by C de Burlet

Created on: April 10, 2009

If, like me, you have read "Brideshead Revisited" and liked it, but unlike me, have not yet started on Evelyn Waugh's "Scoop", a word of warning is perhaps appropriate. Published in 1938, "Scoop" predates "Brideshead Revisited" (1945) and though there are similarities, it's like tasting a glass of bubbly, sharp white wine after a bottle of rich, full-bodied but somber red.

As the title implies, "Scoop" deals with the newspaper world with all its absurdities; its petty rivalries between papers, journalists, and press barons; its hunt for new(s) stories even if these are based on nothing whatsoever, and getting that important "scoop". Though the book is a satirical look at the newspaper world of the thirties, it is as valid today as it was then. With new disasters currently taking place in Africa and various powers squabbling over its natural riches regardless of the costs to the ordinary people, Waugh's description of what takes place in his fictitious Ishmaelia at times makes an uncomfortable read. And of course, Ishmaelia can be replaced by any warzone with hardly a change to story, satire, and message.

The story starts in the UK with a fairly successful travel-writer and current toast of certain London circles. He is trying to secure a job at one of the major papers as a correspondent through his upper-class contacts. The main papers, aptly called "Brute" and "Beast", are rivals and as one of the best journalists has just changed alliances, a replacement must be found and send to the African state of Ishmaelia, where war is imminent. Strings are pulled, but unfortunately, the travel-writer is a member of one of those upper-class families with many branches, eccentrics, and dilapidated country houses.

Names are mixed up and a distant relative, whose sole experience in journalism is writing a weekly nature column from his run-down estate, is sent off as war correspondent.

After many adventures, he accidentally does manage to beat all the veteran foreign correspondents and secures that treasured scoop. He returns home alive and a hero. However, the mistaken identity ensures that the travel-writer is knighted, an uncle receives a juicy contract as the paper's star correspondent, while the real hero returns to writing his nature column. But what may seem unjust, turns out not to be so, for in the end everybody receives exactly what they wish for.

From the above, it is clear that "Scoop" differs from "Brideshead Revisited" in setting and satire as the absurd and funny is stressed, while the end is happy. It is an entertaining read. However, some readers may feel slightly uncomfortable with Waugh's treatment of non-English people, while I personally found the parts of the book that take place in England the best.

"Scoop" by Evelyn Waugh, Penguin paperbacks Ltd London 2008, pp 240.

A film/DVD version of "Scoop", starring Scarlett Johansson is also available.

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