A review by alexchig
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh

3.75

 After giving it some time to sink in, I was actually a bit torn on how to appropriately rate this novel. The themes of religion, wealth, and the fleetingness of youth featured quite frequently, but it was ultimately unclear what 'the point' of it all was. In short, we follow the lives of some dysfunctional British upper class people in the middle of two wars, trying to navigate a rapidly changing society. For me personally, most of the characters were difficult to sympathise with, particularly as they lacked any awareness of the privileges that they have been dealt in their society, and so their issues seemed rather insignificant in the larger cultural context. They are, in a way, trapped in a cage of their own making, and their dysfunctionality is a product of the cultural conventions that they themselves uphold. The only character that was truly unlike the rest was Sebastian, as he struggled to live up to the expectations of those around him and turned to alcoholism as a result. I was hoping for a deeper look at his character, but then he disappeared for half of the novel! 

AND MET A TERRIBLE, UNTIMELY DEATH.

I was also displeased with how heavy-handed the religious theme was. While Charles described himself as agnostic throughout the novel, at the very end he suddenly declared that another character's death was 'God's will'. How did he come to this conclusion? Where did we see him developing this faith? 
 
That said, if you are interested in the subtle drama of the English aristocracy of the 1920s-40s, you will really enjoy this. I had some slight qualms with it, but in the end the writing was lovely and beautifully descriptive, and I enjoyed the experience of the novel as a whole. 

P.S. do not come to this expecting gay rep, it is barely there!