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Black Mischief Audiobook
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(3.01) - 1,156 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
"A hilarious and still timely tale of emerging Africa and declining England" (Time), Evelyn Waugh's third novel helped to establish his reputation as a mater satirist.
"We are Progress and the New Age. Nothing can stand in our way." When Oxford-educated Emperor Seth succeeds to the throne of the African state of Azania, he has a tough job on his hands. His subjects are ill-informed and unruly, and corruption, double-dealing, and bloodshed are rife. With the aid of Minister of Modernization Basil Seal, Seth plans to introduce his people to the civilized ways of the West--but will it be as simple as that?
Profound hilarity ensues from the issuance of homemade currency, the staging of a "Birth Control Gala," the rightful ruler's demise at his own rather long and tiring coronation ceremonies, and a good deal more mischief.
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"I'm glad to have read one of Waugh's earlier works, although I still prefer his later writing. He could do absurd better than most any writer, and I love how he lets the reader figure out a character is not being straightforward, although he does tend to be less subtle about it here in his early work, Waugh at his worst is better than writers at their best."
— Gary (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Black Mischief is pure, early Waugh, funny in spots, mildly satirical, wildly absurd, corrupt, and erotic.”
— New York Times -
Continuously funny.
— New York Times -
A hilarious and still timely tale of emerging Africa and declining England.
— TIME -
Pure, early Waugh, funny in spots, mildly satirical, wildly absurd, corrupt and erotic....Black Mischief is clever and it is entertaining.
— Orville Prescott, New York Times -
To achieve greatness, in the opinion of this devotee of the genre, satire must be rooted not only in a genuine love for the object being satirized but also in an awareness of the object's relation to the entire human condition, regardless of race, color, creed, or geography. Black Mischief, it seems to me, does this to a larger degree than any of the half-dozen near-great pieces of satire written in English in my time, all of them, by the way and by a not-so-odd coincidence, composed by the same Mr. Waugh.
— Jerome Weidman, New York Herald Tribune
Black Mischief Listener Reviews
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" Totally ridiculous and totally hilarious -- the hapless Emperor Seth tries to modernize his Empire. "
— Matthew, 2/19/2014 -
" Another great one from Mr. Waugh. Black Mischief is the story of the Empire of Azania, and the trials and travails of Seth the Emperor, Basil Seal his "modernization" minister, and the British Legation to the country. It's very funny, and also rather disturbing at points. Highly recommended. "
— Aeisele, 2/18/2014 -
" CYNICAL!!!!!! "
— Claire, 2/17/2014 -
" Gruesome. Scathing. But interesting. "
— Heather, 2/11/2014 -
" Very politically incorrect. Very funny, too (but not because it's politically incorrect). "
— John, 1/18/2014 -
" Evelyn Waugh pokes not so gentle fun yet again at English high society. In this book, the politics of a fictitious island off the north east coast of Africa are also at the mercy of his wit. Wickedly funny, as always, but in the end, a little too grisly for my liking. "
— Lynne, 1/8/2014 -
" Very fun. Each chapter from a different character's perspective, which was an uncommon strategy at the time. Interesting contrast between the occupiers and the indiginents. "
— Caroline, 12/16/2013 -
" I love this book--but feel that I shouldn't due to the title. "
— Whit, 12/16/2013 -
" Great fun as Waugh pokes at the eccentricities of a backward African leader, who after getting a degree at Oxford, tries to push forward his country with zany pursuits. Dry English humour of the best kind. "
— David, 12/2/2013 -
" The best and funniest book I've ever read by a racist. "
— Matt, 11/10/2013 -
" Hilarious, but not entirely unracist. Pity that I do almost all of my reading in public. "
— Tim, 10/25/2013 -
" Laughed harder second time round. "
— Seth, 9/24/2013 -
" One of the two best books ever. "
— David, 7/25/2013 -
" A final effort in Firbankery for Waugh and the results are not better than what came before or what comes after this in his oeuvre. "
— Paul, 5/25/2013 -
" Totally hilarious but kind of embarassing to read on the bus in Oakland. "
— Alice, 4/26/2013 -
" Evelyn Waugh shines again. "
— Robin, 4/7/2013 -
" Black Mischief is a witty, often amusing satire, and a great social commentary, but on the whole aside from some moments of brilliance, makes for a fairly dull read. "
— Sophie, 2/15/2013 -
" Three words: Birth Control Parade. "
— Ashley, 2/12/2013 -
" "Things were better in the time of Seth. It is no longer a gentleman's country." "
— ElSeven, 1/15/2013
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 Michael Maloney
Michael Maloney is an actor who has appeared in numerous television productions, including as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet and Prince Hal in Henry IV, parts 1 and 2, for which he won Best Actor/Best Supporting Actor awards. His theater credits include Sleuth, Peer Gynt, and All My Sons, and his film credits include The Young Victoria and Notes on a Scandal. He has narrated numerous audiobooks, earning seven AudioFile Earphones Awards.