The American Spectator
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70% Informative
The novel, Waugh ’s third , appeared in 1932 , following the remarkable success of his two earlier comic novels, Vile Bodies and Decline and Fall .
The setting is the isle of Azania off the coast of Africa — really Ethiopia .
Waugh makes Seth a parody of every ideal of modernization and progressive ideas, always wanting to discuss such things as birth control, surrealism, eugenics, Esperanto .
Black Mischief was a best seller in England when it appeared in October 1932 .
It was not a great success in America . Books about strange British types in Africa didn’t appeal to Americans .
For all its modern indecencies, it remains a book impossible to read without laughing aloud.
VR Score
70
Informative language
66
Neutral language
52
Article tone
semi-formal
Language
English
Language complexity
49
Offensive language
offensive
Hate speech
possibly hateful
Attention-grabbing headline
not detected
Known propaganda techniques
detected
Time-value
long-living
External references
7
Source diversity
2
Affiliate links
no affiliate links