This is an excellent introduction to the novel, which is in my view easily the equal of others in the modern dystopia genre such as 1984. I recently reread it and was struck by Waugh's inclusion of Vaccination as an important element in the modernising agenda. Also Seth's decision to print money to finance his progressive plans foreshadows the so-called quantitive easing, i.e. disastrous money printing by western governments in the last 15 years. We are all living in Seth's Azania now.
Thank you for the thoughtful comment, Alan. You’re right, though Black Mischief has an advantage over 1984 in that Waugh’s novel is full of humour. Waugh was also right about how the elite would embrace sexual libertarianism (something 1984 was wrong about.)
The money-printing and vaccination parts are also prescient. We are indeed living in Seth’s Azania.
Well written, my friend. And interesting. The title of your post for this is perfect. My favorite point made: ‘You could say that Waugh was a traditionalist, but you could also say that he wrote as well as he did precisely because he hated the modern world. He wasn’t a mere reactionary propagandist: his novels are still widely read and loved, proving that there’s more to being a good novelist than having progressive political opinions.’
Good post about one of my favorite authors. We used to have a party annually on Waugh’s birthday. The two friends who started the thing are both now dead, at an untimely age, under 60 in both cases.
Thank you for the comment. I am very sorry to hear about the untimely death of your friends, but no doubt they are partying with Evelyn Waugh himself somewhere beyond the stars.
Do you have the Everyman edition with Ann Pasternak Slater's introduction? I think you'd enjoy it. Her critical book "Evelyn Waugh" also v good, esp. on Black Mischief.
This is an excellent introduction to the novel, which is in my view easily the equal of others in the modern dystopia genre such as 1984. I recently reread it and was struck by Waugh's inclusion of Vaccination as an important element in the modernising agenda. Also Seth's decision to print money to finance his progressive plans foreshadows the so-called quantitive easing, i.e. disastrous money printing by western governments in the last 15 years. We are all living in Seth's Azania now.
Thank you for the thoughtful comment, Alan. You’re right, though Black Mischief has an advantage over 1984 in that Waugh’s novel is full of humour. Waugh was also right about how the elite would embrace sexual libertarianism (something 1984 was wrong about.)
The money-printing and vaccination parts are also prescient. We are indeed living in Seth’s Azania.
Well written, my friend. And interesting. The title of your post for this is perfect. My favorite point made: ‘You could say that Waugh was a traditionalist, but you could also say that he wrote as well as he did precisely because he hated the modern world. He wasn’t a mere reactionary propagandist: his novels are still widely read and loved, proving that there’s more to being a good novelist than having progressive political opinions.’
Boom.
Michael Mohr
‘Sincere American Writing’
https://michaelmohr.substack.com/
I'm glad you enjoyed it! Very nice of you to read and comment - thank you!
I can't really take credit for the title: Evelyn Waugh set things up perfectly.
Good post about one of my favorite authors. We used to have a party annually on Waugh’s birthday. The two friends who started the thing are both now dead, at an untimely age, under 60 in both cases.
Thank you for the comment. I am very sorry to hear about the untimely death of your friends, but no doubt they are partying with Evelyn Waugh himself somewhere beyond the stars.
Do you have the Everyman edition with Ann Pasternak Slater's introduction? I think you'd enjoy it. Her critical book "Evelyn Waugh" also v good, esp. on Black Mischief.
I don't - but I'm going to look for it now that you've recommended it. Thank you!
She’s very good on his technique