Evelyn Waugh, Black Mischief

Ian Littlewood (University of Sussex)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.08: English Writing and Culture of the early Twentieth Century , 1900-1945.
Vol. editors: Chris Baldick (Goldsmiths College, University of London), Peter Childs (Birmingham Newman University), Louise McDonald (Birmingham Newman University), Andrew Radford (University of Glasgow)

Dates

First circulation or publication Oct 1932

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Novel

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Published in 1932,

Black Mischief

tells the story of the fictional state of Azania – an island off the east coast of Africa. Its new ruler, the English educated Seth (“Chief of the Chiefs of Sakuyu, Lord of Wanda and Tyrant of the Seas, Bachelor of the Arts of Oxford University”), is determined to drag his empire into the modern age. To this end, he enlists the help of his Oxford acquaintance Basil Seal – a figure who recurs in Waugh's novels as an enterprising and immoral member of the 1920s smart set. The efforts of Seth and Basil, which include grandiose plans for constitutional reform, an array of hopelessly ambitious public works and a disastrous birth control pageant, founder on the inherent barbarism of the native population and the corruption of local officials. In the…

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495 words

Citation: Littlewood, Ian. "Black Mischief". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 27 November 2002 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=6278, accessed 25 November 2024.]

Evelyn Waugh, Black Mischief

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