Category Archives: When the Going Was Good

Late September Roundup

–A recent issue of the Financial Times carries a story of the impact of Evelyn Waugh and his contemporaries on the latest mens fashions. Here’s an excerpt: This season, menswear has embraced the gimlet-tinged mood of Cecil Beaton’s diaries, the … Continue reading

Posted in Newspapers, Scoop, When the Going Was Good | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Late September Roundup

Jonathan Raban 1942-2023: R.I.P.

The death earlier this week of Jonathan Raban has been announced. He was a well known British-born writer of travel books and novels, although according to several of his obituaries he objected to his works being labelled  “travel books”. The … Continue reading

Posted in Men at Arms, Newspapers, When the Going Was Good | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Jonathan Raban 1942-2023: R.I.P.

Middlemarch Roundup

–The Financial Times recently considered the revival of the sleeveless sweater–a/k/a tank top or V-neck: “As far as I know, the history of the tank top starts from the 1930s, where men would wear a V-neck slipover that was often … Continue reading

Posted in A Handful of Dust, Bibliophilia, Brideshead Revisited, Newspapers, Sword of Honour, When the Going Was Good | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Middlemarch Roundup

When the Going Was Good @ 75

Waugh’s collection of travel writings from the 1930s was published in the UK 75 years ago today. This was entitled When the Going Was Good. US publication followed in January 1947.  This was has first book to be published after … Continue reading

Posted in Anniversaries, When the Going Was Good | Comments Off on When the Going Was Good @ 75

Juneteenth Roundup

–A recent article in the Times newspaper criticizes plans for reopening some schools after lockdown with what it sees as a confusing “blend” of in-school live and at-home online teaching. Alex Massie opens the article with a quote from Evelyn … Continue reading

Posted in Auctions, Brideshead Revisited, Decline and Fall, Newspapers, Scott-King's Modern Europe, Waugh in Abyssinia, When the Going Was Good | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Juneteenth Roundup

Penguin Promotes Waugh

Penguin Books, Waugh’s UK paperback publisher since the 1930s, has posted an article by literary journalist John Self about Waugh’s works, most of which are in print in Penguin editions (including some volumes of the attractive 2011 hardback series). The … Continue reading

Posted in Bibliophilia, Black Mischief, Brideshead Revisited, Helena, Labels, Twitter, Waugh in Abyssinia, When the Going Was Good | Tagged , | Comments Off on Penguin Promotes Waugh

Book List Roundup: Wuhan Virus Edition

The unfilled hours produced by the disruptions of the Wuhan virus seem to call for more reading and, thus, have apparently inspired the compiling and posting of book lists. Several of these include books by Evelyn Waugh: –The Milwaukee Magazine … Continue reading

Posted in Brideshead Revisited, Newspapers, Officers and Gentlemen, Vile Bodies, When the Going Was Good | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Book List Roundup: Wuhan Virus Edition

Pre-Thanksgiving Roundup

–Writing in the Guardian, columnist Marina Hyde looks at the recent debacle arising from Prince Andrew’s BBC Newsnight interview. Her story is entitled “How badly must you do your job for your own mother to fire you?” After several comparisons, … Continue reading

Posted in Brideshead Revisited, Newspapers, Robbery Under Law, The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold, When the Going Was Good | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Pre-Thanksgiving Roundup

Early September Roundup

–Waugh biographer Selina Hastings has reviewed D J Taylor’s recent literary history Lost Girls in the Literary Review. See earlier posts. Her review concludes with this: In Lost Girls, Taylor presents a colourful portrait of this fascinating, sophisticated and highly … Continue reading

Posted in Brideshead Revisited, Catholicism, Newspapers, Remote People, Vile Bodies, When the Going Was Good | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Early September Roundup

80th Anniversary of Robbery Under Law

This year marks the 80th anniversary of EvelynWaugh’s book, Robbery Under Law: The Mexican Object Lesson. This was published in the UK in June 1939 and an American edition followed in September under the title Mexico: An Object Lesson.  The … Continue reading

Posted in Anniversaries, Robbery Under Law, When the Going Was Good | Tagged , | Comments Off on 80th Anniversary of Robbery Under Law