Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold

8 chapters, 53,000+ words,Evelyn Waugh can wring humor and a good colorful narrative out of anything. But not every situation lends itself to humorous and light literary treatment. It shouldn’t be surprising that psychosis, demon possession or whatever is happening here isn’t the best fodder for Waugh’s kind of novel. It’s true that Waugh gets humor out of troubling events, but these events may be too much.It’s also a repetitive story. Gilbert Pinfold is being tormented and it’s getting worse and worse, but things only change in intensity not in kind. So the next day is like the previous day.So if you’re looking for classic Waugh, you won’t find it here. But I don’t deny that this book, based on his own personal experience, is an unusual novel, one that Waugh had to write.And then there’s the writing. This is a marvelous description of a public persona, “…when he swung into his club or stumped up the nursery stairs, he left half of himself behind, and the other half swelled to fill its place.”2.9 stars

There are times when a talented and successful writer steps out of his acknowledged style and attempts something different. Something which really does not have much relevance, in terms of a progression in his craft, yet it stands alone. Usually this work is an personal anomaly, and it is not recommended that this be the introduction to the author for the first time reader, e.g. Ernest Hemingway's "Death In The Afternoon."Such is the case with Evelyn Waugh's "The Ordeal Of Gilbert Pinfold." The inspiration for this autobiographical piece was a suggestion by Waugh's psychiatrist who treated him for was called "temporary slight schizophrenia" among other things, but was the result of excessive use of prescribed medications in a most unprescribed manner resulting in hallucinations and sidorientation.So it is the story of Gilbert's truncated trip on a freighter to Ceylon, in which he experiences the most varied and unusual mental perceptions and fascinating hallucinations. What this novel or novella, lacks is the Waugh sense of black humor with which he has treated so many characters or institutions in past works. There are a few sparks of this in his characterization of the ships crew and his relationship with a country doctor but these are too brief and unsustained. It is as if he did not find himself to by very interesting or was he playing the literary male coquette.However, this book should be read by the Waugh fan, especially when read in conjunction with one of the biographies written about him.

I've read several negative reviews - I'm stumped. I thought it was excellent - granted, not Waugh's finest work but in that elegant company ......, So, I believe many missed the point - the book is classic Waugh dry-humor and part biographical - part a scathing send-up of both Waugh, himself and his contemporary critics / detractors. His "DT's" are both revealing and trenchant. It was in no way depressing nor toxic. I was, at several points laughing out loud. I am glad to have read it. Recommended.

A "novel" doesn't get much better than this.Catholic writer Evelyn Waugh brilliantly exposes being torturd physically and mentally by the Microwave and Voice to Skull technologies possessed (and used to target) ethical opponents by the demonic "victors" in post-WWII England.

The author describes a prolonged series of auditory hallucinations he supposed actually experienced during a sea voyage. Even though it all seems a little too elaborate and organized to be true, I read of similar prolonged hallucinations in the "50 minute hour" so I suppose its possible. In any event it is extremely entertaining. Waugh is an obviously extremely gifted humorist.

The book was okay, but not as good as I expected it to be, given the subject matter. The book arrived in excellent shape, I just didn't care much for the story.

Some of the passages of the book were breathtakingly beautiful, literally breathtaking. I had to stop, put the book down, walk around the room to just to catch my breath, before reading further.

Brand new

Excellent

as expected

Unfortunately I found the plot a bit dull and repetitive. Disappointing.

Excellent ! only one of Evelyn Waughs novels I have not read

Dull repetative story, self indulgent exercise, not a patch on his other novels.