SATIRE AND ITS PERCEPTION BY THE READER, THE REACTION OF CRITICS AND CONTEMPORARIES TO EVELYN WAUGH'S SATIRE

The theme of satire in literature remains one of the most stable forms of artistic criticism of society, politics and culture. It is especially evident in the works of writers of the first half of the 20th century, when literature became not only a reflection of social cataclysms, but also a powerful tool for understanding them. One of the most subtle masters of satirical prose of that time was the English writer Evelyn Arthur St. John Waugh, whose stories remain a little-studied layer of his work, despite significant international interest in his novels. The purpose of the article is to identify and analyze the specifics of the satirical module in the stories of Evelyn Waugh, to determine its functions, its place in the system of his work and its significance in the context of English literature of the XX century. Evelyn Waugh was not a comedian. But he knew the value of humor. He used it as a form. As a way to introduce the reader to the text without arousing suspicion. For example, in "Basil Seal Rides Again," the character explains why he doesn't do anything.: "It's just that I haven't found a case that really deserves my participation yet." It sounds proud. Almost noble. But no case seems like that to him. He talks about himself as an important person. And the reader already knows that he is just a shadow of his youth.