"The best writers are those who make the preternatural act of will that it takes to fend off cynicism and despair in the face of all-pervasive cant; to stay fresh, remain curious, and get it right. In this Waugh finally failed, as did Amis and Larkin: All three more or less died of boredom." Katherine A Powers on the unsung malaise of our times, Acute Boredom Intolerance.