Novels
- The Foxglove Saga (1960)
- The Path of Dalliance (1963)
- Who Are the Violets Now? (1965)
- Consider the Lilies (1968)
- A Bed of Flowers (1971)
Non fiction
- The Entertaining Book (1986)
- Will This Do? (2001)
- Closing the Circle (2001)
- Waugh on Wine (2019)
Novels Book Covers
Non fiction Book Covers
Auberon Waugh Books Overview
The Foxglove Saga
Auberon Waugh’s first novel, The Foxglove Saga, is an imaginative and savage satire. Its hero, Martin Foxglove, is a golden boy. In the eyes of his devout and beautiful mother, Lady Foxglove, he can do no wrong. Despite her unceasing, protective care, Martin chooses a set of wholly unsuitable friends and abandons his Christian faith. He is hell bent on making a bid for freedom, and he holds all the cards, playing them one by one.
The Path of Dalliance
The Honourable Guy Frazer Morrison and Jamey Sligger have come up to Godolphin Hall, Oxford from their Roman Catholic school, Cleeve. Rumours concerning their sexuality start when they share a college room. Waugh expertly describes the dons, the students, the relationships, intrigues, snobbery, politics and Guy and Jamey’s desire to get laid and get on in life.
Who Are the Violets Now?
Arthur Friendship earns his living writing advice columns for Woman’s Dream, a woman’s magazine. To offset this depressing and dreary activity he works for a peace organization and idolises the lovely yet unattainable Elizabeth Pedal. Arthur’s plans do not turn out as he wishes them however, in this tragi comedy.
Consider the Lilies
Nicholas Trumpeter is a young clergyman trapped inside a loveless marriage. His wife, Gillian, is an atheist whom he has learnt to endure. A passionate affair with the lovely Danae, daughter of his millionaire patron, becomes his main pursuit in life. The pressure of too little work and the boredom of parish community duties take their toll on Nicholas’ sanity until he eventually finds a new role for himself as a useful member of society. A tale of comic brilliance and cruel irony.
A Bed of Flowers
John Robinson, chairman of the $1,000 million Robinson Securities, is one of the richest men in Britain, but is more interested in establishing an alternative community in the Somerset countryside than pursuing power. After he is framed with a lump of cannabis resin he embarks on his new lifestyle at Williams Farm and invites like minded souls to join him. In this idyllic backwater Rosalind and Orlando start a love affair, while others take up drugs or religion. As the community is cultivating its bed of flowers, a sinister crime is planned in Whitehall…
Will This Do?
‘The only question left hanging in the air is the one which every journalist asks himself on submitting an article. It is also the one with which we may all eventually, in trembling hope, face our Maker: Will This Do??’ The question should rather be: How does one cope with being the son of a father as famous as Evelyn Waugh? From this side splittingly funny autobiography it is clear to see that the young Auberon more than managed. A privileged background, unusual childhood and public school education are followed by Oxford and a career as a writer and columnist. Waugh’s portrait of his father is affectionate yet droll, his tone self deprecating, and his stories entertaining and sad by turns. The biting wit is addictive.
Closing the Circle
A collection of the best of The Way of the World, Auberon Waugh’s deliciously funny and acutely observed column in the Daily Telegraph, with an introduction by Waugh’s successor on the Way of the World, satirist and best selling author, Craig Brown.. In it Auberon Waugh muses on subjects of national importance and discusses more parochial happenings near his Somerset home. How should he, as President, Chairman and only known member of Vespa, the Venerable Society for the Protection of Adulterers, react to the news that scientists have produced a device that can trace the exact location of errant husbands? And what can he do to ensure the church fete’s underwater baby racing competition takes place despite safety warnings from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents? Certain threads run through his columns the battle against draconian drink driving laws, the beneficial effects of smoking on children, the efforts to enshrine the memory of Fred Hill, who died while in Pentonville prison, jailed for refusing to wear a motorcycle helmet. There are a few triumphs Waugh allows himself some pleasure when it is revealed that, as he had been saying for years, hamburgers and margarine are bad for you.
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