Category Archives: Catholicism

Waugh Would Not Be Happy

Posted on July 28, 2021 by Jeffrey Manley

To Evelyn Waugh, one of the most important aspects of the Roman Catholic Church’s Vatican II reforms of 1960 was the limitation on the use of the traditional Latin Mass. He spent his final years in active opposition to this … Continue reading →

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“Bridey’s Bombshell” Queried

Posted on June 3, 2021 by Jeffrey Manley

In his Daily Mail blog, Peter Hitchens wonders whether Evelyn Waugh got it wrong about the Roman Catholic view of marriage in Brideshead Revisited, at least as it has been applied to the recent marriage of twice-divorced Boris Johnson in … Continue reading →

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Memorial Day/Spring Bank Holiday Roundup

Posted on May 30, 2021 by Jeffrey Manley

–Historian Niall Ferguson writes about his latest book in the Daily Mail. This is entitled Doom: The Politics of Catastrophe. He opens with the observation that the British have made a habit of laughing in the face of death, offering … Continue reading →

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Tax Day Roundup

Posted on April 15, 2021 by Jeffrey Manley

–An article in Lapham’s Quarterly commemorates Tax Day (even though it may have been postponed in the USA this year). This is from the recent book Rebellion, Rascals and Revenue: Tax Follies and Wisdom through the Ages by Michael Keen … Continue reading →

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Mid-December Roundup

Posted on December 16, 2020 by Jeffrey Manley

–Posted on the website of the Australian literary journal Quadrant, an article by Mark McGinness marks the 75th anniversary of Nancy Mitford’s novel The Pursuit of Love. This was published on 10 December 1945 about 6 months after Brideshead Revisited … Continue reading →

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Conversion Anniversary

Posted on September 29, 2020 by Jeffrey Manley

The American Spectator, a conservative journal, has an article by Tom Raabe marking the 90th anniversary of Evelyn Waugh’s conversion to Roman Catholicism on 29 September 1930. Raabe remarks that, at first, the conversion did not have much impact on … Continue reading →

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Michaelmas Observed

Posted on September 28, 2020 by Jeffrey Manley

In a short article in the Daily Telegraph, Christopher Howse explains the meaning and importance of St Michael whose day is marked tomorrow (29 September) as Michaelmas. Howse is reminded of a prayer to St Michael which is mentioned in … Continue reading →

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Another Look at Brideshead (More)

Posted on September 24, 2020 by Jeffrey Manley

This editorial message appeared in a recent TLS.  It relates to the subject of Eleanor’s Doughty’s article in The Critic that was discussed in a previous post. Here is the opening section from the TLS: Edith Wharton was buried in … Continue reading →

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Michaelmas Roundup

Posted on September 23, 2020 by Jeffrey Manley

–Several religious journals carry a story by George Weigel about the elimination of the Papal States in the 19th century as part of Italy’s reunification. The article, as published in the interfaith journal First Things, opens with this: Evelyn Waugh’s … Continue reading →

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Downside Abbey to Close

Posted on September 22, 2020 by Jeffrey Manley

In a recent article, The Tablet announced that the Benedictine Abbey at Downside would be closed, after having previously been separated from the public school on the same site in Somerset. The school will remain on the site but the … Continue reading →

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