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A Handful of Dust Audiobook
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(3.00) - 9,187 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Selected by Modern Library as one of the 100 best novels of the century, this "absolutely delightful" novel (New York Times) movingly and comically chronicles the breakdown of a marriage and the disintegration of English society in the years after World War I.
After seven years of marriage, the beautiful Lady Brenda Last has grown bored with life at Hetton Abbey, the Gothic mansion that is the pride and joy of her husband, Tony. She drifts into an affair with the shallow socialite John Beaver and forsakes Tony for the Belgravia set. In a novel that combines tragedy, comedy, and savage irony, Evelyn Waugh indelibly captures the irresponsible mood of the "crazy and sterile generation" between the wars.
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"4.5 stars. No one writes the end of empire, the end of British aristocracy, and the rise of a middle class aesthetic better than Waugh. This novel is flawlessly devastating. And the fact that you laugh along the way only allows the devastation to be felt more keenly."
— Paula (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“With American life going on as it has been, I sometimes feel like holing up with the complete works of Evelyn Waugh.”
— New York Times -
A story both tragic and hilariously funny, that seems to move along without aid from its author...Unquestionably the best book Mr. Waugh has written.
— Saturday Review -
The most mature and the best written novel that Mr. Waugh has yet produced.
— New Statesman & Nation -
Absolutely delightful.
— Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, New York Times -
Glacially sardonic....A masterpiece.
— TIME -
A brilliant satirical study of the eccentric between-wars society to which Waugh belonged.
— LIFE -
Waugh treats society as a wonderland in which he plays the part of a rude, libellous, yet domestic Alice.
— V.S. Pritchett
Awards
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One of Modern Library's 100 Best English-Language Novels of the Twentieth Century
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One of Time Magazine's Best 100 English-Language Novels from 1923–2005
A Handful of Dust Listener Reviews
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" Waugh never disappoints. "
— Bradley, 2/18/2014 -
" weird ending!? not sure i understood it, but a strangely funny book. "
— Aaron, 2/13/2014 -
" This one just seems bitter and angry "
— Raku, 2/7/2014 -
" A terrific and scathing look at the bored wealthy. We just don't learn from our mistakes, do we? "
— Sweetman, 1/24/2014 -
" Entertaining and dramatic but the ending was very unsettling. "
— Jane, 1/19/2014 -
" Captured Tony Last who was reading Charles Dickens' books aloud to his capturer... This episode can really blow everybody's mind! "
— Eugene, 12/26/2013 -
" Stupid Evelyn Waugh, creating characters that aren't 100% reprehensible, then causing them damage, one by one. This book just broke my heart, but it's my own fault for caring. "
— Tracy, 12/3/2013 -
" yet more great writing from Waugh "
— David, 12/2/2013 -
" I'm depressed by the ending otherwise I'd probably give it four stars. "
— Sarah, 11/16/2013 -
" Brideshead this wasn't, but they obviously do share common themes. I found the characters not memorable and the last third (Tony's fate) simply ridiculous. I simply cannot find the words for it. "
— Drianne, 11/13/2013 -
" a weird and wonderful satire.. ends..."a man trapped in the jungle, ends his days reading Dickens aloud." "
— Dini, 10/1/2013 -
" I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, right up until the last few pages. The plot twist felt like a complete betrayal to the only redemable character in the book. For this, I give it a big thumbs down!!! "
— Julie, 8/3/2013 -
" Less funny than I anticipated. Though I must admit, I think my and Mr. Waugh's ideas of "funny" are pretty different. No matter how you slice it, this is a well-crafted and nicely told story. "
— Traci, 7/9/2013 -
" Light and comic in tone - a brutal deconstruction of superficial lives, amoral and with a callous end. Tempting to write a couple of chapters of your own to get a happy ending "
— Joe, 6/14/2013 -
" This book is so frustrating. I love it. I hate it. It's typically Waugh and a very good read, but not as enjoyable for me as other books by Evelyn that i have read (though this is only the third). "
— June, 5/7/2013 -
" sardonic and depressing as fuck. the title is a reference to t.s. eliot's poem, the waste land. it just gets better from there. "
— Priya, 3/5/2013 -
" Acidic satire at its most venomous! "
— Readread, 2/25/2013 -
" This was my first foray into Waugh and I enjoyed it. His writing reminded me of Molly Keane's - full of characters you love to hate. I will definately pick up more of his books in the future. "
— Amanda, 1/24/2013 -
" The scariest tale I've ever read. A true horror story! "
— Zena, 12/30/2012 -
" a satirical romp "
— maura, 12/8/2012
About Evelyn Waugh
Evelyn Waugh (1903–1966) was born October 28, 1903 in London, England. After short periods as an art student and schoolmaster, he devoted himself to travel and to the writing of novels. His novels are unusually highly wrought and precisely written. Those written before 1939 may be described as satirical. During World War II his writing took a more serious and ambitious turn. Waugh also wrote travel books.
About Andrew Sachs
Andrew Sachs may be best known as Manuel from the BBC show Fawlty Towers, starring John Cleese. His recent roles include guest appearances on Silent Witness, Doctors, and Holby City. His audiobook narration has won him seven AudioFile Earphones Awards.