The now-silent voice of Auberon Waugh was once a trumpet whose clear note helped to justify even journalism. His delight was to puncture the poseurs, to skewer the sententious, to flay the phonies, and generally to be the hammer of all hypocrites. Waugh never attained the crushing finality of Doctor Johnson in exposing those gaps which so often separate fine sentiments from actual behaviour. (Who ever did? This is Johnson on the rebellious American colonists: “How is it that we hear the loudest yelps for liberty among the drivers of negroes?”) Nevertheless, among contemporary commentators, Auberon Waugh’s biting prose was…
Subscribe to get access to all online articles
Already a member?
Sign in to read this article
Digital Subscription
$98 / YR
Get the latest ideas from Australia’s most insightful writers.
- Digital Subscription includes
- Online editions of Quadrant Magazine
- Printed editions of Quadrant Magazine
- iPad ready PDF
- Access to Quadrant Archives
Printed & Digital Subscription
$118 / YR
For avid readers of leading ideas
from Australia’s brightest.
- Printed & Digital Subscription includes
- Online editions of Quadrant Magazine
- Printed editions of Quadrant Magazine
- iPad ready PDF
- Access to Quadrant Archives
- Quadrant Patron includes
- Online editions of Quadrant Magazine
- Printed editions of Quadrant Magazine
- iPad ready PDF
- Access to Quadrant Archives
- All new editions of Quadrant Books
- Exclusive invitations to Quadrant Dinners, book launches and events.
- Quadrant Patron includes
- Online editions of Quadrant Magazine
- Printed editions of Quadrant Magazine
- iPad ready PDF
- Access to Quadrant Archives
- All new editions of Quadrant Books
- Exclusive invitations to Quadrant Dinners, book launches and events.