Evelyn Waugh revisited - 'Brideshead Revisited'

It has been quite a while since I read an Evelyn Waugh novel. By the end of the novel, I had realised why he is probably my favourite author. I decided to read the novel of his that everyone has read and I neglected: Brideshead Revisited.

There was a section around the second quartile where I was struggling to tune into the characters and not a lot of plot was happening, however, towards the end, I was lapping up Waugh's style and becoming invested in these characters.

It explores Charles Ryder's relationships with the Marchmains, particularly Sebastian. There is a homosexual subtext not made at all explicit in their strong friendship. Sebastian deteriorates into alcoholism, while Charles becomes more and more successful, thus making them grow apart. His complex relationship with Julia replaces Sebastian. "'You loved him, didn't you?' 'Oh yes. He was the forerunner.'"

Interesting exploration of religion's role in society and family, culminating in a deathbed conversion.

Almost always, when referencing his first wife, Celia, he says "my wife...".

I am usually casually amused when reading Evelyn Waugh, but every now and again, I fully laugh out loud. One such moment came in the section:

 "Supposing the Pope looked up and saw a cloud and said, 'It's going to rain,' would that be bound to happen?' 'Oh, yes Father'. 'But supposing it didn't' He thought a moment and said, 'I suppose it would be sort of raining spiritually, only we were too sinful to see it."

Maybe I enjoy the criticism of religion too much.

The life of Evelyn Waugh was one of slow conversion to conservatism and fast conversion to Catholicism. When reading his novels, it is useful to know whether it was written pre or post conversion to Catholicism (Brideshead being the latter). You can see the internal religious conflict in his writing. Priests - as shown above - are usually fools and hypocrites. Charles Ryder appears to be Waugh pre-conversion, with the end of the novel becoming incredibly passionate about miracles and death-bed conversions.

Brilliant section on page 170 where it describes Julia' perfect man. Fantastic use of language and humour. "I was not her man."

A wonderful read that made me both laugh and cry (the former: literally, the latter: nearly literally).