Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh was born in 1903 in West Hampstead, London, eventually becoming one of the twentieth century’s most distinct prose stylists. Throughout his life, he navigated multiple professional spheres, working as a novelist, journalist, and war correspondent while maintaining a deeply held commitment to Catholicism that profoundly influenced his literary output and personal worldview.
Early Education and Influences
Waugh's formative years were spent across several institutions, including Heath Mount School, Lancing College, and the Sherborne School. His academic journey continued at Hertford College, Oxford, and later at the Heatherley School of Fine Art. These environments provided the foundation for his later career, though his transition from a schoolmaster to a full-time writer marked the true beginning of his professional focus.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Literary Contributions and Satires
The author garnered significant recognition for his satirical prowess and narrative depth. Among his notable bibliography, works such as A Handful of Dust and Brideshead Revisited stand as primary examples of his stylistic reach. His efforts were formally recognized with the Hawthornden Prize in 1936 and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize in 1952, cementing his reputation within the British literary landscape.
War Service and Journalism
Beyond his fiction, Waugh functioned as a perceptive journalist and war correspondent. He reported from Abyssinia during the 1935 Italian invasion, a role that leveraged his capacity for keen observation. During the Second World War, he served in the British armed forces, initially with the Royal Marines and subsequently with the Royal Horse Guards, utilizing his diverse experiences as raw material for his prose.
Religious Convictions and Later Life
After a failed first marriage in 1930, Waugh converted to Catholicism. This religious framework remained central to his perspective, leading to friction regarding his traditionalist stance on church reforms. He spent his final years at Combe Florey, where he continued to write despite declining health and a general dissatisfaction with the postwar welfare state. He died in 1966 and was buried at the Church of St Peter & St Paul.
Fast facts
- Born: 1903, West Hampstead, London
- Died: 1966, Combe Florey
- Religion: Catholicism
- Notable work: A Handful of Dust
- Notable work: Brideshead Revisited
- Award: Hawthornden Prize (1936)
- Award: James Tait Black Memorial Prize (1952)
- Citizenship: United Kingdom
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Evelyn Waugh write about?
His writing encompassed satire, travelogues, biography, and war journalism, often drawing on his own experiences and social observations.
Was he involved in the Second World War?
Yes, he served in the British armed forces, specifically with the Royal Marines and the Royal Horse Guards.
Achievements
- Educated at Lancing College, Sherborne School and Heatherley School of Fine Art
- Worked as war correspondent, novelist and writer
