Scan barcode
silvej01's review against another edition
5.0
I've briefly commented on several of the books in this series of twelve that constitute one grand epic. I have just completed this ninth novel. With each one, the overall power of the experience increases. Powell's portrait of life in England (with admittedly a tilt toward the affluent) gives us not just a full three dimensional view of that social world, but as the overall title of the series suggests, he adds a fourth dimension, time, showing us how that world changed across the '20s, '30s, and in this Third Movement, during the Second World War.
I'm giving this novel five stars, whereas I rated the 8 earlier novels at four stars. It's not so much that this one is markedly better in itself, but that, as noted, the effect of the whole grows. I may have to go back and revise my earlier ratings upwards. It's a case much like some single masterpiece that requires time and experience before its greatness is fully evident to the reader.
I'm giving this novel five stars, whereas I rated the 8 earlier novels at four stars. It's not so much that this one is markedly better in itself, but that, as noted, the effect of the whole grows. I may have to go back and revise my earlier ratings upwards. It's a case much like some single masterpiece that requires time and experience before its greatness is fully evident to the reader.
charlottesometimes's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bookpossum's review against another edition
4.0
This wonderful work continues to delight. As is inevitable in war, there are more casualties among Nick's friends. But there are still hilarious moments as he comes up against bureaucracy in full cry. Blackhead is a notorious pedant whose minutes "have the abstract quality of pure extension". One splendid example of "three and a half pages on the theory and practice of soap issues for military personnel, with especial reference to the Polish Women's Corps" was hilariously inscribed by Nick's boss "Please amplify."
The reader can imagine Powell treasuring such experiences for later use in his brilliant books. This volume ends with Nick's demobilisation at the end of the war. I look forward to reading the last three volumes as he deals with postwar Britain.
The reader can imagine Powell treasuring such experiences for later use in his brilliant books. This volume ends with Nick's demobilisation at the end of the war. I look forward to reading the last three volumes as he deals with postwar Britain.
neiljung78's review
2.5
Didn’t like this one as much as the last too in part so to more frequent reminders of how much of a massive Tory snob the author is.
astrangerhere's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
nocto's review against another edition
2.0
I had thought that I had settled in and was enjoying this series, but I found this one pretty damn soporific. It covers the end of the second world war and even less happens than usual. And I thought I'd made my peace with the fact that the female characters are poorly portrayed but there was one here whose characterization really annoyed me. I think we'll get to learn more about her in the rest of the books but from what we saw in this one, well it's an interesting thing to look at her bit of the story through a twenty first century lens anyhow.
Spoiler
(Pamela Flitton's)omnibozo22's review
4.0
Nick Jenkins survives the war, mostly be chance, while serving as an Army administrator in London. While he's shuffling papers and people, friends and family die abroad and in the bombardment of England. Widmerpool becomes even more of the admin asshole we all hated in the military, while constantly failing upward.
ampersunder's review
4.0
‰ЫПAs I uttered the last letter, scales fell from my eyes. Everything was transformed. It all came back ‰ЫУ like the tea-soaked madeleine itself ‰ЫУ in a torrent of memory ‰Ы_ Cabourg ‰Ы_ We had just driven out of Cabourg ‰Ы_ out of Proust‰ЫЄs Balbec. [‰Ы_‰Ы_]
‰ЫПProustian musings still hung in the air when we came down to the edge of the water. It had been a notable adventure. True, an actual night passed in one of the bedrooms of the Grand Hotel itself ‰ЫУ especially, like Finn‰ЫЄs, an appropriately sleepless one ‰ЫУ might have crowned the magic of the happening. At the same time, a faint sense of disappointment superimposed on an otherwise absorbing inner experience was in its way suitably Proustian too: a reminder of the eternal failure of human life to respond a hundred per cent; to rise to the greatest heights without allowing at the same time some suggestion, however slight, to take shape in indication that things could have been even better.‰Ыќ
‰ЫПProustian musings still hung in the air when we came down to the edge of the water. It had been a notable adventure. True, an actual night passed in one of the bedrooms of the Grand Hotel itself ‰ЫУ especially, like Finn‰ЫЄs, an appropriately sleepless one ‰ЫУ might have crowned the magic of the happening. At the same time, a faint sense of disappointment superimposed on an otherwise absorbing inner experience was in its way suitably Proustian too: a reminder of the eternal failure of human life to respond a hundred per cent; to rise to the greatest heights without allowing at the same time some suggestion, however slight, to take shape in indication that things could have been even better.‰Ыќ
sophronisba's review
3.0
First half was very slow, I thought, second half picked up with a lot of Widmerpool intrigue, which I enjoyed.
smcleish's review
3.0
Originally published on my blog here in February 2000.
The third trilogy in A Dance to the Music of Time comes to an end with the end of the war. The Military Philosophers is the story of Nick Jenkins' posting to the unit which maintained liaison between the British military and the governments in exile of the occupied countries. The international nature of this work leads to absurdities rather like those in [a:Lawrence Durrell|8166|Lawrence Durrell|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1206290940p2/8166.jpg]'s Antrobus stories, and they are by far the most memorable aspect of this novel.
Of the series characters, the most interesting to play a part on The Military Philosophers is Pamela Fitton, niece of Charles Stringham, now grown up and keen to seduce as many men as possible. Assigned as ATS driver to Nick's unit, she has to be transferred because of the disturbance she causes to relations with the allies.
The third trilogy in A Dance to the Music of Time comes to an end with the end of the war. The Military Philosophers is the story of Nick Jenkins' posting to the unit which maintained liaison between the British military and the governments in exile of the occupied countries. The international nature of this work leads to absurdities rather like those in [a:Lawrence Durrell|8166|Lawrence Durrell|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1206290940p2/8166.jpg]'s Antrobus stories, and they are by far the most memorable aspect of this novel.
Of the series characters, the most interesting to play a part on The Military Philosophers is Pamela Fitton, niece of Charles Stringham, now grown up and keen to seduce as many men as possible. Assigned as ATS driver to Nick's unit, she has to be transferred because of the disturbance she causes to relations with the allies.