Charles Ryder's Schooldays and Other Stories

by Evelyn Waugh

A collection of short fiction by "the only first-rate comic genius that has appeared in England since Bernard Shaw" (according to Edmund Wilson), Charles Ryder's Schooldays returns to print eleven short stories by Evelyn Waugh, together with a recently discovered sketch about the early life and family background of Charles Ryder, the nostalgic hero of Brideshead Revisited. Likely intended as the first chapter of a novel tracing the emotional roots of the Brideshead narrator, the title story is a sensitive, convincing portrait of a young man emerging from schoolboy conformity to a tentative criticism of the "subhuman, wholly respectable" world around him. The other stories--brilliant entertainments in the manner of Waugh's early comic novels--include "By Special Request" (written as an alternative ending to A Handful of Dust) and "Incident in Azania," a return to the scene of Black Mischief. A worthy and welcome addition to Waugh's published works, these stories display all the outrageous wit and satiric intelligence for which Time awarded him "a roomy cell in the murderer's row (Swift, Pope, Wilde, and Shaw) of English letters."

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, British Literature, Classics

292 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Evelyn Waugh's father Arthur was a noted editor and publisher. His only sibling Alec also became a writer of note. In fact, his book “The Loom of Youth” (1917) a novel about his old boarding school Sherborne caused Evelyn to be expelled from there and placed at Lancing College. He said of his time there, “…the whole of English education when I was brought up was to produce prose writers; it was all we were taught, really.” He went on to Hertford College, Oxford, where he read History. When asked if he took up any sports there he quipped, “I drank for Hertford.”

In 1924 Waugh left Oxford without taking his degree. After inglorious stints as a school teacher (he was dismissed for trying to seduce a school matron and/or inebriation), an apprentice cabinet maker and journalist, he wrote and had published his first novel, “Decline and Fall” in 1928.

In 1928 he married Evelyn Gardiner. She proved unfaithful, and the marriage ended in divorce in 1930. Waugh would derive parts of “A Handful of Dust” from this unhappy time. His second marriage to Audrey Herbert lasted the rest of his life and begat seven children. It was during this time that he converted to Catholicism.

During the thirties Waugh produced one gem after another. From this decade come: “Vile Bodies” (1930), “Black Mischief” (1932), the incomparable “A Handful of Dust” (1934) and “Scoop” (1938). After the Second World War he published what is for many his masterpiece, “Brideshead Revisited,” in which his Catholicism took centre stage. “The Loved One” a scathing satire of the American death industry followed in 1947. After publishing his “Sword of Honour Trilogy” about his experiences in World War II - “Men at Arms” (1952), “Officers and Gentlemen” (1955), “Unconditional Surrender" (1961) - his career was seen to be on the wane. In fact, “Basil Seal Rides Again” (1963) - his last published novel - received little critical or commercial attention.

Evelyn Waugh, considered by many to be the greatest satirical novelist of his day, died on 10 April 1966 at the age of 62.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evelyn_W...

Reviews

[Jemppu]

*flips through the titular story*

Observations on Charles Ryder from perspective other than Charles Ryder's? This feels disorienting and highly illegitimate.

[Michael Helm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short collection of short stories - most maybe all appear in other collections.
Some of them are dated and partly incomprehensible - I have to include the title story in that.
The title story and a few others also appear to be outtakes from some of Waugh's novels, but some of these I haven't read and some read so long ago I'm not sure. "By Special Request" is explicitly named as an alternative ending to _A Handful of Dust_.

Some noteworthies:
Mr Lovejoy's Little Outing: A visitor to her father in an insane asylum takes pity on a "trustee" named Lovejoy who is helping her resident father, and campaigns to release this Mr Lovejoy.

Period Piece: A little dated, but ... a comedy of sorts

On Guard: a poodle puppy guards the chastity of his buyer's fiancee.
For some reason, this reminds me of Isaac Asimov's robot stories.

Out of Depth: Rip van Winkle, having a vacay in London, meets up with a very strange individual and seems to go on a time-travel expedition to the black-dominated London of 2400.

Excursion in Reality: A writer tumbles into a movie contract with complications

Winner Takes All: The tragedy of the 2nd son

Many of these stories remind me of 1950's-1960's short tv plots, like Alfred Hitchcock presents or Twilight Zone; maybe a few have been used or plagiarized.

Waugh has some fun with names: The mysterious Dr Kakophilia (wow!) in Out of Depth, the recurring Lord Metroland, the Anchorage family, and Viola Chasm (what an image she conjures up). There are probably a few more Easter eggs.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to do a quick read through of this collection of Waugh's short stories before adding a copy to a stack of books for Christmas gifts for my students. And I'm glad I did. The stories are classic Waugh--gorgeous, penetrating, and taking a clear-eyed look at the failings and foibles of human beings--but some of them are linked to this novels and it's not quite what I want for my students. A great book, but one best read by an aficionado of the author, not as an introduction to him.

[Jose Luis]

The stories are bitingly funny and deliciously scandalous. Evelyn Waugh has a knack for saying very much with very little.

The titular story wasn’t that great, but it is oozing with innuendo and does give some interesting insights into the Brideshead character regarding his mother's death, love for painting, and religious sentiments.

I can see why Waugh didn’t like writing dialogue. I just think he wasn’t very good at it.

[Ray441 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read this twice. When I first read it 40 years ago, I was incredibly disappointed because Brideshead Revisited is one of my all time favorite books and I thought it would give insight into the history of Charles Ryder.

Upon a second reading, I almost rated it two stars, but there are some redeeming stories. The title story is disjointed, but from some of them you can get a good tase of Waugh's wit and sarcastic humor.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth picking up just for Mr. Loveday's Little Outing, On Guard, Out Of Depth, Love in the Slump, & Winner Takes All
The titular story isn't all that interesting however.

[Moirad · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a patch on his novels, these have not aged well.

[E.J. Cullen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of this badly dated, some vibrant still.

[Boweavil · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic. For your basic Anglophile an utter delight. Sardonic, snide, brilliant.

[Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evelyn Waugh is best known for his satiric novels such as “The Loved One,” “Scoop,” and “Brideshead Revisited.” But he also wrote short stories, and I was able to read 12 of them in “Charles Ryder’s School Days and Other Stories.”
The short stories share characteristics of his novels: the generally English settings, the dialogue-heavy satire, and the penchant for funny names, such as Lord and Lady Moping, Sir Alexander Dreadnought, Alastair Trumpington, Angela Trench-Troubridge, and Dr. Kakophilos.
“Mr. Loveday’s Little Outing,” the first in the 1982 collection, is a small gem about Lord Moping, who has been put into the County Home for Mental Defectives, and what happens when his invaluable attendant and fellow inmate, Mr. Loveday, is finally is released.
However, my favorite story was “Bella Fleece Gave A Party,” first published in 1936.
The story takes place in Ballingar, presumably in the northern part of Ireland, in the 1920s after the Irish Free State came into being. In describing Ballingar and its businesses, Waugh concludes, “Someone has written ‘The Pope is a Traitor’ on the green pillar box. A typical Irish town.” In the countryside, “Moss lies on everything; in a rough green rug on the walls and banks, soft green velvet on the timber – blurring the transitions so that there is no knowing where the ground ends and the trunk and masonry begin.”
The story concerns Miss Annabel Rochfort-Doyle-Fleace (or “Bella”), over 80 years old, who plans a grand Christmas party for her neighbors. She spends a thousand pounds on the preparations and hires seven new servants to clean her great country house. Plumbers, painters, and paperhangers have to be brought in to repair the house, which has been much neglected. She takes great care in preparing the invitations.
As the date for the party approaches, she devotes much attention to her personal attire. The house is finally ready for the big event, and there is food and drink for a hundred people. Without giving away the ending, let’s say that her forgetfulness takes its toll. The story is a masterpiece of satire.
For those who want a taste of Evelyn Waugh before delving into his novels, this book would be a good introduction. For those who have read a few of his novels, this group of short stories would be a good supplement.

[Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed these, especially only knowing Waugh from Brideshead. That work is altogether more elegiac as well as thoughtful; these are more fun. But fun of a particular kind. Waugh has a much sharper edge than say, Wodehouse, to whom he is sometimes compared for setting and humorous names. The tone is pretty much set by the opener, "Mr. Loveday's Outing," about an internee at an asylum, who, when freed, makes a rather curious choice of how to spend his time. It's darkly funny and sends up people with good intentions wonderfully. There's a terrific dog story called "On Guard" and a honeymoon tale called "Love In The Slump" which makes McEwan look bright and cheery. Probably the title tale will bring most readers—it certainly drew my attention. A nasty early look at Charles Ryder dealing with oily ticks and irritating masters at public school before moving on to the greener pastures we are more familiar with. On this outing, Ryder is rather less appealing as a character in some ways—this doesn't hamper the charm and wit of the story in the least however. A rather fine collection of send ups of a particular class at a particular time.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, entirely enjoyable collection of Evelyn Waugh's more lighthearted short fiction. While few of these stories are particularly emotionally engaging, they are all obviously the work of a skilled, confident writer. The title story is of little interest alone, but of much interest to the reader of Brideshead Revisted who finds themselves interested in Charles' rather hazily drawn life before the beginning of the novel. Recommended, but only to those fond of Waugh's writing style.

[Larissa Mackenzie bengtson · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the other reviews posted here I wonder: is growing up Catholic a critical factor in "getting" these stories? I don't know. What I do know is that I like to open this collection every ten years or so and see if they still transport me. They still do.

[Laurence A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pleasant reading if you have extra time on your hands (I read it during the Christmas break)

[Sunny Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cynical snarky short stories, fun beach reading.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

An alternate ending to a "Handful of dust". I like the original ending better. A short story about Charles Ryder, a main character in "Brideshead Revisited".

[Arianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

"First-rate comic genius" is about right, though I do feel sorry for his characters.

[Rosalinda Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is the weirdest book I've ever read. After I finished each short story, I could not help saying what's the point.

[Kaethe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought I was a big Waugh fan until I tried reading these stories. They just didn't work for me at all.

Library copy.

[Elvia Gómez]

Hello, I'd like to read this book, because I have a homework.