WAUGH, Evelyn (1903-1966). Vile Bodies. London: Chapman & Hall Ltd., 1930.

John Betjeman's copy of Waugh’s classic satirical novel, with his notes, signed and inscribed by Waugh. Signed and inscribed by the author: "Evelyn Waugh. 'For this body which you call vile, Our Lord Jesus Christ was not ashamed to die.'" With Betjeman's note on the front endpaper: "Stolen from John Betjeman / Farnborough, Wantage, Berkshire." Pages 174-203 include pencil notes, presumably Betjeman's. Waugh and poet laureate Betjeman were at Oxford together, and Betjeman's companion teddy bear ("Archie") would inspire Lord Sebastian Flyte's bear Aloysius in Brideshead Revisited. The original title of Vile Bodies was “Bright Young Things." The present copy is the second impression of the first edition. Davis et al., 5.

Octavo. (Some spotting internally.) Original red and black cloth (spine a little faded, a little rubbing to extremities). Provenance: John Betjeman, 1906-1984, poet (presentation inscription and ownership inscription, by descent to:) – Paul Betjeman, b.1937 (Christie's New York, 17 May 1989, lot 234).