A HANDFUL OF DUST By Evelyn Waugh

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The choice this month for the Wall Street Journal Book Club is Evelyn Waugh’s A Handful of Dust. I read this book back in the Sixties when DELL published Waugh’s work in very nice paperback editions. You can join the discussion about A Handful of Dust at http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2015/06/03/does-evelyn-waugh-care-about-his-characters-wsj-book-club/ A Handful of Dust starts out like a P.G. Wodehouse comedy with a young couple who are having marital problems. But mid-way through the novel a tragedy occurs that changes the tone and trajectory of the book. My favorite Waugh novel is Scoop, but there’s plenty to admire in A Handful of Dust.

12 thoughts on “A HANDFUL OF DUST By Evelyn Waugh

  1. Deb

    I read this a long time ago and I remember being put off by the fact that [SPOILER] a child’s death is treated in a rather cavalier fashion and the mother’s response is utterly appalling. [End spoiler.]

    My favorite Waugh novel is the much jauntier DECLINE AND FALL.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Deb, I had the same reaction to A HANDFUL OF DUST that you did. It seemed that Waugh was punishing the mother for studying economics. Waugh could be cruel to his characters.

      Reply
  2. Jeff Meyerson

    I tried it but didn’t like it. To be honest, I’ve felt that way about most of Waugh, and Waugh himself. I’ve read a number of his brother Alec’s books.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Patti, THE LOVED ONE is very funny. BRIDESHEAD REVISITED is very different. And the PBS version of BRIDESHEAD REVISITED is more different.

      Reply
  3. Beth Fedyn

    I’m with Deb. I fell in love with Waugh after reading Decline and Fall. Too funny.

    I also really like The Loved One, which was turned into an equally good movie.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Beth, after reading your comment and Deb’s comment, I’m going back to reread DECLINE AND FALL. I read it over 40 years ago and only vaguely remember it.

      Reply
    1. george Post author

      Rick, I loved the music to BRIDESHEAD REVISITED. I have the CD around here somewhere. I need to find it and listen to it again.

      Reply

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