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.
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.’
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.
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/
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.