their leader.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well-sustained parody of the decline and fall of a British upper-class marriage, late 1920s-early 30's: ('A Handful of Dust' only), a marriage that probably should never have taken place in the first instance, and a skillful treatment of the various relatives and hangers-on associated with the married couple, sustain the social humor. (Who would have known that Brighton would have been the Las Vegas of its day?) . ... The parody is written with just enough distance that the humor survives fairly well for any reader of almost a century later. One plot event (no spoilers included here) sends the marriage into its fall, and another unexpected plot twist about 2/3 of the way through sends the parody into high velocity on a different track; the humor is sustained, though. Mildly recommended.