Brideshead Revisited

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of substance use, addiction, and antigay bias.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Critics have described Brideshead Revisited as both a celebration of and an elegy for aristocratic England. How effectively does Waugh balance these seemingly contradictory perspectives? How did this tension shape your reading experience?

2. The novel portrays a world on the cusp of massive change, caught between two world wars. Did you find Waugh’s portrayal of this transitional period convincing? Why or why not? How does it compare to other novels set in interwar Britain, such as Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day, which likewise examines the decline of the English aristocracy?

3. Charles narrates his story from the vantage point of middle age, looking back on his youth. How did this narrative framing affect your understanding of the events and relationships in the novel? Is Charles a trustworthy narrator? Why or why not?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Throughout the novel, characters struggle with the tension between personal desire and religious or societal obligations.