{"product_id":"a-handful-of-dust-99942124","title":"A Handful of Dust","description":"\u003cp\u003eTaking its title from T.S. Eliot's modernist poem \u003ci\u003eThe Waste Land\u003c\/i\u003e, Evelyn Waugh's \u003ci\u003eA Handful of Dust \u003c\/i\u003eis a chronicle of Britain's decadence and social disintegration between the First and Second World Wars. This Penguin Modern Classics edition is edited with an introduction and notes by Robert Murray Davis. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter seven years of marriage, the beautiful Lady Brenda Last is bored with life at Hetton Abbey, the Gothic mansion that is the pride and joy of her husband, Tony. She drifts into an affair with the shallow socialite John Beaver and forsakes Tony for the Belgravia set. Brilliantly combining tragedy, comedy and savage irony, \u003ci\u003eA Handful of Dust \u003c\/i\u003ecaptures the irresponsible mood of the 'crazy and sterile generation' between the wars. This breakdown of the Last marriage is a painful, comic re-working of Waugh's own divorce, and a symbol of the disintegration of society. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIf you enjouyed \u003ci\u003eA Handful of Dust\u003c\/i\u003e, you might like Waugh's \u003ci\u003eVile Bodies\u003c\/i\u003e, also available in Penguin Modern Classics.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'One of the twentieth century's most chilling and bitter novels; and one of its best'\u003cbr\u003eNicholas Lezard, \u003ci\u003eGuardian\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'One of the most distinguished novels of the century'\u003cbr\u003eFrank Kermode\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'This is a masterpiece of stylish satire, and is funny, too ... a marvellous book'\u003cbr\u003eJohn Banville, \u003ci\u003eIrish Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin Classics","offers":[{"title":"Standard Order","offer_id":46294438576364,"sku":"8838699942124-P","price":49.76,"currency_code":"AED","in_stock":true},{"title":"OS","offer_id":46373899370732,"sku":"8838699942124-OS","price":0.0,"currency_code":"AED","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0655\/2797\/2076\/files\/9780141183961.jpg?v=1743056009","url":"https:\/\/astoura.com\/products\/a-handful-of-dust-99942124","provider":"Astoura","version":"1.0","type":"link"}