Vile Bodies: A Satirical Masterpiece of the Bright Young Things

by Evelyn Waugh, BY2NEXT TEAM (Editor), BY2NEXT PUBLISHING (Editor)

PREMIUM DIGITAL EDITION – Optimized for all Kindle devices.

Experience the Definitive Satire of the "Bright Young Things" in this Exclusive Collector’s Edition.

First published in 1930, Vile Bodies is Evelyn Waugh’s most piercing and hilarious portrait of a generation racing toward the edge of chaos. Set in the frantic, champagne-fueled world of interwar London, the story follows Adam Fenwick-Symes as he navigates a landscape of decadent parties, absurd social climbing, and the looming shadow of a second world war.

What Makes This BY2NEXT Publishing Edition Unique?

To provide a superior reading experience, this curated edition has been enriched with exclusive content that you won’t find in standard
Exclusive Character For the first time, visualize the eccentrics of the novel—from Nina Blount to Agatha Runcible—through a custom-designed gallery of portraits.
Historical A deep-dive introduction that sets the stage, explaining the social context of the 1920s and 30s "Bright Young People" and Waugh’s lasting influence on literature.
Premium Quality Meticulously formatted for a 5.5" x 8.5" trim, ensuring perfect typography and readability.
Modern An elegant matte-finish cover that looks stunning on any bookshelf.A Timeless Masterpiece of British Literature

Waugh’s sharp wit and dark humor are on full display in this novel, which served as the inspiration for the film Bright Young Things. Whether you are a long-time fan of Brideshead Revisited or discovering Waugh for the first time, this illustrated collector’s edition offers the most immersive way to experience his genius.

Digital High-resolution character gallery and easy-navigation table of contents included.

233 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2026

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...