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fontana, Mass Market Paperback, 252 pages
Description
'He is, as Proust was before him, the great literary chronicler of his culture in his time.' GUARDIAN A Dance to the Music of Time is universally acknowledged as one of the great works of English literature. Reissued now in this definitive edition, it stands ready to delight and entrance a new generation of readers. In this sixth volume, with Britain on the brink of war yet again, Nick Jenkins reflects back on his childhood growing up in the shadow of World War I. Wanting to follow in his father's footsteps, Nick sets his sights on becoming an officer in the Army, and asks his old school friend Widmerpool, who is gaining prominence in the business world, if he will help him. But reserves lists are quickly filling up with names, and it's not long until the threat of war is the one thing on everyone's mind.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Bjace
With a few exceptions, I enjoyed the Dance volumes, but I always found beginning one something of a shock. The author tosses you into the action at a point far distant from where you were left in the last book. In Book 12, Nick Jenkins is by now a respected though minor author who seems to have
I've become more impressed with Powell's handling of his material over the series. The books seem to hang together awkwardly at times and frequently Powell doesn't tell you what you want to know. He uses Nick Jenkins as a camera lens and characters are swept in and out of his life in unpredictable patterns. It's not the way your ordinary novelist writes, but it is the way life happens. People come and go. Someone important to you at one stage of your life becomes a stranger later, or vice versa.
I'll miss The Dance and may, if I live long enough, read it again.
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settled gracefully into his years.[ Hearing secret harmonies] brings him into contact with several pieces of his past--young relatives, professional colleagues, old lovers. Hovering above all is the shadow of Widmerpool, Jenkins' contemporary, whose passage into age has been much less settled and whose life comes to a bizarre end as the book closes.I've become more impressed with Powell's handling of his material over the series. The books seem to hang together awkwardly at times and frequently Powell doesn't tell you what you want to know. He uses Nick Jenkins as a camera lens and characters are swept in and out of his life in unpredictable patterns. It's not the way your ordinary novelist writes, but it is the way life happens. People come and go. Someone important to you at one stage of your life becomes a stranger later, or vice versa.
I'll miss The Dance and may, if I live long enough, read it again.
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LibraryThing member Eyejaybee
This novel brings Anthony Powell's majestic twelve volume sequence, 'A Dance to the Music of Time' to a triumphant close. The sequence is clearly largely autobiographical, with narrator Nick Jenkins's life closely mirroring much of Powell's own, although, once again, despite the first-person
We are now in the 1960s, and Jenkins is living in semi-retirement in Somerset, largely disengaged from his former literary endeavours. Kenneth (now Lord) Widmerpool is as odious as ever, although his immersion within a pseudo-religious cult definitely comes as a surprise. His character has come a long way from the opening volume, A Question of Upbringing, in which he seemed a peripheral character, notably principally for his apparent oddness, and inability to conform, despite his own wish not to stand out. Since then he has been, in turns, a solicitor, a competent business fixer, a successful military administrator, a politician, and, latterly, a self-imposed authority, expressing his forthright views through the editorial columns of newspapers of the newly-minted medium of television.
By the time this novel opens, Widmerpool has just returned from a stint in America where he had garnered some prominence as an advocate of the counterculture, and has re-established himself in the public view as ‘Ken’ Widmerpool. Appointed as the Chancellor of one of the newly-chartered universities, he makes regular public appearances espousing his radical views on educational reform.
Meanwhile, a new character emerges at the start of the book. Scorpio ‘Scorp’ Murtlock is a sinister figure with an unbridled capacity to wreak havoc wherever he goes. He has established himself as the leader of a faux religious community, with whom he travels around in a horse-drawn gypsy carriage. As an early advocate of New Age mysticism, they travel around ancient Druidic sites, and participate in arcane rituals. Murtlock is, however, ambitious for power and influence, and is also determined to become acquainted with Widmerpool for his own nefarious purposes.
As with all of its predecessors, there is relatively little action in the novel. Powell treats us to his customary set pieces, including a marvellous depiction of a literary prize dinner, in which a disordered Widmperool inadvertently steals the show. A lot of the surviving old favourites are here: J G Quiggin, Mark Members, Matilda Donners, Norman Chandler and even, fleetingly, Bithel, who had featured so humorously in "The Valley of Bones".
I think it would be fair to say that this is not the strongest novel in the sequence, although that still leaves considerable scope for it to be a fine novel. It must, anyway, be difficult to bring such a magnum opus to a satisfying conclusion. Powell maintains his mastery of the plot, effortlessly tying up a huge selection of long-running loose ends. I enjoyed re-reading this novel, and indeed the whole sequence, for the umpteenth time, though, as always, I felt saddened to have completed it.
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narration, we learn precious little about the writer. His observations of his friends and acquaintances remain as acute and diverting as ever, although Jenkins himself remains an enigma.We are now in the 1960s, and Jenkins is living in semi-retirement in Somerset, largely disengaged from his former literary endeavours. Kenneth (now Lord) Widmerpool is as odious as ever, although his immersion within a pseudo-religious cult definitely comes as a surprise. His character has come a long way from the opening volume, A Question of Upbringing, in which he seemed a peripheral character, notably principally for his apparent oddness, and inability to conform, despite his own wish not to stand out. Since then he has been, in turns, a solicitor, a competent business fixer, a successful military administrator, a politician, and, latterly, a self-imposed authority, expressing his forthright views through the editorial columns of newspapers of the newly-minted medium of television.
By the time this novel opens, Widmerpool has just returned from a stint in America where he had garnered some prominence as an advocate of the counterculture, and has re-established himself in the public view as ‘Ken’ Widmerpool. Appointed as the Chancellor of one of the newly-chartered universities, he makes regular public appearances espousing his radical views on educational reform.
Meanwhile, a new character emerges at the start of the book. Scorpio ‘Scorp’ Murtlock is a sinister figure with an unbridled capacity to wreak havoc wherever he goes. He has established himself as the leader of a faux religious community, with whom he travels around in a horse-drawn gypsy carriage. As an early advocate of New Age mysticism, they travel around ancient Druidic sites, and participate in arcane rituals. Murtlock is, however, ambitious for power and influence, and is also determined to become acquainted with Widmerpool for his own nefarious purposes.
As with all of its predecessors, there is relatively little action in the novel. Powell treats us to his customary set pieces, including a marvellous depiction of a literary prize dinner, in which a disordered Widmperool inadvertently steals the show. A lot of the surviving old favourites are here: J G Quiggin, Mark Members, Matilda Donners, Norman Chandler and even, fleetingly, Bithel, who had featured so humorously in "The Valley of Bones".
I think it would be fair to say that this is not the strongest novel in the sequence, although that still leaves considerable scope for it to be a fine novel. It must, anyway, be difficult to bring such a magnum opus to a satisfying conclusion. Powell maintains his mastery of the plot, effortlessly tying up a huge selection of long-running loose ends. I enjoyed re-reading this novel, and indeed the whole sequence, for the umpteenth time, though, as always, I felt saddened to have completed it.
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LibraryThing member Eyejaybee
A triumphant resolution to Powell's outstanding twelve volume chronicle. Widmerpool is as odious as ever, though his immersion within a pseudo-religious cult definitely comes as a surprise. As ever we learn relatively little about Nick Jenkins, the narrator of this epic - throughout the sequence he
Newly introduced in this volume is the sinister Scorpio Murtlock who has the ability to wreak havoc wherever he goes, and who is determined to become acquainted with Widmerpool for his own nefarious purposes.
All the old favourites are here: J G Quiggin, Mark Members, Matilda Donners, Norman Chandler and, briefly, Bithel, who had featured so humorously in "The Valley of Bones".
I don't think that this is the strongest novel in the sequence, though I presume that it must always be difficult to bring such a huge opus to a close. Powell certainly performs very well, tying up most of the long-running loose ends. I enjoyed re-reading this novel though, as always, I felt saddened to have completed it.
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has taken a back-seat role, always observing though never initiating the events unfolding around him.Newly introduced in this volume is the sinister Scorpio Murtlock who has the ability to wreak havoc wherever he goes, and who is determined to become acquainted with Widmerpool for his own nefarious purposes.
All the old favourites are here: J G Quiggin, Mark Members, Matilda Donners, Norman Chandler and, briefly, Bithel, who had featured so humorously in "The Valley of Bones".
I don't think that this is the strongest novel in the sequence, though I presume that it must always be difficult to bring such a huge opus to a close. Powell certainly performs very well, tying up most of the long-running loose ends. I enjoyed re-reading this novel though, as always, I felt saddened to have completed it.
Show Less
LibraryThing member devenish
Mainly concerned with the decline and fall of the awful Widmerpool and tying up the various threads in the finale of this unique and truly stupendous work. Having read the entire twelve volumes over a shortish period,I am amazed at the complexity and scope of 'A Dance to the Music of Time' and am
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full of admiration for the author. Show Less
LibraryThing member Kristelh
This the final book of the 12 part Dance to the Music of Time finds Jenkins and his cohorts all older and watching the next generation getting married except Widmerpool who seems to have gone around the bend. It is set in the late 60s. According to the reviewer, Jenkins had a fascination with the
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hippies. These hippies were definitely strange. More like Manson followers. Show Less
LibraryThing member arewenotben
A dazzling series and a close to perfect ending.
LibraryThing member robfwalter
I really enjoyed this installment. I found it quite funny, quite poignant and the plot was more compelling than in many of the other books. I'm glad the series finished on a high, because overall I found it a tremendous experience. Scorpio Murtlock is a fun character, although far less subtle than
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the best earlier characters, and there are lots of entertaining minor characters as well. The decision to bring in hippies was inspired - as a reflection on the breakdown of the class system and a new kind of modernity. I thought the themes of ancient magic, aging and conclusion were very well stitched together. Show Less
LibraryThing member BooksForDinner
And just like that, 10 months later, done with the series. Figured I would read about a book a month, but ended up being a bit faster. This is maybe my favorite of the 12 books. Loved how things wrapped up, so imaginative how the characters ended up. Waiting for the companion book to show up. Will
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definitely be reading this whole series again in the future. Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Language
Original publication date
1975
Physical description
6.9 inches
ISBN
0445201460 / 9780445201460
Local notes
series: #12 dance