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Anthony Powell: Dance to the Music of Time

It’s twelve volumes long and somewhat old-fashioned, even the later volumes, but irredeemably English and one of the classics of twentieth century English literature. Like other great series – the French have a better term – roman-fleuve (river novel) – such as Henry Williamson‘s Chronicle of Ancient Sunlight, The Alexandria Quartet or, indeed, that great roman-fleuve, Romain Rolland‘s Jean-Christophe, this type of work will less and less likely to be read, as it is just too long for most people. A pity.

The book tells the story of Nicholas Jenkins and a whole range of supporting characters, from their schooldays in 1921 to 1971. The series is, of course, named after Poussin’s painting and, trite though it may sound, Powell essentially paints a picture of well-to-do English society during those fifty years, through the eyes of the well-meaning and essentially decent Nicholas. A plot summary would be rather boring and can be read at the Powell Society’s website. Suffice it to say that the cultural and, in particular, political portrait that Powell paints of England is unique and superbly told. However, as in all good roman-fleuves, it is the shifting relationships between the characters that makes this novel series so worthwhile. It is not just the soap opera, bed-hopping aspect – though there is that – but also who is up and who is down, who is doing well and who is not, who is in and who is out. Above all, it is Widmerpool who will be remembered. Widmerpool was that horrible boy you knew at school, who sort of does well but gets into every kind of trouble and annoys everyone and ends up as you predicted he would but not before he has done a lot better than you did. Widmerpool is Powell’s greatest creation and he always does something different from what you expect. One minute he is up and then he is down but he is always interesting. Read the twelve novels before they go completely out of fashion and you will learn a lot more about twentieth-century England than you will elsewhere.

Publishing history

A Question of Upbringing
First published by Heinemann in 1951

A Buyer’s Market
First published by Heinemann in 1952

The Acceptance World
First published by Heinemann in 1955

At Lady Molly’s
First published by Heinemann in 1957

Casanova’s Chinese Restaurant
First published by Heinemann in 1960

The Kindly Ones
First published by Heinemann in 1962
The Valley of Bones
First published by Heinemann in 1964

The Soldier’s Art
First published by Heinemann in 1966

The Military Philosophers
First published by Heinemann in 1968

Books Do Furnish a Room
First published by Heinemann in 1971

Temporary Kings
First published by Heinemann in 1973

Hearing Secret Harmonies
First published by Heinemann in 1975