THE CATHOLIC NOVEL - Episode 3: "Brideshead Revisited"

Fr. Robert Lauder has a deep connection to the arts including film, stage and literature. THE CATHOLIC NOVEL is a lecture series that will focus on some of his favorite novels where Catholicism is treated favorably.
This 3rd episode will feature Evelyn Waugh's acclaimed work, BRIDESHEAD REVISITED!

[@rosemaryallen2128]

Rather touching. As a huge admirer of the TV series, and a non Catholic, I never realized the symbolism of the name Brideshead. The whole work of art speaks of the beauty of God.

[@PBXVIILY]

Fantastic. I came across this due to Bishop Barron speaking about Brideshead. My Dad a prolific reader, loved this book and spoke about it often. Great talk! I’m going to read it now.

[@stgeorgeslaysthedragon4939]

This was a great lecture. Thank you so much for this. It was a beautiful work of literature, and I thoroughly enjoyed both the novel and this video.

[@kiporen]

Yes! I have said this also--this is the best thing that has ever been on tv.

[@kevinkane7667]

A charming lecture about a great novel. The book is funny, clever, romantic and ultimately melancholy - the catholic family members and their friends chase fame, love, fortune and pleasure and become sad and lost without their faith. Charles who is an atheist then believes and consequently has to let go of Julia, the girl he has always loved, because both have married other people. I think the message is one of faith being a hard, painful burden but without it life is ultimately empty and pointless. My wife gave a beautiful leather bound copy of the book to our son before he went to College and he told me at the time that he thought it was dreadful rubbish. Now he is in his thirties he tells me it is one of his favourites, so l think it takes time to recognise what Waugh is saying.

[@pauldh62]

I am not of the faith, but a protestant. I humbly submit that as an Englishman I can explain why American catholics might struggle with the beginning. While of course the novel's ultimate focus is about catholicism, and catholicism in England rather than anywhere else, it is also about other things, such as the decline of the aristocracy. Ironically it is a Marxist novel with a catholic message, written by a right wing English eccentric with a mastery of pros and it does all this without mention of the worst excesses against the faith on our so called sceptred isle. If I might endorse the good father's film critique, watch the 1981 Granada tv version, where you can almost follow the text, not the 2008 remake where third rate scriptwriters try to rewrite the work of a master and are found painfully wanting.

[@redcatofdeath]

I don't think it is even remotely Marxist.

[@pauldh62]

@@redcatofdeath Marxism predicts the fall of the aristocracy which is one of themes of the novel - ok, it's not the main theme, but it's there. Waugh wrote in, I think it is the introduction, of how he came to write the novel after sustaining an injury from a parachute accident in 1944 which afforded him the time during convalescence and remarked among other things that the fate of the aristocracy as a class was one of his preoccupations when writing it, that indeed his worst fears had not been realised. Marx talks of an evolution of economics that sees the demise of the aristocracy, followed by the rise and fall of the bourgeoisie and the rise of the proletariate. The character Hooper represents the bourgeoisie. Waugh does not refer to Marx and the interpretation is my own. Waugh, no doubt, would spin in his grave if he thought his novel was considered Marxist.

[@johnmulvey5121]

Very good!

[@PeterShieldsukcatstripey]

Yes it was a beautiful series.

[@PeterShieldsukcatstripey]

oh yes i felt that in my palms - brideshead draws us.

[@jimt6498]

The lecturer should have focused on the TV series more than the novel. The TV series really does outshine the novel and brings it to life.

[@nintendonut100]

Given the large amount of people who consider Brideshead Revisited to be primarily about some perceived doomed homosexual romance between Charles and Sebastian I think the speaker here is quite right about people now not understanding this novel.

[@briandelaney9710]

There are definitely homoerotic elements and anyone who knows Waugh’s experiences at Oxford should know that. Waugh never disowned that

[@elizabethbower2168]

I would rather say the theme of this book was homosexuality with a dash of Catholism thrown in

[@p.s.431]

The theme is certainly not homosexuality, arguably the only homosexual character is Anthony Blanche who, at best, has a supporting role.

[@robanks3895]

Yes it was most definitely about homosexual relationship between Charles and Sebastion and also about Catholicism and the decline of the aristocracy

[@PeterShieldsukcatstripey]

Royal Leamington Spa

[@robinnicholas7867]

Very poor lecture in my opinion. The beginning is not hard to get into at all. It’s very simple really. And it’s not a castle at all. Charles has no interest in religion at all.

[@BoudicaJ]

May I present an alternative view? To a life long atheist such as I...the beauty of Brideshead,amongst a great many other things,lies within the idea of how pointless religion is. How it's divisive. How outdated ideas still prevail even in civilised minds. BR is a wonderful book and one does not have to have a religion in any sense to enjoy it.

[@johnmulvey5121]

But miss the point.

[@weeeeeety1]

BR is an affirmation of the atheist view.....Marchmain succumbs to his fear of death and falls foul of the tyranny of catholicism. The whole point of the story is to show how religion destroys lives whilst making them guilt ridden and pathetic in the process. Your alternative view is in fact the only correct interpretation!

[@Charlz1980tv]

You're really totally clueless, arent you...😆😆😆😆😆😆

[@Charlz1980tv]

If you truely believe that, i think you haven't understood a word of this novel. Not one iota.

[@lorihogue5015]

Interesting how those who only see the religious parts of this book are also those who insult and deride others. Not very Christ like 😑

[@peterchaloner2877]

Waugh would not have been able to bear the barrow-boy timbre of this priest's voice, and I too cannot, no matter how valid his argument may be. Off to Charm School at once.

[@Laou41]

I think this is a very uncritical analysis of the potrayal and role of Catholicism in the novel. I don't think it is straight-forwadly pro Catholic. Indeed, it reveals a lot of it's insiduous charm.

[@GerardML7]

Strawberry Gaming Evelyn Waugh is explicit in his introduction of the novel that it is about the inter workings of Divine grace on a group of friends

[@weeeeeety1]

Yes..........Mr Lauder conveniently reinterprets Waugh`s novel... just as he probably contorts reality to suit his perverse beliefs.

[@weeeeeety1]

..............Immaculate Conception Centre! Literary view from an obsession with sex and guilt. Forget it!

[@p.s.431]

I don’t think the immaculate conception means what you think it means…