Decline and Fall

Decline and Fall by Evelyn Waugh is a biting social satire that follows the misadventures of Paul Pennyfeather, a hapless theology student expelled from Oxford and drawn into a series of absurd and humiliating situations. The novel lampoons British society’s institutions—education, religion, aristocracy—with sharp wit and dark humor. Waugh’s debut novel showcases his distinctive style and sardonic worldview, laying the foundation for his later satirical masterpieces.