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readingwithpi 's review for:
Brideshead Revisited
by Evelyn Waugh
From the self congratulatory prologue to the bitter end, this book pissed me off. The writing is pretty, the way Waugh describes things is enchanting, but for the most part this is a book about several deeply unremarkable men complaining.
My only positive take on this book is its depiction of alcoholism. Sebastian’s disease and his family’s response to it, is the only interesting part of the book. The unsaid aspects of the book are far more compelling than the ornately crafted descriptions of waves. The awareness of Sebastian’s proximity to alcohol at all times and his family’s unwillingness to do anything about it - to listen to him, are all too real and painful.
But that’s where any substance stops. This is, ultimately, a book about a man who cannot comprehend that his actions have consequences. Charles’s feelings about Sebastian’s alcoholism only extend as far as it impacts him personally. I also think that giving too much thought to the inner workings of Charles Rider is pointless. He is mediocre. To paint him as a villain or a hero gives him far more credit than he deserves.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Antisemitism