Scoop

Scoop Summary | Book 1, Part 1 Summary

The Scoop is a satire about the newspaper industry and the profession of journalism. The author, Evelyn Waugh, pokes fun at the people and the processes that form the operations of the Fourth Estate all over the world. The novel begins with the introduction of an author named John CourteneyCourtney Boot who has just published his eighth book in a career that shows much promise. Boot is well traveled and lives a privileged life in London and counts many privileged society people as his friends. On this particular day, Boot plans to visit one of these friends, Mrs. Julia Stitch, whom he trusts for advice on personal and business matters.

Boot arrives at the Stitch household in time to pass Mr. Stitch, who is an English cabinet minister, leaving for the office. The butler shows Boot to Mrs. Stitch's bedroom where she is still in bed but engaged in all sorts of industrious tasks. Mrs. Stitch's face is caked in a clay mask and she acknowledges Boot with her eyes as she interacts with her maid, her daughter, Josephine, and a young painter who is creating images of ruined castles on the room's ceiling.

Mrs. Stitch invites Boot to accompany her to a new rug shop in the city and the two climb into the woman's tiny car and head off. The size of the car and Mrs. Stitch's position of privilege allow the woman to take liberties in traffic, even driving on the sidewalk when impeded by traffic jams. Boot takes the opportunity to share with Mrs. Stitch that he is looking for a diplomatic position in order to escape the country because his American girlfriend is driving him crazy. Mrs. Stitch suggests a position as a foreign correspondent with The Daily Beast newspaper that Boot thinks is a wonderful idea and Mrs. Stitch promises to use her influence to secure the position.

At lunch later that day Mrs. Stitch is able to convince Lord Copper, the head of the Megalopolitan Newspaper Corporation, that he should hire Boot to cover the conflict in Ishmaelia, East Africa. Lord Copper thinks this is a good idea as Boot is a well-traveled, successful author and passes the word on to the Foreign Editor at the paper who makes the mistake of confusing John Boot with an obscure rural columnist named William Boot.

The Foreign Editor and the Managing Editor are perplexed about why Lord Copper would send this low profile writer to cover a war but send a telegram to William Boot on their employer's orders.