Author Archives: Jeffrey Manley

The Art (and Power) of the Book Blurb

Posted on April 5, 2019 by Jeffrey Manley

In the current issue of the TLS, DJ Taylor addresses in the “Freelance” column “blurb-writing” for book covers and promotional materials. He begins with a discussion of the various considerations brought to bear in composing a successful blurb. These are … Continue reading →

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Justin Cartwright (1943-2018): R.I.P.

Posted on April 4, 2019 by Jeffrey Manley

In a recent issue of TLS, DJ Taylor reviews the works of South Africa-born British novelist Justin Cartwright who died late last year in London at 75. He wrote 17 novels (although, as Taylor notes, he disowned some early ones) … Continue reading →

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Evelyn Waugh, Brexit and Prendergast’s Wig (More)

Posted on April 3, 2019 by Jeffrey Manley

A new magazine based in London and called The Fence has published its first issue which is declared a “Brexit Special”. It describes itself as featuring: “Haunting insights, ridiculous conceits, pulsating fiction and just straight up lies: The Fence is … Continue reading →

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Waugh and Two Catholic Novelists

Posted on March 31, 2019 by Jeffrey Manley

Recent articles in the Roman Catholic literary press have linked Waugh to two largely neglected (in the English speaking world at least) Roman Catholic novelists. The first is an essay by Luca Fumagalli in the Italian-language online journal Radio Spada … Continue reading →

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William Boyd to Lecture on Waugh

Posted on March 30, 2019 by Jeffrey Manley

Lancing College has issued the formal announcement and details of its annual Evelyn Waugh Lecture that was mentioned in an earlier post: We are delighted to welcome William Boyd, author and screenwriter to Lancing for the first time to give … Continue reading →

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Roundup: Fleabag and Brexit

Posted on March 30, 2019 by Jeffrey Manley

—The Times earlier this week carried a review of an ongoing BBC TV series called Fleabag, currently in its 2nd season. The review by Ann Marie Hourihane opens with this: God is what you’ve got left when you’re done with sex; … Continue reading →

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Last Orders at Mrs Roberts’

Posted on March 27, 2019 by Jeffrey Manley

The Daily Mail reports that a Waugh landmark in North Wales is about to disappear. This is the Fair View Inn in Llanddulas which was the model for the pub in Llanabba run by Mrs Roberts (but never otherwise identified … Continue reading →

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Literary Chagford

Posted on March 26, 2019 by Jeffrey Manley

The following paragraphs open a recent story in The Moorlander, a local Dartmoor area newspaper: Chagword, Dartmoor’s Literary Festival, [was held last] weekend with big named authors coming to the festival in Chagford, but literary links go much further back, … Continue reading →

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Martin Green Reconsidered

Posted on March 24, 2019 by Jeffrey Manley

Writing in the New Criterion, David Platzer reconsiders a 1976 book by Martin Green (1927-2010), late Professor at Tufts University. This is called Children of the Sun and is described by Platzer as a book about: the remarkable literary generation, … Continue reading →

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Roundup: Party Fiction and Personal Libraries

Posted on March 23, 2019 by Jeffrey Manley

–The National Review has published a symposium on the subject of personal libraries in which participants explain the pleasure and burden they impose. Here’s the contribution of American literary critic Terry Teachout: My Manhattan apartment contains a thousand-odd books, but … Continue reading →

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