Selected by Modern Library as one of the 100 best novels of the century and called "Evelyn Waugh's finest achievement" by the New York Times, Brideshead Revisited is a stunning exploration of desire, duty, and memory. The wellsprings of desire and the impediments to love come brilliantly into focus in Evelyn Waugh's masterpiece — a novel that immerses us in the glittering and seductive world of English aristocracy in the waning days of the empire. Through the story of Charles Ryder's entanglement with the Flytes, a great Catholic family, Evelyn Waugh charts the passing of the privileged world he knew in his own youth and vividly recalls the sensuous pleasures denied him by wartime austerities. At once romantic, sensuous, comic, and somber, Brideshead Revisited transcends Waugh's early satiric explorations and reveals him to be an elegiac, lyrical novelist of the utmost feeling and lucidity. "A genuine literary masterpiece." —Time "Heartbreakingly beautiful...The twentieth century's finest English novel." —Los Angeles Times
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About the author
Evelyn Waugh
Author
Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh was an English writer of novels, biographies, and travel books; he was also a prolific journalist and book reviewer. His most famous works include the early satires Decline and Fall (1928) and A Handful of Dust (1934), the novel Brideshead Revisited (1945), and the Second World War trilogy Sword of Honour (1952–1961). He is recognised as one of the great prose stylists of the English language in the 20th century.
Brideshead Revisited
by Evelyn Waugh
Books Like Brideshead Revisited
If you're looking for books similar to Brideshead Revisited, here are some recommendations based on themes, tone, and narrative style.
The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald
A classic novel exploring wealth, social status, and unrequited love in the American Jazz Age. The story follows Jay Gatsby's obsessive pursuit of the elusive Daisy Buchanan through the eyes of narrator Nick Carraway. Similar to Brideshead, it offers a nostalgic and critical view of privileged society. The novel masterfully depicts the decay beneath glamorous surfaces and the impossible nature of recapturing past ideals. Fitzgerald's lyrical prose captures the era's decadence and emotional complexity.
The Portrait of a Lady
Henry James
A masterful novel exploring a young woman's journey of self-discovery in European society. The story follows Isabel Archer's complex personal and romantic choices. Similar to Brideshead, it offers a deep psychological exploration of individual desire versus social expectations. James's intricate prose reveals the subtle dynamics of personal freedom. The narrative examines the tension between personal autonomy and societal constraints.
The Remains of the Day
Kazuo Ishiguro
A subtle exploration of memory, duty, and missed opportunities in post-war England. The novel follows Stevens, a butler reflecting on his life of service. Like Brideshead, it offers a nostalgic and critical view of social structures. Ishiguro's restrained prose reveals profound emotional depths. The narrative masterfully examines the tension between personal desire and professional duty.
Atonement
Ian McEwan
A profound exploration of British upper-class society and personal redemption. The novel follows a young girl's misunderstanding that destroys multiple lives, set against the backdrop of World War II. Like Brideshead, it delves into themes of memory, class, and lost innocence. McEwan's elegant prose captures the nuanced emotional landscape of privileged English society. The narrative beautifully examines how a single moment can transform lives irrevocably.
Howards End
E.M. Forster
A profound exploration of social class and personal connections in early 20th-century England. The novel follows three families representing different social strata and their interconnected lives. Like Brideshead, it offers a nuanced critique of social structures. Forster's elegant prose reveals the complex social dynamics of the period. The narrative explores themes of connection, class, and personal transformation.
The Age of Innocence
Edith Wharton
A brilliant exploration of social conventions in Gilded Age New York. The novel follows Newland Archer's internal struggle between personal desire and societal expectations. Like Brideshead, it offers a penetrating critique of social hierarchies. Wharton's elegant prose reveals the complex emotional landscape of privileged society. The narrative masterfully examines the constraints of social norms.
The End of the Affair
Graham Greene
A powerful exploration of love, jealousy, and spiritual struggle in mid-20th century London. The novel follows a passionate and complicated love affair between Maurice Bendrix and Sarah Miles. Like Brideshead, it examines complex emotional and religious themes with profound psychological depth. Greene's narrative brilliantly captures the internal conflicts of characters wrestling with desire, guilt, and spiritual redemption. The story offers a nuanced examination of human relationships and moral ambiguity.
The House of Mirth
Edith Wharton
A devastating critique of New York's high society in the early 20th century. The novel follows Lily Bart's tragic struggle against social expectations and economic constraints. Like Brideshead, it offers a penetrating examination of social class and personal limitations. Wharton's razor-sharp prose reveals the brutal mechanisms of social hierarchy. The narrative explores how individual desires are constrained by societal norms and economic realities.
The Go-Between
L.P. Hartley
A poignant novel about memory, forbidden love, and social class in Edwardian England. The story is narrated by an older man remembering a transformative summer from his childhood. Similar to Brideshead, it explores themes of nostalgia and lost innocence. Hartley's elegant prose captures the nuanced emotional landscape of a bygone era. The narrative beautifully examines how past experiences shape our understanding of the present.
The Heart of the Matter
Graham Greene
A profound exploration of moral complexity and spiritual struggle in colonial West Africa. The novel follows police officer Henry Scobie's moral and emotional crisis. Similar to Brideshead, it delves into themes of guilt, redemption, and personal integrity. Greene's nuanced prose reveals the psychological depth of his characters. The narrative offers a complex examination of moral choices.
A Room with a View
E.M. Forster
A delicate exploration of social conventions and personal awakening in Edwardian England. The novel follows Lucy Honeychurch's journey of self-discovery during a transformative trip to Italy. Similar to Brideshead, it critiques rigid social structures and explores individual emotional liberation. Forster's elegant prose examines the tension between societal expectations and personal desires. The narrative beautifully captures the nuanced emotional landscape of upper-class English society.
The Sea, The Sea
Iris Murdoch
A complex psychological novel exploring obsession, memory, and self-delusion. The narrative follows a retired theater director's retreat to the seaside and his complicated romantic fantasies. Like Brideshead, it offers a deep psychological exploration of memory and desire. Murdoch's intricate prose reveals the complex inner lives of her characters. The novel masterfully examines the thin line between memory and imagination.
A Handful of Dust
Evelyn Waugh
Another Waugh novel exploring the decline of the English aristocracy. The story follows the disintegration of a marriage and social status. Similar to Brideshead, it offers a satirical yet poignant view of upper-class society. Waugh's sharp prose reveals the absurdities of social conventions. The narrative examines the fragility of social structures and personal relationships.
Maurice
E.M. Forster
A groundbreaking novel exploring homosexual love in early 20th-century England. The story follows Maurice Hall's journey of sexual and personal discovery against restrictive social norms. Similar to Brideshead, it delves into themes of forbidden love and personal authenticity. Forster's compassionate narrative examines the emotional complexity of relationships constrained by social expectations. The novel offers a profound exploration of individual identity versus societal pressures.
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