William gets some quick lessons in the devious way of journalists, who are always trying to outwit their colleagues and deliver a scoop. Geographically, at least, Ishmaelia is identical with Abyssinia. Lord Copper, the arrogant and ignorant owner of the Daily Beast, sends out by mistake a naïve writer of nature columns, William Boot, to cover the war in the fictional East African country of Ishmaelia. The plot rests on some comic twists of fortune.

The result was a satirical, farcical novel that takes lighthearted but deadly aim at the newspaper industry and the journalistic profession. Waugh admitted that he had no aptitude for war reporting, but he did observe closely the activities of his fellow journalists. It is based on Waugh's stint as a war correspondent for the London Daily Mail in Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) in 1935, during which he covered the war between Abyssinia and Italy. See the very best of literature in a whole new light with BrightSummaries.Evelyn Waugh's Scoop (London, 1938) is a satire on journalism. The clear and concise style makes for easy understanding, providing the perfect opportunity to improve your literary knowledge in no time. This in-depth and informative reading guide brings you:Īvailable in print and digital format, our publications are designed to accompany you on your reading journey. Scoop was his fifth novel.įind out everything you need to know about Scoop in a fraction of the time!

Evelyn Waugh was one of the foremost English authors of the interwar period, and is chiefly remembered for his ruthless wit and irreverent satire. During his time abroad, he proves to be entirely unsuited for the position, but nevertheless manages to uncover the titular ‘scoop’ through sheer force of luck in a narrative that unrelentingly satirises the role of news in modern life and the sensationalist tactics employed by the journalists of the era. This engaging summary presents an analysis of Scoop by Evelyn Waugh, which chronicles the misadventures of William Boot, a blundering but well-meaning journalist who is roped into becoming a foreign correspondent after being mistaken for a distant cousin. Unlock the more straightforward side of Scoop with this concise and insightful summary and analysis!