Evelyn Waugh, 1964

WAUGH, Evelyn (1903-1966). A Little Learning. London: Chapman & Hall, 1964.

A presentation copy of the first edition of Waugh’s unfinished autobiography, published two years before the author's death. Inscribed: "For John and Penelope with love from Evelyn 10th Sept 1964." The present was the first volume of the unfinished project and covers Waugh's early life and education. The title is pulled from Pope’s An Essay on Criticism, “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” Poet laureate John Betjeman and Waugh were at Oxford together, and both he and his wife Penelope would inspire Waugh's writing. Like Waugh, Penelope was a convert to Roman Catholicism. With a pencil annotation, likely Betjeman's, in at least one place noting that "Hamish Lennox" is really Alastair Hugh Graham. See also lots 428 and 432. Davis et al., 37.

Octavo. Publisher's light blue cloth (lightly bumped at extremities). Printed dust jacket (a little minor edgewear at extremities). Provenance: John Betjeman, 1906-1984, poet laureate, and Penelope Chetwode, Lady Betjeman, 1910-1986, travel writer (authorial inscription; by descent to:) – Paul Betjeman, b.1937 (Christie's, 17 May 1989, lot 245).