Decline and Fall (Novel)

Expelled from Oxford for “indecent behavior,” Paul Pennyfeather accepts a position as junior assistant master at Llanabba Castle, a Welsh public school. There he is charged, in spite of his complete and utter lack of qualification, with teaching a wide array of subjects—Classics, German, French, carpentry, and music (specifically, organ lessons)—and collaborating and conspiring with his gloriously careless colleagues, Captain Grimes, Mr. Prendergast, and Philbrick, the butler. The dawning of Sports Day sees the students of Llanabba enjoy (or endure) an array of athletic events; more importantly, however, it introduces Paul to Margot Beste-Chetwynde, an intoxicating breath of scented air which will waft Paul from delight to delight and, eventually, to disaster.

A blithely, brilliantly accomplished satire, Decline and Fall is an extravagant send-up of self-indulgent high society. Through this world of decadence, depravity, and downright silliness, Waugh leads his delightful characters on a merry dance which has lost none of its hilarity since it first appeared in 1928.

Paperback, 250 pages.