close
Cart 0
Audiobooks > Fiction >  Classics > Decline and Fall
Decline and Fall Audiobook, by Evelyn Waugh Play Audiobook Sample

Decline and Fall Audiobook

By: Evelyn Waugh
Decline and Fall Audiobook, by Evelyn Waugh Play Audiobook Sample
FlexPass™ Price: $12.95
$9.95 for new members!
(Includes UNLIMITED podcast listening)
  • Love your audiobook or we'll exchange it
  • No credits to manage, just big savings
  • Unlimited podcast listening
Add to Cart
$9.95/m - cancel anytime - 
learn more
OR
Regular Price: $18.99 Add to Cart
Read By: Michael Maloney Publisher: Little, Brown & Company Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 3.83 hours at 1.5x Speed 2.88 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: December 2012 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781619693968
3.0020390070922 out of 53.0020390070922 out of 53.0020390070922 out of 53.0020390070922 out of 53.0020390070922 out of 5 (3.00) - 3,948 listener ratings
Wishlist (add) Share
More by Author More by Narrator Similar Audiobooks

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

28

Longest Chapter Length:

28:39 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

02:53 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

12:09 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

21

Other Audiobooks Written by Evelyn Waugh: > View All...

The Complete Stories Audiobook, by Evelyn Waugh
The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold Audiobook, by Evelyn Waugh
The Loved One Audiobook, by Evelyn Waugh
Helena Audiobook, by Evelyn Waugh
Brideshead Revisited Audiobook, by Evelyn Waugh
Wild: Stories of Survival From The World's Most Dangerous Places: Stories of Survival from the World’s Most Dangerous Places Audiobook, by H. M. Tomlinson
Climb: Stories of Survival From Rock, Snow and Ice: Stories of Survival from Rock, Snow, and Ice Audiobook, by H. G. Wells
A Handful of Dust Audiobook, by Evelyn Waugh
Black Mischief Audiobook, by Evelyn Waugh
Brideshead Revisited Audiobook, by Evelyn Waugh
Men At Arms Audiobook, by Evelyn Waugh
Officers and Gentlemen Audiobook, by Evelyn Waugh
Put Out More Flags Audiobook, by Evelyn Waugh
Scoop Audiobook, by Evelyn Waugh
Sword of Honor Audiobook, by Evelyn Waugh
Unconditional Surrender Audiobook, by Evelyn Waugh
An Audio Bundle: Climb & High Audiobook, by Evelyn Waugh
An Audio Bundle: Wild & Survive Audiobook, by H. M. Tomlinson
The Man Who Liked Dickens Audiobook, by Evelyn Waugh
Decline and Fall Audiobook, by Evelyn Waugh

Listeners Also Enjoyed:

> View All...

Brideshead Revisited Audiobook, by
A Handful of Dust Audiobook, by
The Quiet American Audiobook, by
The Third Man Audiobook, by
A Voyage for Madmen Audiobook, by
The Little Fire Engine & The Little Train Audiobook, by
The Complete Stories Audiobook, by
The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold Audiobook, by
The Loved One Audiobook, by
Helena Audiobook, by
Sword of Honor Audiobook, by
Put Out More Flags Audiobook, by
Scoop Audiobook, by
Black Mischief Audiobook, by
Unconditional Surrender Audiobook, by
Men At Arms Audiobook, by
Officers and Gentlemen Audiobook, by
Brighton Rock Audiobook, by
The Power and the Glory Audiobook, by
The Confidential Agent Audiobook, by

Publisher Description

Evelyn Waugh's "irresistible" first novel (New York Times) is a brilliant and hilarious satire of English school life in the 1920s.





Sent down from Oxford after a wild, drunken party, Paul Pennyfeather is oddly surprised to find himself qualifying for the position of schoolmaster at a boys' private school in Wales. His colleagues are an assortment of misfits, rascals and fools, including Prendy (plagued by doubts) and Captain Grimes, who is always in the soup (or just plain drunk). Then Sports Day arrives, and with it the delectable Margot Beste-Chetwynde, floating on a scented breeze. As the farce unfolds in Evelyn Waugh's dazzling debut as a novelist, the young run riot and no one is safe, least of all Paul.

Download and start listening now!

"Maybe I'll reconcile myself to the racism and violence once I've digested the satirical bent of the book better...It was really funny, at least. And the prison bits reminded me of a sort of parody of The Stranger, which I'm not sure was intentional."

— Tortla (4 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “Irresistible...One of Waugh’s best.”

    — New York Times Book Review

  • “A savagely comic masterpiece.”

    — Times Literary Supplement

  • “A world of anarchic fantasy, floodlit with a bland, devastating brilliance...Waugh’s people were of two classes, both of whom he knew intimately: the giddy rich and adventurers of vast caddishness...The characters reeled their lunatic way, with sublime insouciance or sublime rascality, through a harlequinade ending in gruesome but hilarious calamity.”

    — Atlantic Monthly

  • “Decline and Fall is that all-too-rare phenomenon, a good nonsense novel. Its author has had the happy inspiration to take nothing seriously, and least of all himself. The result is a book which makes more sense than most.”

    — New Republic

  • “Surely one of the finest satirical novels of our time, in which uplift, religion, romance, and personal animus do not dissipate the satiric intention.”

    — Nation

  • Irresistible....One of Waugh's best.

    — New York Times Book Review

  • A savagely comic masterpiece.

    — Times Literary Supplement

  • A world of anarchic fantasy, floodlit with a bland, devastating brilliance....Waugh's people were of two classes, both of whom he knew intimately: the giddy rich and adventurers of vast caddishness....The characters reeled their lunatic way, with sublime insouciance or sublime rascality, through a harlequinade ending in gruesome but hilarious calamity.

    — Charles J. Rolo, Atlantic Monthly

  • Decline and Fall is that all-too-rare phenomenon, a good nonsense novel. Its author has had the happy inspiration to take nothing seriously, and least of all himself. The result is a book which makes more sense than most.

    — T.S. Matthews, The New Republic

  • Surely one of the finest satirical novels of our time, in whcih uplift, religion, romance, and personal animus do not dissipate the satiric intention.

    — Ernest Jones, The Nation

Decline and Fall Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.31818181818182 out of 53.31818181818182 out of 53.31818181818182 out of 53.31818181818182 out of 53.31818181818182 out of 5 (3.32)
5 Stars: 5
4 Stars: 3
3 Stars: 8
2 Stars: 6
1 Stars: 0
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Just couldn't get into this onee. "

    — Brenna, 2/17/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " One of Waugh's best. "

    — PMP, 2/15/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I'm not saying it's not a good book, someone on the cover says it's the funniest book they've ever read. It's just that I don't get it. I was glad it was short so I could finish it quickly. However my boyfriend did find it funny so it's probably just me. "

    — Sarah, 1/26/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " brilliant, biting, and funny "

    — Laura, 1/24/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Typical British male author humor but without the usual charm. Or maybe I've just grown tired of the genre. Does this mark the end of my British lit era? "

    — Jenn, 1/18/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Very funny - much about schools, institutions and society remain unchanged in Britain "

    — Adam, 1/5/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Witty, cynical, very,very funny and definitely NOT politically correct! Think it ought to be made into a movie or TV series. "

    — Lorraine, 1/1/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I suspect this would have been a laugh-riot had I known anything at all about British aristocracy or Modernist slang of the UK. Still, even for someone as ignorant as myself, Waugh is a master. "

    — Brentney, 12/17/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Somewhat more bleak and cynical than Wodehouse or K. Amis, it was quite readable, at least. "

    — Rob, 11/24/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Book group discussion earned it another star. Liked the sarcasm, not always sure who it's directed against. "

    — Johan, 11/3/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " At last completed reading it. Strange, meandering book. It felt too contrived in places even though it is absurd humour. I didn't really enjoy any of the characters but found it entertaining. I think that is what it is, an entertaining read but when it is over nothing much to think about afterwards. "

    — Gillian, 10/30/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I don't think this has aged very well. "

    — Beth, 10/6/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Definitely a plot in what my friends would call my wheelhouse: the middleclass man who semi-wittingly gets into a mess of trouble. A little too much dialogue to be a beyond-easy read, but enjoyable and comedic while still biting and relevant. "

    — Rachel, 9/8/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " waugh hadn't hit his stride yet.... i guess i learned that you get better at being a novelist with practice. "

    — Taz, 9/8/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Light comedy about unfortunate underdog who always ends up as the victim of people less scrupulous than himself. Ironic picture of social order in early 20th Century Britain. Waugh's English is a treat, as usual, full of irony and tongue-in-cheek. Very amusing. "

    — Luc, 7/9/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Amusing, but definitely Waugh as a more novice writer. "

    — Ryan, 6/29/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " A good read although a bit too much of a farce at times. Had some incredibly funny sections in it and is short enough to read in an afternoon. "

    — Natasha, 6/2/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Three stars is low, but it's because I didn't get as much out of it as I should have. I was looking for something different at the start and by the time I hit the proper rhythm, I had half of it read. Definitely going to reread this one. "

    — RC, 5/24/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This was my third or fourth reading - one of my favorite books. Funnier and sharper each time. "

    — Jennpetes, 5/15/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I had... complicated feelings about this one. The whole review is here, at MyEntertainmentWorld.ca. "

    — Borah, 3/4/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " So good I didn't want it to end. "

    — Ron, 3/1/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " A clever and wicked satire with an uncertain ending. The first half made me laugh out loud but the plot got a little more plodding toward the end. Convinced me to read more Waugh because he's definitely not just Brideshead. "

    — Julia, 12/9/2012

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 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.