Evelyn Waugh is probably best known for being the author of Brideshead Revisited.
His books, like those of John Updike or Ernest Hemingway are indicative
of an entire generation of people. He follows the English, especially
Londoners, as they naively live their day to day lives, not knowing
that their entire world is about to start crashing down around them as
World War II starts.

My personal favorite of Waugh's novels is Vile Bodies,
a slim but exacting novel that follows the young educated idle classes
of 1920s England. They are the Paris Hiltons of their day (though
decidedly more educated than Ms. Hilton), famous for being rich,
constantly being photographed, and, constantly being scooped by a
reporter who blends seamlessly into the young bright elite.

In
true Waugh fashion, the glitz and glamor of monied London comes
crashing violently down as Germany starts in on England. Through the
war and the blitz emerges a tender, unassuming love story for the ages.
And Waugh does it again.

Happy Reading,
Julia