Anthony Powell

[Seasider]

I've been reading posts in the forum for a few years and I have never come across a mention of A Dance to the Music of Time by Anthony Powell. There are 12 volumes but each one deals with a different aspect of the narrator's life. Any other fans?

[Prince Smiles]

Wow, looks like some interesting reading. The first book starts in 1921 and the last book is set in 1971.

As long as the 1960's part is kept as minor a backdrop as possible, I'd like to read this series of novels.

I don't care much for the 1960's. The worst decade in British modern history in my opinion, especially when it comes to architecture.

To illustrate my point:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bPiJWCm0FE&list=FL--o8-OOEDMDMg-Tqv6Iz-Q&index=2&feature=plpp_video

Sorry, I digressed a little. I too would also be interested to hear forum member's opinions on the work.

[Charles Darnay]

He actually has come up in this forum,, but burried in another thread. Either way, I read the first volume and really enjoyed it.

[dfloyd]

in four volumes about three years ago. Powell is like Proust in that he remembers everything and person in his life for 50 years. I read the first novel which covers his school days at Eton. I need to get back to it.

The BBC made a tv series of the novels, and I have watched the first one. If you watch the tv series, it helps you keep track of the characters. there are about as many characters as a Russian novel.

I'm glad you brought this long biogrphical novel up. I will watch the first dvd to get reaclimated then start on the second book.

[Seasider]

The DVD is ok for sorting out the characters but otherwise I found it an inadequate version of the books. Powell's prose is very impressive and he can handle tragic and comic episodes equally well. Widmerpool is one of the great comic characters of literature.Some of his characters are thinly disguised portraits of real people...the musician Constant Lambert for example. There is a concordance written by Hilary Spurling which I found very helpful.