A Handful of Dust (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Modernist NovelBy Evelyn Waugh
Length9h 50m
About this audiobook
A Handful of Dust is Evelyn Waugh's bleakly comic anatomy of a decaying aristocratic England, centred on Tony Last, whose devotion to the Gothic family seat of Hetton proves tragically inadequate against modern vanity, adultery, and emotional frivolity. Written in Waugh's crystalline, satirical prose, the novel moves from drawing-room comedy to existential nightmare, exposing the hollowness beneath interwar social rituals. Its title, echoing T. S. Eliot's The Waste Land, situates the work within a broader modernist meditation on spiritual desolation. Evelyn Waugh, already renowned for the brilliant farce of Decline and Fall and Vile Bodies, brought to this 1934 novel both his insider's knowledge of upper-class manners and his growing disenchantment with modern secular society. His conversion to Roman Catholicism in 1930 deepened his sense of moral disorder, while personal experiences of marital breakdown sharpened the novel's treatment of betrayal, illusion, and abandonment. This is essential reading for those interested in twentieth-century satire, the English country-house tradition, or the darker energies of modernism. Elegant, merciless, and unexpectedly haunting, A Handful of Dust rewards readers who appreciate comedy edged with metaphysical dread.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- An Author Biography reveals milestones in the author's life, illuminating the personal insights behind the text.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenreHumor, Literary Classics
Length9 hrs 50 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateApr 27, 2023
LanguageEnglish
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