History Literature / Scoop

* SocietyMarchesOn: In the introduction to the novel, Waugh mentions how he put aspects of the recent "ideological" war (referring to the Spanish Civil War between Fascism and Socialism) in his novel. Post-WW2 the popular assumption is that wars are fought for ideological reasons (and [[WarForFunAndProfit if they're not]] the people fighting them aren't going to admit it) so the idea that this is unusual seems odd to the modern reader.

* OneSteveLimit: Averted, which is what leads to all of William Boot's troubles. William Boot is mistaken for aspiring foreign correspondent John Courteney Boot, and so finds himself unwillingly covering a civil war in Ishmaelia. [[spoilers:Happens again in the finale, when Lord Copper insists on having Boot knighted and treating him to a banquet; the knighthood is accidentally conferred on John Courtney Boot, and when William Boot refuses to return to London for the banquet, Salter instead recruits William's uncle, Theodore Boot, to cover for him.]]

* AdventurerOutfit: Before being sent overseas, Boot is sent to the requisite adventure outfitters who, realising his naivete, sell him a vast mountain of clothing and equipment which he lugs to Africa with him.
* {{Bulungi}}: The (not quite) war-torn Republic of Ishmaelia.

* OneSteveLimit: Averted, which is what leads to all of William Boot's troubles. William Boot is mistaken for aspiring foreign correspondent John Courteney Boot, and so finds himself unwillingly covering a civil war in Bulungi.

* PointyHairedBoss: Lord Copper, a pompous, idle newspaper magnate who sends the wrong man to cover an African civil war because of a name mixup, and appears to have few interests other than making speeches and sketching cows.

* SocietyMarchesOn: In the introduction to the novel, Waugh mentions how he put aspects of the recent 'ideological' war (referring to the Spanish Civil War between Fascism and Socialism) in his novel. Post-WW2 the popular assumption is that wars are fought for ideological reasons (and [[WarForFunAndProfit if they're not]] the people fighting them aren't going to admit it) so the idea that this is unusual seems odd to the modern reader.

* YesMan: The closest the the newspaper's foreign editor, Mr Salter, can get to saying that the paper's owner is completely wrong about something is "Up to a point, Lord Copper".

* HistoryMarchesOn: In the introduction to the novel, Waugh mentions how he put aspects of the recent 'ideological' war (referring to the Spanish Civil War between Fascism and Socialism) in his novel. Post-WW2 the popular assumption is that wars are fought for ideological reasons (and [[WarForFunAndProfit if they're not]] the people fighting them aren't going to admit it) so the idea that this is unusual seems odd to the modern reader.

* OneSteveLimit: Averted, which is what leads to all of William Boot's troubles.

* ComicallyMissingThePoint: The protagonist sends all his reports back to England by telegram in fully worded English, prompting the newspaper to suggest that he adopt the more usual practice of abbreviations to reduce the cost. He replies thanking them for their concern, and explaining that it's not costing him anything because he's charging all his telegrams to his[[note]]that is, the newspaper's[[/note]] expense account.
* ForeignCorrespondent: The protagonist and many supporting characters are journalists covering an Eastern African country likely based on Ethiopia.

* SnipeHunt: The protagonist is sent to buy a variety of non-existent items to prepare for a foreign journey. He's served by an extremely resentful shop assistant who has had the bad luck to always get stuck serving naifs on similar shopping excursions, and who believes that they're just pretending in order to waste his time.

* UpperClassTwit: Being a satire of Fleet Street, a few of these come with the territory.

* ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything: The rebels have made a big fuss worldwide about their fascist cause, but are hardly ever seen fighting the Ishmaelite government. In fact, they're pretty hard for the journalists to find at all. Pigge suggests that they're waitng for the rain to stop.

Partly based on Waugh's own experience as a ''Daily Mail'' correspondent in Abyssinia, the novel is considered a classic for its early, biting portrayal of NewsTropes which many a modern reader will recognise.

Partly based on Waugh's own experience as a ''Daily Mail'' correspondent in Abyssinia, the novel is considered a classic for its portrayal of NewsTropes which many a modern reader will recognise.

When a bit of backstage politics at a Fleet Street newspaper goes awry, unassuming nature columnist William Boot is mistaken for an aspiring foreign correspondent with whom he shares his last name, and finds himself suddenly assigned to the East African [[{{Bulungi}} Republic of Ishmaelia]] to cover the civil war which is expected to break out any day now between the Patriots and the Traitors (which is which depends on [[KentBrockmanNews who's employing him]]).

* StrawmanPolitical: The rival Ishmaelite consuls (one representing the communists, the other the fascists) are both hilarious examples of this trope done well.

* [[ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything The Fascists Who Don't Do Anything]]: The rebels have made a big fuss worldwide about their fascist cause, but are hardly ever seen fighting the Ishmaelite government. In fact, they're pretty hard for the journalists to find at all. Pigge suggests that they're waitng for the rain to stop.

* UsefulNotes/LeagueOfNations

* {{Bulungi}}: The war-torn Republic of Ishmaelia.

* OneSteveLimit: Averted, which is what leads to all of William Boot's troubles.

* Bulungi: The war-torn Republic of Ishmaelia.

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