Category Archives: Letters

Charm Offensive

Posted on October 12, 2018 by Jeffrey Manley

In the Wall Street Journal a review by Thomas Vinciguerra of Joseph Epstein’s new book Charm: The Elusive Enchantment begins with this: There was no avoiding it. On page 26 of Joseph Epstein’s excursion into the nature of charm, there … Continue reading →

Posted in Brideshead Revisited, Decline and Fall, Letters, Newspapers, Oxford | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

William Boyd, Winston Churchill and Evelyn Waugh

Posted on September 28, 2018 by Jeffrey Manley

Simon Kuper writing in the Financial Times reports an interview with novelist William Boyd. This is on the occasion of publication of Boyd’s latest novel Love is Blind: Boyd draws a “binary division” between two kinds of novelist: autobiographers, such … Continue reading →

Posted in A Handful of Dust, Black Mischief, Evelyn Waugh, Interviews, Letters, Newspapers, Sword of Honour, The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Weekend Roundup: Brideshead to the Fore

Posted on September 22, 2018 by Jeffrey Manley

Two bloggers have posted reviews of the new Folio Society edition of Brideshead Revisited (mentioned in a previous post): –Adam on roofbeamreader.com was sent a review copy and expressed his gratitude accordingly: I’m drawn in by the incredible cover art … Continue reading →

Posted in Brideshead Revisited, Catholicism, Evelyn Waugh, Letters, Newspapers, Oxford, Scoop | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Waugh, The Royal Academy and Charles Spencelayh

Posted on September 8, 2018 by Jeffrey Manley

Duncan McLaren has posted a new article on his website addressing Evelyn Waugh’s admiration of the works of the painter Charles Spencelayh (1865-1958). The paintings of Spencelayh were regularly exhibited at the Royal Academy, and the artist was an active … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Photography & Sculpture, Evelyn Waugh, Letters, The Loved One | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Another Gerhardie Revival

Posted on August 14, 2018 by Jeffrey Manley

According to an article by novelist Jonathan Coe in The Sunday Times, another attempt to revive the works of William Gerhardie is underway. There seems to be an ongoing competition between Gerhardie and Henry Green for who can be the … Continue reading →

Posted in Evelyn Waugh, Letters, Newspapers | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

V S Naipaul (1932-2018) R.I.P.

Posted on August 12, 2018 by Jeffrey Manley

V S Naipaul, writer of fiction and non-fiction, mostly about third world countries or their natives displaced to other lands, has died in England at the age of 85. His last notable action was to win the Nobel Prize in … Continue reading →

Posted in A Handful of Dust, Edmund Campion, Evelyn Waugh, Letters, Newspapers, Ninety-Two Days | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on V S Naipaul (1932-2018) R.I.P.

Bastille Day Roundup

Posted on July 16, 2018 by Jeffrey Manley

With the French celebrating their National Day and their World Cup victory this past weekend, our latest roundup is dedicated to them. Appropriately enough, our first entry relates to France. –In the weblog Literary Hub, Emily Temple admits that most writers … Continue reading →

Posted in Auberon Waugh, Brideshead Revisited, Helena, Letters, Newspapers, Radio Programs | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Bastille Day Roundup

Waugh: Letter and Portrait

Posted on July 13, 2018 by Jeffrey Manley

A letter from Evelyn Waugh to Hugh Heckstall-Smith was auctioned earlier this week. A copy is still posted on the internet. The year is missing from the date but it is sent from Combe Florey so would have been sent … Continue reading →

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Waugh and Modernism: Picasso

Posted on July 6, 2018 by Jeffrey Manley

Duncan McLaren has now added the second part of his posting relating to Waugh and Modernism. The first was posted several days ago and related to Waugh and Gertrude Stein. The new one deals with Waugh and Pablo Picasso. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Photography & Sculpture, Brideshead Revisited, Evelyn Waugh, Events, Letters | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Waugh and Modernism: Picasso

Exploding Scotland

Posted on July 5, 2018 by Jeffrey Manley

In a post on the website Catholicism.org, Dr Robert Hickson offers another in his series of annotated Evelyn Waugh passages. In this case he posts a copy of Waugh’s 1942 letter to his wife about the demolition of Lord Glasgow’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Humo(u)r, Letters, Officers and Gentlemen, Sword of Honour, World War II | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Exploding Scotland