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Description edit
The more startling for the economy of its prose and plot, this novel's story, set among the manicured lawns and euphemisms of Whispering Glades Memorial Park in Hollywood, satirizes the American way of death and offers Waugh's memento mori.
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Characters/People edit
- Dennis Barlow: A young British poet who works at 'The Happier Hunting Ground' pet cemetery.
- Aimee Thanatogenos: A beautiful young American crematorium cosmetician
- Sir Francis Hinsley: Was a British Knight, the doyen of English society, chief script-writer in Megalopolitan Pictures and President of the Cricket Club. He was also an artist - a painter.
- Sir Ambrose Abercrombie: Ex-patriot Brit. One of the leading members of the ex-pat community in Hollywood. Friend of Sir Francis.
- Mr. Slump: also known as 'Guru Brahmin'. An agony aunt.
- Mr. Joyboy: Senior Mortician at the Whispering Glades
Quotes edit
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“I wept as I remembered how often you and I had laughed about Los Angeles and now 'tis here you'll lie; here pickled in formaldehyde and painted like a whore....”
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“They are a very decent generous lot of people out here and *they don't expect you to listen*. Always remember that, dear boy. It's the secret of social ease in this country. They talk entirely for their own pleasure. Nothing they say is designed to be heard.”
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“There are jobs that an Englishmen just doesn't take. Yours, dear boy, is pre-eminently one of those.”
Setting & Locations edit
- The Happier Hunting Ground: A pet cemetery
- Whispering Glades Memorial Park: Burbank, California
- Hollywood: The location in which the story is set
- England
First Sentence edit
All day the heat had been barely supportable but at evening a breeze arose in the west, blowing from the heart of the setting sun and from the ocean, which lay unseen, unheard behind the scrubby foothills.
Table of Contents edit
One - Ten
Series & Lists edit
This is book 6 of 11 in The Bibliophile Club - Selected Reads of 2010. (community list)
This is book 201007 of 31 in The Bibliophile Club - Monthly Selected Reads. (community list)
This book is in 100 One-Night Reads: A Book Lover's Guide. (authoritative list)
This book is in Guardian 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read. (authoritative list)
This is book 70 of 113 in Book Smart Reading List. (community list)
Authors & Contributors edit
- Evelyn Waugh (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company, Boston
Country: USA
Publication Date: 1948
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 164
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company, Boston
Country: USA
Publication Date: 1948
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 164
Subjects edit
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