Book Review: "Scoop" by Evelyn Waugh

Yes I'm back to rereading some Evelyn Waugh. Scoop is one of those books where anyone who's read it has something nice to say about its wittiness, the way it tells the story and of course, Evelyn Waugh's amazing cast of characters. Often regarded after Brideshead as his best work, I've often read about this book in other texts by people like Christopher Hitchens who have hailed this book as a seminal text of the 20th century. Scoop, I can honestly say is a fantastic book that is a lot of fun to read. It has not only great wit and intellect, but also contains a storyline which is both immersive and one of those experiences that is practically unforgettable.

Lush Places is a column written by William Boot, a man who is quite shy and likes his flora and fauna. Despite his peaceful existence, he is mistakenly identified as an esteemed foreign correspondent in the esteemed Daily Beast and it all arises from a mix-up in the editorial system. A moment of journalistic incompetence makes for a fantastic comedy of errors written in Evelyn Waugh's most famous work. I enjoyed this beginning when I read it the last time. Boot is completely detached from the world of serious reporting and yet, he is muddled up in this nightmare which is both condescending and hilarious.

Boot is sent to the fictional African country of Ishmaelia to cover a revolution. The editor, Lord Copper, believes he is assigning an experienced correspondent. Our main character, overwhelmed and out of his depth, is thrust into a world of political instability, armed conflict, and exotic landscapes. There's nothing like the flora and fauna here, but if he wants to keep his head then he has to work through the problem rather than getting himself sidetracked. Evelyn Waugh's character creation is something to admire because here he does it in a weird way. We know it's not this character's fault he's here, but we still think he should make the most of it considering the incompetence of him and those around him.

Back in London, the Daily Beast newsroom operates in a state of utter disorder. Editors argue and bicker about, they mismanage dispatches, and they also prioritise fame and spectacle over accuracy (I mean, we've never seen the media do that have we? - Sarcasm intended). Boot’s reports, often accidental or trivial, seem to be hailed as groundbreaking journalism. Evelyn Waugh is definitely trying to show us the hubris of media institutions in wanting to get the 'big scoop' (run: title). We get the inside business on each and every aspect of how silly the news media is.

Upon arriving in Ishmaelia, Boot encounters a society and political environment he barely understands. His naivety and gentleness clash with the local customs, violent conflicts, and opportunistic expatriates. There are tons of misunderstandings and they often cause tons of embarrassing situations. There is definitely a whole 'accidental hero' situation but Evelyn Waugh makes it even funnier by putting in a bunch of jokes which definitely makes us see that Boot has no idea what he is doing and is practically just flinging shit at the wall and hoping it sticks. He still retains this gentle nature though he is also trying his best. He gets exploited and taken advantage of either way. You almost feel sorry for the guy.

When he gets back to England of course, due to the course of events that have unfolded, he is hailed as this brilliant journalist and because he is quite and good-natured, he looks even better in comparison to the average journalist. I'm pretty much sold on the idea that you have to read Evelyn Waugh more than once to be able to fully grasp all the different layers of jokes he's trying to tell you. He writes so subtly that when you read it the first time and when you read it the second time, there's definitely a difference in the way you experience the humour. The second time around you see how he's managed not only to make fun of the media industry but in turn, he's making fun of the reader for reading the thing like a serious piece of literature when it is meant to be a farce.

All in all, I was surprised how much I enjoyed this the second time around. It was a brilliantly funny book in which Evelyn Waugh does his best to show us why we shouldn't trust the media. It's not just because they're corrupt, it's because they're also comically stupid.