The Loved One
In “The Loved One,” Evelyn Waugh crafts a darkly comedic tale set amidst the glitzy yet morbid world of Hollywood’s funeral industry. The story follows Dennis Barlow, a British poet turned pet mortician, who becomes entangled in the eccentricities of Whispering Glades, a lavish cemetery. As Dennis navigates love, death, and absurdity, Waugh’s sharp wit and satirical eye reveal the bizarre rituals and superficiality of post-war American society. It’s a brilliantly twisted exploration of love and mortality, leaving readers both amused and contemplative.