Scoop-Who is the Truth?
On the 60th anniversary of his death, Russell Kane delves into seven of Evelyn Waugh’s most important works. In episode 5, Scoop (1938) – a book about the media.
Many people hold Evelyn Waugh among the best British writers of the 20th Century -Russell Kane is one of them. To mark the 60th anniversary of his death, Russell delves into seven of Waugh’s most important works.
While Waugh has been unfashionable for some time, Kane believes it’s high time to turn back to him. He says he was way ahead of his time and, in his books, he reveals ourselves to ourselves and uncovers clues for how we should live our lives today.
Over seven episodes, Waugh tells us everything we need to know about the cluttered corridors of English culture - its class system, media, cult of masculinity, colonial hang-ups: everything it’s made of, good and bad. Not only does Waugh show our society for what it is, but he demonstrates how it can be hacked - infiltrated by savvy interlopers like himself. And Russell sees a kindred spirit.
Waugh may be a divisive figure, with the public reputation of a pantomime villain. Some say Waugh’s vitriolic streak, cultural insensitivity and idolisation of the upper classes should condemn him to the male, pale and stale literary past - but Russell believes he is prescient, not reactionary, that he was ahead of his time. Waugh holds the least flattering of mirrors up to us - and actually, it’s not Waugh but what we see that we don’t like.
In episode 5, we explore Scoop (1938) – a book about the media. Scoop’s astute observations about the British press are, as Christopher Hitchens said, the reason for “its enduring magic”. A prescient book long before the ‘post-truth’ era, exploring who our truth tellers are. Russell identifies with protagonist William Boot, who is mistaken for an experienced correspondent; he too re-packages his life for audiences and has successfully used Instagram to extend his fame. Russell looks for clues in the novel about who we can trust.
Producer: Dom Byrne & Freya Hellier
Executive Producer: Rosamund Jones
Editor: Kirsten Lass
Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke
Sound Mix: Jon Calver
A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4
On radio
Broadcast
- Fri 6 Mar 202613:45BBC Radio 4
