Evelyn Waugh, born on 23 October 1903, has been recognised as one of the great prose stylists of the twentieth century. In 1930, following much consideration, Waugh converted to the Roman Catholic Church. He became determined to write a major Catholic biography, and selected Edmund Campion as his subject. Although its publication caused controvery among both Catholic and Protestant readers, it won the Hawthornden Prize. Waugh served in the Royal Marines in the Second World War. Despite the personal and professional problems that he experienced afterwards, he has been recognised as one of the great prose stylists of the twentieth century. He died in 1966 at his Combe Florey home.