Decline and Fall – by Evelyn Waugh

Decline and Fall is Evelyn Waugh’s first novel and a razor-sharp satire of British society in the 1920s. It follows the misadventures of Paul Pennyfeather, an unassuming Oxford student who is expelled through no fault of his own and thrown into a series of absurd roles—from teacher at a crumbling Welsh boarding school to fiancé of a glamorous but scandalous widow. With biting wit and dark humor, Waugh exposes the hypocrisies of the upper class, the corruption in education, and the fragility of social reputation.

Perfect for students of modern English literature, Waugh’s debut blends comedy with critique in a timeless portrayal of moral decline and class absurdity.