On May 20, 2023, 7:33:37 PM, Rockinghorse Winner wrote:

This mid century novel is known by most people from the extraordinary miniseries adaptation produced by the BBC in the '70's. The book is a reminiscence of a soldier about his youthful friendship with a rich but alcoholic college mate, and their rambles around London and Europe in
the carefree and libertine 1920's.
What sets the book apart is it's religious themes (the friend's family
are strict Catholics), and the skill with which Waugh draws his
characters, even minor ones. The closest comparison I could come up with
is Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises, which also follows alcoholic and
aimless young people around Europe. However, I found Brideshead to be
much more contemporary in the way it depicts college students seeking
their own path in life apart from their families, and becoming more
mature as they confront the harsh realities of life. I would include it
on a list of 'books you must read before you die' list. :) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I have not seen the miniseries and after reading your review and
discovering I had rated it only a three star read, reread it and have
had a completely different reading experience to yours.
I enjoyed the clarity of writing, the great dialogues, the extensive vocabulary, but had to consult the encyclopedia for some British terms
or brand names.

"reminiscence of a soldier".
His function as protagonist is not to be a soldier but an extremely
privileged Protestant homosexual besotted with an equally wealthy
Catholic whose family interactions and personalities he writes about in
a detached and clinical way. But it was written in 1945 when
homosexuality was an abominable crime.

"rambles around London and Europe".
Staying in the best hotels, dining at the homes of the local British Consul.

"college students seeking their own path in life apart from their families," Ryder returns home but does not see his father in the house unless he
dresses for the formal evening meal. His family are the servants. When
he returns to England after a two year selfish absence, he declines to
meet his children including the daughter whom he has never met. He
doesn't know what a family is.
Flyte ends up as a remittance man. His path in life is to escape his
family through alcoholism.

It is a story between two wars. Beginning with the association of
anticipation of WW2 with the decay of the Brideshead Castle, the story
follows the decline in relationships between the B family and the
decline in old wealth. There is conflict between duty (not just
Catholic), and self indulgence. As I said, a completely different
reading experience to yours.

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