Evelyn Waugh's Scoop is a hilarious send-up of the great London press barons. It involves a case of mistaken identity and travel to an exotic country. The English and American editions went in distinctly different directions for the dust jacket. Chapman and Hall chose a newspaper masthead that included a photograph of the author himself. The American publishers selected a Harry Beckhoff illustration that conveys the exotic setting where much of the action occurs.
Verdict.
The American. Harry Beckhoff was a marvelous illustrator, and this is among his best work. It conveys a sense of fun and adventure, seemingly channeling a Raiders of the Lost Ark that would not debut for another forty-three years. The English, on the other hand, gave us a photo of the author Evelyn Waugh who, though a gifted writer, was a notorious misanthrope.
A copy of the American edition is available here.
Verdict.
The American. Harry Beckhoff was a marvelous illustrator, and this is among his best work. It conveys a sense of fun and adventure, seemingly channeling a Raiders of the Lost Ark that would not debut for another forty-three years. The English, on the other hand, gave us a photo of the author Evelyn Waugh who, though a gifted writer, was a notorious misanthrope.
A copy of the American edition is available here.
First American Edition Scoop, American Edition, Little, Brown and Company | First English Edition Scoop, English Edition, Chapman and Hall |
RSS Feed
