Category Archives: World War II

Waugh’s Scarf

The Croatian newspaper Jutarnji Vijesti (Morning News) published in Zagreb has a longish article about Waugh’s career in Yugoslavia in WWII and his connections with that country afterwards. The story opens with a description of a silk scarf on display in Rijeka. This … Continue reading →

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Evelyn Waugh, Secret Agent?

There have been two articles posted within the last month which suggest that Evelyn Waugh was, along with other writers of his generation, at some time during his career in the employ of the secret intelligence services. The first, written … Continue reading →

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Letter to Times Cites Waugh Defense of Wodehouse

In a letter to The Times (headed “Wodehouse’s World”) arising from reports of the archiving of the papers of P G Wodehouse at the British Library (see earlier post), a reader has added Evelyn Waugh to the list of those who … Continue reading →

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Author Richard Adams Dies at 96

Richard Adams who is best known for his first novel, Watership Down, has died at the age of 96. The book is about rabbits and was derived from stories he had told his children, but it was also based on his own experience … Continue reading →

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New German Edition of Sword of Honour Reviewed

A new German edition of Sword of Honour was published earlier this year. This was the same translation as that published originally in 1981 but, according to the December issue of literaturkritik.de, it has been checked (durchgesehen) and, one presumes, updated somewhat. The German title … Continue reading →

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Biography of Robert Laycock Published

A biography of Robert Laycock, Evelyn Waugh’s commanding officer in WWII, has been published in the UK. This is The Commando General: The Life of Major General Sir Robert Laycock by Richard Mead. The book is featured on a British military website (Army … Continue reading →

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Waugh Makes Appearance in SAS Book

Evelyn Waugh makes an appearance in a new book Rogue Heroes by Ben Macintyre that is excerpted in The Daily Beast. This is a history of the Special Air Service brigade (SAS) and its founder David Stirling. Waugh knew Stirling … Continue reading →

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Macaskie Twins Surface at London Book Launch

A posting on the Ronald Knox Society of North America website describes a book launch in London earlier this week. The book is edited by Francesca Knox and is entitled Ronald Knox: A Man for All Seasons. It is a collection … Continue reading →

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US Edition of New Waugh Biography Issued

The website of booksellers Barnes & Noble is quick off the mark to issue a review of the US edition of the new biography of Evelyn Waugh by Philip Eade which is published this week. This is by Katherine Powers who writes … Continue reading →

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Waugh, Catch-22 and the Demented Governess

Many of us will have read Waugh’s 1961 letter to Nina Bourne, who worked for US publisher Simon & Schuster. In the letter, Waugh politely and very humorously declines to give them a blurb promoting their new book Catch-22, the first novel … Continue reading →

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