It's very likely that few people today who are not serious literary scholars have ever heard of Vile Bodies, Evelyn Waugh's excellent satirical novel mocking the rich and decadent society of London after World War I (published in 1930). However, more people should know about the novel. It influenced a number of very famous and talented artists, including David Bowie, who cited the novel as his influence for the song Aladdin Sane. Nevertheless, Vile Bodies tells the story of Adam Fenwick-Symes, the novel's anti-hero, who endeavors to marry a woman named Nina. However, as war looms over London and as his and Nina's romance fades, we see the true absurdity, stupidity, and darkness of what lies beneath society -- and the emerging generation that lives in London -- before, during, and after World War I.
Upon release, Vile Bodies was warmly reviewed. Many readers cited how unique the book and how comical it was -- and is.
Vile Bodies was adapted into film twice. It was first adapted into a television film of the same name by director Alan Cooke in 1970. It was later adapted into a film called Bright Young Things in 2004 by famed director Stephen Fry. Both films were mostly well-reviewed.
