Fathers and Sons: The Autobiography of a Family
by Alexander Waugh
On This Page
Description
If there is a literary gene, then the Waugh family has it. The first literary Waugh was Arthur, who, having won a poetry prize in 1888, broke with the family tradition of medicine. He went on to become a distinguished publisher and an influential book columnist. He fathered two sons, Alec and Evelyn, both of whom were to become novelists of note; were to rebel in their own ways against his bedrock Victorianism; and one of whom, Evelyn, was to write a series of immortal novels that will be show more prized as long as elegance and lethal wit are admired. Evelyn begat, among others, Auberon, who would carry on in the family tradition of literary skill and eccentricity, becoming one of England's most incorrigibly cantankerous and provocative newspaper columnists. And Auberon begat Alexander, yet another writer, to whom it has fallen to tell this tale of four generations of scribbling Waughs.--From publisher description. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Recommendations
John_Vaughan A further generation of talent.
Member Reviews
I thought I had done with Evelyn Waugh. Looked at him again recently apropos of interest in the Bright Young Things phenomenon; found rereading his novels left a bad taste but enjoyed exploring his diaries and travel writing. Now this book has added a new dimension. A portrait of several spectacularly dysfunctional generations of the Waugh family, but much more than a “Daddy, Dearest” memoir. Consistently insightful and thought-provoking on the subject of fatherhood and sonship. A great find.
Hilarious memoir of several generations of Waughs; some of the stories are appalling, but there's no self-pity or bitterness. A crackling good read about an amazing family.
I am a fan of Evelyn Waugh, and this book has been sitting on my wishlist since publication. I finally borrowed a copy from the library - and I couldn't finish it. The style is a combination of combative and self-celebratory that is grating in the extreme. Meant as a bit of a paen to Auberon and Evelyn Waugh (and forebears) it actually left me liking them less.
This is a well-written book about Evelyn Waugh and his family, but it could be a bit tedious and repetitive. Worth the time if you'reinterested in Evelyn Waugh, England (esp. between the wars) and English literature.
I tried, but I confess to being so put off early in the book that I didn't try very hard. I've never read anything by any of the Waughs, so that no doubt contributed to my lack of interest in their history. I picked this up on the strength of the cover, which is always risky.
Ratings
Members
- Recently Added By
Published Reviews
ThingScore 75
“Fathers and Sons,” together with Auberon’s memoir and Evelyn’s novels, puts us back in touch with a vanished world, that of the English upper and upper-middle classes in the years surrounding the First and Second World Wars. These people were extremely insular, and therefore confident. If something seemed silly to them, or even just unusual, they didn’t mind making jokes about it. show more They were not as nice as we are, and they were much funnier. They drank from noon to night and wrote their books young and fast. show less
added by John_Vaughan
With this “autobiography” of his family, Alexander Waugh — who long resisted joining the family business, trying his hand at producing records, composing music and drawing cartoons — demonstrates that he’s inherited the literary gene in spades, as well as a gift for very funny, coruscating prose. He has created a vivid, Dickensian portrait of his eccentric relatives and he’s done show more so with enormous irreverence and élan. show less
added by SnootyBaronet
Lists
Best Autobiographies and Memoirs
370 works; 67 members
In Our Time books
4,934 works; 2 members
Author Information
9 Works 1,175 Members
Alexander Waugh was born in 1963, and is the grandson of Evelyn Waugh, and a son of columnist Auberon Waugn and novelist Teresa Waugh. After studying music at Manchester University, he became Chief Opera Critic at the Mail on Sunday and the London Evening Standard. He has written several books on music
Common Knowledge
- People/Characters
- Evelyn Waugh; Alec Waugh; Auberon Waugh
- Dedication
- For Bron
- First words
- I shall begin with a telephone call.
- Quotations
- The trouble is that people can afford tombstones nowadays who have no business to be remembered at all. (Auberon Waugh)
Surely 'God' is of greater interest to your readers than Auberon or Evelyn Waugh? I demanded. A long, chilly silence emanated from the other end of the line. So I was wrong. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)I am honoured to be his pale shadow.
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 253
- Popularity
- 127,471
- Reviews
- 5
- Rating
- (3.63)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 5
- ASINs
- 3
