The Patrick Hamilton Appreciation Society discussion
This topic is about
Anthony Powell
Hamilton-esque books, authors..
>
"A Dance To The Music Of Time" by Anthony Powell
date
newest »
newest »
Mod
A Question of Upbringing by Anthony Powell
"A Dance to the Music of Time" is a twelve-volume cycle of novels by Anthony Powell, and "A Question of Upbringing" is the first of the twelve volumes.
I've wanted to read "A Dance to the Music of Time" since discovering that Julian Maclaren-Ross features somewhere in the series as a character called X. Trapnel. Such is my interest in Julian Maclaren-Ross (I am, of course, assuming you have already read "Fear and Loathing in Fitzrovia: The Bizarre Life of Writer, Actor, Soho Raconteur Julian Maclaren-Ross" by Paul Willetts) that this is sufficient to inspire me to tackle one of the longest works of fiction in English literature. You probably feel exactly the same.
Published in 1951, "A Question of Upbringing" is the reminiscences of Nick Jenkins (presumably based on Powell himself) who recounts his last few years at public school around 1921, a summer spent in France, and then onto university. It's a familiar world of gilded privilege, akin to the early sections of "Brideshead Revisited", though with very little by way of drama or narrative. Instead the reader is introduced to a variety of disparate characters and some prescient anecdotes. I say prescient as Jenkins hints at the ways in which their lives will turn out.
What makes this book a delight is the beautiful writing, which really captures the era and milieu, aligned to regular doses of humour. Powell captures the transition of adolescence into adulthood perfectly: the insecurities, the naivety, the fast changes, the gaucheness, the way friendships may evolve and fracture, and how life choices made at this stage can shape whole lives.
I suspect this series will get better and better and "A Question of Upbringing" lays the groundwork for what it is to follow. I cannot wait to find out.
4/5
Mod
I've nearly finished the second book, A Buyer's Market, and am really enjoying it.
As with the first book, there is so much subtlety, humour, sublime writing, and wisdom to enjoy. I feel that the plot, such as it is, is really just an excuse for Anthony Powell to muse on relationships, power, status, gender roles, culture and much more.
I love the way Widmerpool keeps turning up in ever more incongruous and unexpected places - constantly surprising and confounding Nick Jenkins.
Now then, I am finding the list of major characters in each volume at anthonypowell.org.uk to be invaluable..
http://www.anthonypowell.org.uk/andov...
http://www.anthonypowell.org.uk/andov...
etc.
There are also some splendid and insightful essays on each book tool
Mod
I also love the way that Widmerpool constantly rises, Phoenix-like, from the various ignominies that are heaped upon him. It's inspired.
Mod
I'm working my way through "Spring" (see first post) and I am now poised to start reading The Acceptance World.
Spring
A Question of Upbringing – (1951)
MY REVIEW: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A Buyer's Market – (1952)
MY REVIEW: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Acceptance World – (1955)
As with the other books I have read, my hot tip is to use the character list at AnthonyPowell.org to keep track of who is who. The one for The Acceptance World is here...
http://www.anthonypowell.org.uk/andov...
There is also a synopsis, which you may want to avoid reading if you don't like spoilers, and some interesting essays too.
I am already feeling a sense of excitement as I am about to embark on Volume Three "The Acceptance World".
More later.
Mod
Casting my mind back to the early stages of A Question of Upbringing, I can see more clearly how so much of what happens in the early stages, sets up the Dance as we move forward in time. I mention this by way of encouragement for anyone who starts the series and is unsure about whether to commit to the whole thing. Based on my own experience - and as I approach the end of "Spring" - I can only say stick with it. This series is already really something special.
Mod
I have now finished "Spring" having completed volume three of A Dance To The Music Of Time The Acceptance World.
This is just brilliant literature. Thanks to Susan for getting me started on this series. I'd always had a vague notion I'd like to read the books, and now I'm wondering what took me so long. Right up there with other favourites from the era... Hamilton, MacLaren-Ross, Greene, Orwell, Maugham etc.
I rated A Question of Upbringing (Volume 1) and A Buyer's Market (Volume 2) as 4 star books. The Acceptance World (Volume 3) is a 5 star read. It's wonderful.
I encourage anyone who starts the series, and is unsure about whether to commit, to stick with it. It becomes ever more enjoyable and rewarding.
The Acceptance World is certainly the most dramatic volume so far, with a merry-go-round of relationship change. Almost as soon two disparate characters meet theirs a likelihood of a change in relationship status in the offing.
As I work through the series it is becoming clearer how some of what happens in the early stages, sets up the Dance as we move forward in time. This is making the series progressively more enjoyable and compelling. I raced through The Acceptance World such was my enjoyment. I've enjoyed all of the first three volumes however this is the most enjoyable so far.
Click here to see my review of A Question of Upbringing (A Dance to the Music of Time #1)
Click here to see my review of A Buyer's Market (A Dance to the Music of Time #2)
Click here to see my review of The Acceptance World (A Dance to the Music of Time #3)
Mod
"Invitation To The Dance" by Hilary Spurling
Anthony Powell's "A Dance to the Music of Time" is a landmark of twentieth-century writing. Hilary Spurling has written an invaluable companion to the 12-volume masterpiece, creating a magnificent database of Powell’s imagination and England’s cultural landscape.
Invitation To The Dance is best used as an intermittent accompaniment for those reading "A Dance To The Music Of Time" and contains a wealth of information to help the reader keep track of characters.
This book was much sought after by Powell enthusiasts during a lengthy period of being out of print and Random House must be praised for republishing it.
I've ordered my copy.
Good project - I'm going to attempt it one day, though I might have to intersperse novels with others to throw off the feeling of serving a life sentence! Bought a charity shop copy of 'Books Do Furnish a Room' recently on the strength of the title (it sounds like a superb barbed comment to a philistine... though I'm probably wide of the mark).
Mod
I'm currently enjoying a palette cleanser with a bit of Get Carter by Ted Lewis. As recommended by our very own Mark. So far so wonderful.
Mod
Mod
Episode 56 is about "Anthony Powell, A Question of Upbringing" (Volume 1).
It's an hour and a half.
Here's the info from the Podcast makers...
We’re joined by musician and novelist Wesley Stace (who you may also know as John Wesley Harding) to discuss the first novel in Anthony Powell’s 12-book cycle A Dance to the Music of Time. Once Mike finishes geeking out about meeting one of his favorite musicians——before recording the episode, Mike pulled his copy of Why We Fight off the shelf, and discovered he’d worn it out so much in his teens that his CD player wouldn’t even recognize the disc——we get down to discussing the book, and why Stace loves it so much.
More here....
http://bookfightpod.com/2014/03/17/ep..."
My thoughts...
A very interesting and entertaining listen. Wesley Stace (author and musician) is very passionate about the book and offers some interesting thoughts.
The co-presenters are less incisive but it's all well worth a listen.
It's not all about the book, however it's easy to skip forward if you're not interested in the other stuff.
All three participants really enjoyed the book.
I'd add that if you are unsure about continuing with the rest of the series, then this podcast would probably go quite some way to convincing you to continue.
On the question of "to continue, or not to continue?", I can only add that having just finished The Soldier's Art (Volume 8) the series continues to delight and astound. Just wonderful.
Mod
"The Soldier's Art" (A Dance To The Music Of Time - Volume 8) by Anthony Powell
As with previous volumes, the writing is sublime, and the slow, methodical approach to some superb set pieces is a wonderful thing to behold. I adore these books and will be reading them all again once I finish the series.
Click here to read my review.
Nigeyb wrote: "I've nearly finished the second book, A Buyer's Market, and am really enjoying it.
As with the first book, there is so much subtlety, humour, sublime writing, and wisdom to enjoy...."
Nigeyb, I can't find the link you posted of the Dance characters to the real people they are based on.
I've started re-reading A Buyer's Market to refresh my memory. I now want to know who Mr Deacon is based on, if any.
I like the description on p.7 of a professional artist being a "Bohemian profession: even valuable in their way as illustrating another side of human experience."
I'm getting so much more on the second read.
Mod
Here's the link Greg...
http://www.anthonypowell.org/home.php...
Greg wrote: "I now want to know who Mr Deacon is based on."
Mr Deacon is, apparently a composite (as are many of the characters)...
Combination of Mr Bailey, an alcoholic antiques dealer who had a shop in Wardour Street, and Christopher Millard.
Anthony Powell, Journals 1990-1992, pp 48, 140
Millard (b. 1872) was a homosexual bookseller and at one time Assistant Editor of the Burlington Magazine. He was also, as Stuart Mason, the historian and bibliographer of Oscar Wilde. AP was, quite innocently, friendly with Millard for a short time around 1920-22 when Millard lived in a wooden bungalow in St John's Wood.
Anthony Powell, To Keep the Ball Rolling: Infants of the Spring, pp 90-97
There are also recognisable characteristics of (the distinctly heterosexual) Augustus John.
Thanks Nigeyb, that explains some of Mr Deacon's peculiarities. Some don't seem to fit, mostly progressive but 'he hated suffragettes'.I don't see any of the great Augustus John described in Mr Edgar Deacon, except maybe some of the painting style. I thought from the description of the paintings at the beginning, and only the painting style, he might be based on Sir Matthew Smith.
Mod
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/...
It was interesting that it had only been one year since Anthony Powell had finished the final volume of A Dance To The Music Of Time and he had just written the first volume of his memoirs, "To Keep the Ball Rolling: The Memoirs of Anthony Powell", which ultimately ran to four volumes, though there is a one volume abridged version too.
Here's a review from Amazon.co.uk
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
5 out of 5 stars
A must for those who can't get enough of "Dance", 21 May 2007
By J. Thiry (Munich)
I don't usually read memoirs or biographies because I think they are a second-hand (and second-best) approach to literature, and I certainly don't recommend this book to anyone who has not read the author's novels. This time though, having spent so much time reading "Dance" and listening to its audio version by Simon Callow, I thought I owed it to myself to dig a little deeper into this remarkable author. Most of all, I hoped this book would convey some of the atmosphere of "Dance", of which I cannot have enough. I think it did. The people and the places of these memoirs are not to be regarded as "keys" to the book but they certainly were inspirational to "Dance" and AP often mentions the similarities and differences between those people and their fictional counterparts. There is some name-dropping and, of course, the vast majority of the names will remain unknown to me but their doings and idiosyncrasies, described in the usual AP style, are interesting in their own right. It has been said that AP revealed little about himself in his memoirs. This is true but therein lies, maybe, the strength of AP's approach to writing: a good novelist, according to AP, is one more interested in other people than in himself/herself. This is the principle followed in this book.
Sounds like another "must read".
The Desert Island Discs programme with Anthony Powell is also notable for a splendid example of an English upper class accent. "Off" being pronounced "orf" etc. It also has that slightly stilted, awkward, formal quality that harks back to a bygone age and is a far cry from the current Desert Island Discs programmes, helmed by Kirsty Young, which are far more relaxed and chatty (and a big improvement).
Anthony Powell doesn't really give much away however I found it very interesting to hear his voice and get a slight feel for his personality.
Mod
Comic writer in the English tradition whose million-word masterpiece introduced us to an army of characters - one hauntingly mysterious
Anthony Powell, who has died aged 94, is inevitably regarded as the English Proust, on the strength of the massive novel sequence A Dance to the Music of Time - 12 volumes and a million words - that became his central life's work. The Proust impact was more dominant and more obvious than that of other great European novelists and assorted influences from Petronius to modern Americans. Yet he will stand as essentially a comic writer in the English tradition - comic in the least uproarious way imaginable, reflective and often melancholic, the strong social spine to his work being the one distinctively uncommon feature in a branch of writing remarkable more for eccentricity than togetherness.
The rest is here....
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2000...
Mod
Books Do Furnish a Room (1971) the tenth of Anthony Powell's twelve-novel sequence A Dance to the Music of Time
Already my heart is heavy at the prospect of coming towards then end of this magnificent piece of literature. One of the best things I have ever read and a work I will be revisiting in the future.
Books Do Furnish a Room takes place in 1946 and 1947.
The book is most noteworthy in my world for the introduction of X. Trapnel, famously based upon a recent literary hero of mine Julian Maclaren-Ross.
Julian Maclaren-Ross is the cover star of some additions, including the one I have added above (which you should be able to see if you are reading this on a computer).
It is strange to read an evocation of England immediately after World War Two, a period that doesn't appear to feature too often in literature (in contrast to the pre-War years and the war itself).
As with other volumes, there is so much to enjoy not least X. Trapnel who, based on my knowledge, is a fairly faithful rendition of Julian Maclaren-Ross and his associated strengths and foibles.
Nigeyb wrote: "I am now well underway with...Books Do Furnish a Room (1971) the tenth of Anthony Powell's twelve-novel sequence A Dance to the Music of Time
Already my heart is heavy at the p..."
Nigeyb, you're fairly ripping through the books at a cracking pace. Can you get all the nuance and finer subtle description? I say this because having read A Buyer's Market first, (a few years ago), and recently read A Question of Upbringing and now re-reading A Buyer's Market it has amazed me how much more I'm getting second time around. I think when first reading, one is taking in the storyline, and on the second outing one picks up a lot that is missed first time.
Nigeyb wrote Already my heart is heavy at the prospect of coming towards then end of this magnificent piece of literature. One of the best things I have ever read and a work I will be revisiting in the future.
I can verify just from revisiting the second book, it is better and richer than the first, in some ways like reading it anew.
Mod
Inevitably I am missing some of the nuance and finer subtle description. From time to time I go back and read some sections out loud to myself, to savour the beautiful writing.
I also, through perusal of Invitation To the Dance: A Handbook to Anthony Powell's A Dance to the Music of Time by Hilary Spurling know what's going to happen in advance and I find this does not impair my enjoyment. The plot is secondary to the writing.
Like you, I am sure I will get a richer experience second time round. I look forward to it.
Nigeyb, with what you've just said about The plot is secondary to the writing. is exactly the reason you should get into James Joyce's Ulysses. A Dance and Ulysses are alike in that, both have a larger cast than a Hollywood epic, and although Ulysses is set in one day and A Dance is set over decades, both are works of genius that slide off the brain on first reading. Both Ulysses and A Dance to the Music of Time: 1st Movement are not about the plot, they are, as you say, about the writing.
Mod
I should give "Ulysses" another go. I have it on my shelf and have tried a few times.
Whilst, in Dance the plot is secondary to the writing, there is a plot and it is very accessible. On one level it is like a soap opera, with some marvellous twist and turns, and some incredible set pieces. There is plenty of drama, and comedy, and the meaning is always clear. I have not always had that sense when reading James Joyce. To what extent would you say Ulysses has these qualities too?
Mod
Books Do Furnish a Room (1971) the tenth of Anthony Powell's twelve-novel sequence A Dance to the Music of Time
Books Do Furnish a Room follows straight on from the preceding trio of war volumes (The Valley of Bones (1964), The Soldier's Art (1966), and The Military Philosophers (1968)) and takes place in the immediate post-war period of 1946 and 1947. It is strange, and informative, to read an evocation of the atmosphere of post-war austerity in England, a period that doesn't appear to feature too often in literature (in contrast to the pre-War years and the war itself).
As the title suggests, Books Do Furnish a Room is about publishing, and specifically the publishers, Quiggins and Craggs, and their new literary magazine Fission, who Nick Jenkins joins. Plenty of pre-war characters reappear, along with a younger bohemian crowd most notably the up-and-coming novelist X. Trapnel (famously based upon a literary hero of mine Julian Maclaren-Ross). From what I know of Julian Maclaren-Ross, X. Trapnel appears to be a fairly faithful rendition of his personality, and his strengths and foibles.
Click here to read my review
Mod
Temporary Kings
A Dance to the Music of Time - Volume 11
Click here to read my review.
Having created the magical world of this literary masterpiece, which shines a light on relationships, personal values and social history, I cannot wait to discover how Powell wraps the saga up.
Finishing the twelfth and final volume, Hearing Secret Harmonies, will be a bittersweet moment. This has been one of the most enjoyable literary journeys I have experienced.
I wholeheartedly recommend “A Dance to the Music of Time” to my fellow Hamiltonians. Sublime.
Mod
Hearing Secret Harmonies
Anthony Powell finished the series with a real flourish. Hearing Secret Harmonies embraces the late sixties counterculture and contains some truly stunning scenes.
Click here to read my review
Overall “A Dance to the Music of Time” is magnificent.
Reading the series has been such a fabulous experience. Anthony Powell is a master. Although the books can be read and enjoyed individually, and on their own terms, the real pleasure is in reading all twelve books, and enjoying a narrative that takes place over a seventy year time span. Calling his series ''A Dance" is a perfect metaphor, as Anthony Powell is akin to a choreographer, who intricately keeps track of over four hundred characters across more than a million words. It's a stunning achievement, and throughout, his beautiful writing is as much of a joy as the ingenious plot and his ambitious, and completely successful, cultural and social history of England throughout the twentieth century.
The star of the series is arguably Kenneth Widmerpool, one of the most memorable characters I have ever encountered in a book. Widmerpool is a contemporary of narrator Nick Jenkins and, despite not being friends, he crops up somewhere in every volume. Whilst narrator Nick, along with many of the characters, represent musicians, poets, novelists, painters etc., Widmerpool is the opposite, a ruthlessly ambitious person but a deeply flawed human being. I wonder to what extent he might represent the triumph of commerce and bureaucracy, over more aesthetic considerations, that appears to be one of the main aspects of twentieth century history.
I have a copy of To Keep the Ball Rolling: The Memoirs of Anthony Powell which looks like another wonderful book and, according to the cover, is "especially illuminating to students of A Dance to the Music of Time". I am really looking forward to reading both, in addition to re-reading this marvellous series again.
“A Dance to the Music of Time” is a masterpiece - and one of the best literary experiences I have ever enjoyed. Profound, funny, dramatic, and remarkably accessible and easy to read. It is a series I will return to again. I cannot praise it highly enough.
Nigeyb wrote: "^ Thanks Greg.I should give "Ulysses" another go. I have it on my shelf and have tried a few times.
Whilst, in Dance the plot is secondary to the writing, there is a plot and it is very acc..."
Nigeyb, my apologies for the delay in replying to your question, "To what extent would you say Ulysses has these qualities?" I have been thinking on it.
Nigeyb wrote, "Whilst, in Dance the plot is secondary to the writing, there is a plot and it is very accessible. On one level it is like a soap opera, with some marvellous twist and turns, and some incredible set pieces. There is plenty of drama, and comedy, and the meaning is always clear. I have not always had that sense when reading James Joyce. To what extent would you say Ulysses has these qualities too?"
I don't know about soap opera, plot, marvellous twists and turns, incredible set pieces, plenty of drama, and the meaning is always clear but there is comedy, and probably some or all of the above. I think there is a similar 'attitude' of approach in both writers in looking at society and people. I think both Powell and Joyce see people and society as basically ridiculous.
With Ulysses, I don't think it necessary to read Ulysses from the beginning. I'd suggest reading sections. The book changes in writing style in different sections.
One part I recommend is where Joyce sends up the descriptions in women's magazines, it's hilarious. From page 344. "The summer evening had to begin to fold the world in it's mysterious embrace", to page 366, "Sister souls showing their teeth at one another. How many have you left? Wouldn't lend each other a pinch of salt", as a sample.
Mod
I have just fished my copy of Ulysses from the shelf and will do as you suggest - read a few excerpts and see how I get on, including the magazine send up (though that doesn't seem to on p344 of my edition which has 644 pages in total, and not including the Afterword).
Anyway, and lest anyone be in any doubt, “A Dance to the Music of Time” is a masterpiece - and one of the best literary experiences I have ever enjoyed. Profound, funny, dramatic, and remarkably accessible and easy to read. It is a series I will return to again. I cannot praise it highly enough.
I've just received Casanova's Chinese Restaurant, a Fathers Day gift. One of those spooky nice coincidences happened when starting reading the first page. Having recently read The Ministry of Fear, in replying to a comment of my review, as it is set during the Blitz, I also recommended H. V. Morton's In Search Of London which beautifully describes the plant life and flowers growing in profusion in the bomb sites and attracting the wildlife into London. And opening the first page of Casanova's Chinese Restaurant and reading the same picture of wildflowers growing out of the bombed-out buildings was amazing!
Mod
Ah yes, I love little coincidences like that too.
Nigeyb, you mentioned on the Philip Kerr thread, replying to my comment I added on The Kindly Ones. Your observation on the WWII books 6-9 have shades of Sword of Honour. I wondered that myself when as soon as the story introduced the war Powell includes the word adumbrate, which I don't recall him using the word adumbrate previously. So I checked when Sword of Honour was published, and yes, a year or two before The Kindly Ones. Might there be a bit hat-tipping here between authors, maybe a private joke, something like between The Beatles and Bob Dylan had going.
Mod
The Patrick Hamilton Appreciation Society
Books mentioned in this topic
Casanova's Chinese Restaurant (other topics)The Ministry of Fear (other topics)
In Search of London (other topics)
To Keep the Ball Rolling: The Memoirs of Anthony Powell (other topics)
Hearing Secret Harmonies (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Anthony Powell (other topics)Julian Maclaren-Ross (other topics)
James Joyce (other topics)
James Joyce (other topics)
Hilary Spurling (other topics)
More...
I'm going to be the first to admit that Anthony Powell is not particularly Hamilton-esque, except perhaps in two ways:
- he was writing around the same time
- he is another perecptive chronicler of human relationships
I've decided to work my way through the twelve-volume sequence A Dance to the Music of Time which traces a colourful group of English acquaintances from 1914 to 1971.
The slowly developing narrative centres around life's poignant encounters between friends and lovers who later drift apart and yet keep reencountering each other over numerous unfolding decades as they move through the vicissitudes of marriage, work, aging, and ultimately death.
Until the last three volumes, the standard excitements of old-fashioned plots (What will happen next? Will x marry y? Will y murder z?) seem far less important than time's slow reshuffling of friends, acquaintances, and lovers in intricate human arabesques."
Time and Anthony Powell: A Critical Study by Robert L. Selig
http://www.anthonypowell.org/home.php...
The twelve books are amiable individually or as four volumes.
Spring
A Question of Upbringing – (1951)
A Buyer's Market – (1952)
The Acceptance World – (1955)
Summer
At Lady Molly's – (1957)
Casanova's Chinese Restaurant – (1960)
The Kindly Ones – (1962)
Autumn
The Valley of Bones – (1964)
The Soldier's Art – (1966)
The Military Philosophers – (1968)
Winter
Books Do Furnish a Room – (1971)
Temporary Kings – (1973)
Hearing Secret Harmonies – (1975)
(dates are first UK publication dates)
We've already had some discussion on here - over on the Anthony Powell thread...
Mark wrote: "How are you planning to deal with the additional eleven volumes?! Will you take a stab at them? I'm thinking of picking this one up, but a bit daunted by the prospect of getting addicted and obsessively reading twelve volumes... this sort of thing tends to happen in my life with frightening regularity, to the exclusion of everything else! Ah, well... human interaction be damned!"
Mark wrote: " I'll give the first volume a try, and decide afterwards. It's been on my radar for quite a while, just never managed to take the plunge."
Miss M wrote: "It's definitely worth a try, Mark"