Brideshead Revisited- Evelyn Waugh

“Must have read Brideshead Revisited” ~ Posted by Lale on 14/2/2006, 9:49:45

Five years ago I saw a personal ad in a magazine I was then subscribed to: “Literary Review”. The ad was in December 2001/January 2002 double issue. A man was seeking a woman who had to have read Brideshead Revisited, as seen above. This intrigued me tremendously. I had not heard of this book until then and I assumed it was something very very special since having read it was “the” condition one person required in his soulmate. So, I put the book in my TBR list. I am reading it now (two-thirds through) and I think it is a very good book with occasional comic relief. I am enjoying learning all about a certain circle in 1920s England. But I still do not get how this book can be of such an importance. Was the writer of the personal ad trying to send a message?

If you were searching for a soulmate which book would you have cited as mandatory reading?

Lale

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Posted by LadyPurple on 14/2/2006, 21:13:31

Hi Lale,

That is a funny ad! The guy must have been living through a similar experience as described in BR when he was younger he still had some some male friend that needed to be included. Although the combination of Waugh and Sayers is also intriguing.

Which book would I cite? That is a difficult question indeed! Maybe it would be Master and Margarita? I would probably have several authors and would use the reading of those as a test – whether potential soul mate had read them or was going to read them and respond to them in a way I expected.

What is yours?

Friederike

Posted by Steven on 15/2/2006, 14:18:21

: Although the combination of

: Waugh and Sayers is also intriguing.

I’ll wager that our “Bookish man” is a Catholic and very serious about the intellectual side of his faith. Both Waugh and Sayers wrote works of Catholic theology as well as fiction. Brideshead Revisited is prominent on recommended reading lists for Catholics — all according to my sister, who is a bookish Catholic and has read both authors.

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Posted by LadyPurple on 16/2/2006, 6:46:27

That’s an interesting aspect – or twist!

 I had no idea about the catholic context for Waughn. That certainly didn’t come through in the tv version of Brideshead nor in a couple of other books I read by him.

Friederike

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Posted by Christopher on 16/2/2006, 11:55:16

If I remember correctly the main character is a non-practicing Protestant who gets involved with a Catholic family (he falls in love with one of the daughters). There are many instances when he observes the family’s adherence to Catholic rituals, and some of them make a deep impression on him. The other main character, Sebastian (one of the boys in the Catholic family) reconnects with his faith in a somewhat unorthodox way as well.

(But I’m digging deep in my memory – Lale will have to tell us more…)

I was interested in Steven’s comment that the book is on Catholic reading lists. Before I read it my Dutch friend told me that the TV program would come on during the Christmas season in the Netherlands. I guess that explains it.

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Posted by Lale on 16/2/2006, 13:54:40

 I am quite surprised that this book would be considered a catholic book. The narrator is an agnostic and since we get to see everything from his point of view, catholism seems to be very suspect. I would have never thought that the catholics would find this book flattering to their cause. From the narrator’s point of view, the catholic family in the book is engaged in absolutely ridiculous practices. I thought the book was poking fun at some of their beliefs and practices. Or, at the very best playing the devil’s advocate.

I got the impression that the author/narrator thought the whole religion thing quite unbelievable and silly.

 Well, I still have 100 pages to go, so maybe something will change 🙂

Lale

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Everyone Converted ~ Posted by Lale on 22/2/2006, 9:24:03

Well, I finished the book and even the most sceptical characters ended up praying. So, no wonder the catholics put this in their “must read” list.

I would have understood Julia’s (or one major character’s) relapse. But the dying father and Charles Ryder the narrator were a dissappointment to me.

However, this book has some of the most brilliant depictions of human behaviour/emotions. The dying man’s thoughts and actions, as far as I know from various very sick or very old friends and relatives, were right on spot. I read those pages with tears in my eyes.

Good book. I still don’t see how this book would be the “best book I have ever read” for some people. I am very happy to have read it but absolutely not one of the best.

Charles Ryder, in his famous artist days, became a very annoying person for me to bear. His indifference to his children… He analyzed all his relationships: with Sebastian, with Celia, with Julia, with Cordelia, with his father, with Lady Marchmain etc. Why would he be so indifferent to his children? His lack of curiosity for them was out of character. It would have made more sense if he got to know them a little and analyzed them for us.