The English writer Evelyn Waugh worked in the field of literature in the genres of fiction, fictionalized biography and travel notes. As a member of the middle class of London society, he knew his circle well and wrote a lot about it. He was also a journalist and literary critic.
Biography
Evelyn was born in London in 1903 in the family of the famous editor and writer Arthur Waugh. His parents were wealthy people, so they sent their son to a private school in Sherborne. At that time, he had already started writing his first notes, and tried to publish the novel "The Shadow of Youth", where he described homosexual relationships between students. The school officials were angry and Evelyn was expelled.
His father transferred him to a church school for boys. This was a real blow for the young man: he saw that things were happening inside the church that were in no way compatible with either faith or God, and then he made fun of the church all his life. Although he retained his craving for faith, he remained "eternally doubting."
Even then, an independent spirit and a creative approach to life manifested itself in him: at school he created the "Club of Corpses" - boys who were tired of such a life. Also one of the members of the club was the second gravedigger from the play "Hamlet". This could only be thought of by a future writer.
Later, already within the walls of Hertford College, Evelyn tried to study history, but he wrote more and more and was engaged in social activities, so he did not receive a higher education diploma.
After Hartford Waugh worked as a teacher, then was an apprentice cabinetmaker, journalist. All this helped him to recruit material for his writing.
Writing career
In 1928, his first novel, Decline and Destruction, was published, and from that time on he became a real writer. This novel about dissolute youths in a satirical vein showed the moral decay of the young representatives of the English elite. The audience received him with delight.
Waugh's second work comes out two years later under the title "Vile Flesh", and in it elements of "black humor" are already noticeable, to which he later resorted more than once.
When World War II broke out, Waugh was drafted into the Marines. He participated in the landings, landed in Libya, their unit was landed in Yugoslavia. Having served as captain, Evelyn returned home.
From the serious work of Evelyn Waugh, it is possible to note "Return to Brideshead" and "Sword of Honor" - these are works with a certain touch of Catholicism.
The main theme of his works is the life of the English aristocracy in all its hypocrisy and ugliness. Sometimes it was a harsh ridicule of the mores of "ladies and gentlemen."
The writer's creative list also includes stories, biographies, diaries, letters. Unfortunately, Waugh did not complete his autobiography - he passed away in April 1966 in Somerset.
Personal life
Evelyn first married when he was twenty-five years old. His wife was Evelyn Florence, the daughter of an English lord. His wife cheated on Evelyn, and, as a true writer, he highlighted this in the novel A Handful of Ashes. They divorced two years after the wedding.
The second wife of the writer was Laura Herbert, who gave him seven children. One of them - Oberon Waugh - became a writer.
The couple were together until the writer's death.
