Decline and Fall

By: Evelyn Waugh

Narrated by: Michael Maloney

Subtitled "A Novel of Many Manners", Evelyn Waugh's notorious first novel lays waste the "heathen idol" of British sportsmanship, the cultured perfection of Oxford, and the inviolable honor codes of the English gentleman.

Sent down from Oxford after a wild, drunken party, Paul Pennyfeather is oddly surprised to find himself qualifying for the position of schoolmaster at a boys' private school in Wales. His colleagues are an assortment of misfits, rascals and fools, including Prendy (plagued by doubts) and Captain Grimes, who is always in the soup (or just plain drunk). Then Sports Day arrives, and with it the delectable Margot Beste-Chetwynde, floating on a scented breeze. As the farce unfolds in Evelyn Waugh's dazzling debut as a novelist, the young run riot and no one is safe, least of all Paul.

©1956 Evelyn Waugh (P)2012 Hachette Audio

Best Narrator Yet

Would you listen to Decline and Fall again? Why?

New to audible, and watched Decline and Fall as a miniseries, which was so-so. Had read only the most famous Waugh titles, so was new to this one. The story is wonderful, droll, funny and touching. Delightfully absurd and funny. And the narrator, Michael Maloney is with out a doubt the best I've heard. A PERFECT production of this book.

What did you like best about this story?

Waugh -- need I say more? One of the greats.

Amazing narrator but not the story for me

I've had a hard time with Waugh. I've read Brideshead several times and enjoy it each time. I've read Helena, and found it good. But this and Sword of Honor, I just can't do. There isn't a strong storyline, and I think I just don't do well with that type of... story. If you do, then this may be the book for you. Like I said, the narrator is amazing!

Black Humor, Satire, and the Absurd

Paul Pennyfeather is, by no fault of his own, sent down from Oxford for indecent behavior. His only recourse is to get a job teaching at a less-than-prestigious boarding school. While there, he meets the widowed mother of a student, Margot Beste-Chetwynde, with whom he falls in love. This starts a chain of events leading to his decline and fall.

This, Waugh's first published novel, shows him already a master of black humor, satire, and the absurd. The plot is unpredictable, the prose excellent, and the entire book truly funny. While it's not perfection, it is a great, quick read that will have the reader laughing out loud.

Mr. Maloney does excellent voices, narrates well, and the singing episode was hysterically funny. He does tend to read too quickly at times, though, making it a four star performance instead of five.

A romping parody on life

Michael Maloney brings to life a chorus of romping and eccentric characters that accompany the down and ups of Paul Pennyfeather’s year of life. If one has read The Confederacy of Dunces, Decline and Fall is quite as comic. And to appreciate both, one should enjoy the Audible performances alone or while reading the novel. It is delightful experience.

Madcap comedy of errors

My only other experience with Waugh being the oh-so-serious (and Catholic) Brideshead Revisited, I was completely unprepared for this funny and lighthearted tale. It's a bit like a screwball comedy in novel form and like the best screwball comedies, it is short enough that you don't get tired of it before the zaniness has run its course.

Surprisingly Good for a “Starter” Novel

I found myself pleased most everywhere along the path of the plot. The turns of phrases, the little twists in the story, and much about the development of the characters - one can sense the delight of both the brightest and the most common of the readers of the British novel at all this.

Not to disclose anything significant, I would just say there are two major turns in the plot that make little or no sense. But, then again, that obviously fits into Waugh’s design.

I was left a bit flat.

But, still, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to readers in the market for a smart, little biting satire of society that plays out oddly, but deftly.

The narration was quite good.

Great story

I enjoyed the story. I didn’t care for the Reader, but it did not distract from the story

So promising but falls flat

This starts out hilarious and really enjoyable, a comedic send up of the British upper class; but becomes tedious and ridiculous.

Just fabulous

For those who like the author, and like humor, and wit, and irony…they are in for a delightful treat.

From his earlier, funny period

Michael Maloney is such an exceptional performer: he does incomparable accents, and even sings:) This is typical Waugh buffoonery involving the education of the elite, white slavery, the rich, architecture, the prison system, and a young innocent carried along on a strange tide not of his own making.