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ampersunder's review against another edition
4.0
‰ЫПTwo compensations for growing old are worth putting on record as the condition asserts itself. The first is a vantage point gained for acquiring embellishments to narratives that have been unfolding for years beside one‰ЫЄs own, trimmings that can even appear to supply the conclusion of a given story, though finality is never certain, a dimension always possible to add. The other mild advantage endorses a keener perception for the authenticities of mythology, not only of the traditional sort, but ‰ЫУ when such are any good ‰ЫУ the latterday mythologies of poetry and the novel.‰Ыќ
Trapnel: ‰ЫПPeople think because a novel‰ЫЄs invented, it isn‰ЫЄt true. Exactly the reverse is the case. Because a novel‰ЫЄs invented, it is true. Biography and memoirs can never be wholly true, since they can‰ЫЄt include every conceivable circumstance of what happened. The novel can do that. The novelist himself lays it down. His decision is binding. The biographer, even at his highest and best, can be only tentative, empirical. The autobiographer, for his part, is imprisoned in his own egotism. He must always be suspect. In contrast with the other two, the novelist is a god, creating his man, making him breathe and walk. The man, created in his own image, provides information about the god. In a sense you know more about Balzac and Dickens from their novels, than Rousseau and Casanova from their Confessions.‰Ыќ
Trapnel: ‰ЫПPeople think because a novel‰ЫЄs invented, it isn‰ЫЄt true. Exactly the reverse is the case. Because a novel‰ЫЄs invented, it is true. Biography and memoirs can never be wholly true, since they can‰ЫЄt include every conceivable circumstance of what happened. The novel can do that. The novelist himself lays it down. His decision is binding. The biographer, even at his highest and best, can be only tentative, empirical. The autobiographer, for his part, is imprisoned in his own egotism. He must always be suspect. In contrast with the other two, the novelist is a god, creating his man, making him breathe and walk. The man, created in his own image, provides information about the god. In a sense you know more about Balzac and Dickens from their novels, than Rousseau and Casanova from their Confessions.‰Ыќ
june_englit_phd's review against another edition
3.0
Yes!!!!! After just short of 3,600 pages, I have completed all 12 volumes of Dance To The Music Of Time. I'm proud and feel I have achieved something in doing this, but yet I am sad that there are no more.
Hearing Secret Harmonies has to be my least favourite of all the novels though; for Widmerpool to be a Peer one moment, to a University Chancellor the next (apparently happy for students to express themselves violently), to being a mad cult member, just seems a little too strange an ending. In saying that, Widmerpool has gone from a farcical character in book one, to a man holding respectful jobs and power, to being a farcical character again in book 12. The circle of life.
To me, the war-time novels (numbers 7-9) were the best of this literary masterpiece, but I did love them all; maybe not so much Temporary Kings and this title. I would thoroughly recommend these books to anyone who wants a challenge! Well done Mr Powell!
Hearing Secret Harmonies has to be my least favourite of all the novels though; for Widmerpool to be a Peer one moment, to a University Chancellor the next (apparently happy for students to express themselves violently), to being a mad cult member, just seems a little too strange an ending. In saying that, Widmerpool has gone from a farcical character in book one, to a man holding respectful jobs and power, to being a farcical character again in book 12. The circle of life.
To me, the war-time novels (numbers 7-9) were the best of this literary masterpiece, but I did love them all; maybe not so much Temporary Kings and this title. I would thoroughly recommend these books to anyone who wants a challenge! Well done Mr Powell!
sophronisba's review against another edition
3.0
I thought the series ended with a bit of a whimper -- but I am intrigued enough to reread at some point.
smcleish's review
2.0
Originally published on my blog here in May 2000.
The final part of A Dance to the Music of Time concentrates on what has been an occasional theme until now, esoteric religion, as several characters become involved in what would probably today be described as a New Age cult. Most of the remaining long running characters (including the narrator, Nick Jenkins) are now in their sixties or seventies, and the title refers to both these elements - it is part of a quotation about being affected by mysticism ("hearing secret harmonies" of the universe) before death.
Aside from the final downfall of Kenneth Widmerpool, as his exhibitionist and masochistic side completely takes over his personality, there is little of interest in this novel, a fitting end to a series which has never seemed as good to me as enthusiastic endorsements of its stature by critics suggested. The whole collection is flawed by the colourless, neutral narrator; if it was intended to be naturalistic, we should surely be able to see how he has coloured his narrative with his own personality. The plot of the series as a whole is ludicrous, consisting mainly of a series of coincidences to reintroduce familiar characters. French novelists, notably [a:Balzac|228089|Honoré de Balzac|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1206567834p2/228089.jpg] and [a:Proust|233619|Marcel Proust|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1189444962p2/233619.jpg], seem to do this gallery of human life idea far better.
The final part of A Dance to the Music of Time concentrates on what has been an occasional theme until now, esoteric religion, as several characters become involved in what would probably today be described as a New Age cult. Most of the remaining long running characters (including the narrator, Nick Jenkins) are now in their sixties or seventies, and the title refers to both these elements - it is part of a quotation about being affected by mysticism ("hearing secret harmonies" of the universe) before death.
Aside from the final downfall of Kenneth Widmerpool, as his exhibitionist and masochistic side completely takes over his personality, there is little of interest in this novel, a fitting end to a series which has never seemed as good to me as enthusiastic endorsements of its stature by critics suggested. The whole collection is flawed by the colourless, neutral narrator; if it was intended to be naturalistic, we should surely be able to see how he has coloured his narrative with his own personality. The plot of the series as a whole is ludicrous, consisting mainly of a series of coincidences to reintroduce familiar characters. French novelists, notably [a:Balzac|228089|Honoré de Balzac|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1206567834p2/228089.jpg] and [a:Proust|233619|Marcel Proust|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1189444962p2/233619.jpg], seem to do this gallery of human life idea far better.
darwin8u's review
5.0
Obviously I'm going to chew on this last book for a bit and try and roll the whole thing up. Powell reminds me of one of those extreme runners. Those masochists who seem to enjoy running 50, 100, or more miles. The amazing things about writing 12 novels that are together nearly 3000 pages and written over 24 years (1951 - 1971), is how uniform these books are. I'm not saying uniform in a boring way. I'm just saying there isn't a real weak link in them. They are beautifully constructed. I think of big canvasses like the ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. Certainly, with such a big canvas the risk of a disappointing section or segment isn't linear. A big book, with more pieces and pages, comes with an exponentially growing level or risk. Powell just didn't have a shitty two years anywhere in that 24 years.
lnatal's review
4.0
is the final novel in Anthony Powell's twelve-volume masterpiece, A Dance to the Music of Time. It was published in 1975 twenty-four years after the first book, A Question of Upbringing appeared in 1951.
Completing his meditation upon the themes of time and will, the author recounts the narrative in the voice of a convincingly middle-aged Jenkins. (In the television adaptation of the novels an older actor was chosen to play Nick in the final part.)
4* A Question of Upbringing (A Dance to the Music of Time, #1)
4* A Buyer's Market (A Dance to the Music of Time #2)
4* The Acceptance World (A Dance to the Music of Time, #3)
4* At Lady Molly's (A Dance to the Music of Time, #4)
4* Casanova's Chinese Restaurant (A Dance to the Music of Time, #5)
4* The Kindly Ones (A Dance to the Music of Time, #6)
4* The Valley of Bones (A Dance to the Music of Time, #7)
4* The Soldier's Art (A Dance to the Music of Time, #8)
4* The Military Philosophers (A Dance to the Music of Time, #9)
4* Books Do Furnish a Room (A Dance to the Music of Time, #10)
3* Temporary Kings (A Dance to the Music of Time, #11)
4* Hearing Secret Harmonies (A Dance to the Music of Time, #12)
Completing his meditation upon the themes of time and will, the author recounts the narrative in the voice of a convincingly middle-aged Jenkins. (In the television adaptation of the novels an older actor was chosen to play Nick in the final part.)
4* A Question of Upbringing (A Dance to the Music of Time, #1)
4* A Buyer's Market (A Dance to the Music of Time #2)
4* The Acceptance World (A Dance to the Music of Time, #3)
4* At Lady Molly's (A Dance to the Music of Time, #4)
4* Casanova's Chinese Restaurant (A Dance to the Music of Time, #5)
4* The Kindly Ones (A Dance to the Music of Time, #6)
4* The Valley of Bones (A Dance to the Music of Time, #7)
4* The Soldier's Art (A Dance to the Music of Time, #8)
4* The Military Philosophers (A Dance to the Music of Time, #9)
4* Books Do Furnish a Room (A Dance to the Music of Time, #10)
3* Temporary Kings (A Dance to the Music of Time, #11)
4* Hearing Secret Harmonies (A Dance to the Music of Time, #12)
onerodeahorse's review
5.0
This rating isn't representing my view on this specific book, but on the entirety of A Dance To The Music Of Time. I have spent 2019 reading a volume per month of this great series, and it has been one of the best reading experiences of my life. I recommend it without hesitation, and I feel rather sad and bittersweet that I am now finished with Nick, Isobel, Widmerpool, Stringham, Templer, Pamela Flitton, X Trapnel, Jean, Hugh Moreland, Ted and Molly Jeavons, Eleanor Walpole-Wilson, Sillery, Gypsy Jones, Barbara Goring, St John Clarke, Books Bagshaw, J. G. Quiggin, Chips Lovell, Dicky Umfraville, Odo Stevens, Mark Members, the Maclinticks, Gwinnett, Mrs Erdleigh, Erry, and the dozens and dozens of other characters who flit in and out of Nick's life - and, I suppose, in a sense, my own life. It's about art, war, friendship, politics, romance, literature, sexuality, social mores, class, mysticism, ambition, marriage and divorce, family, history... it's about everything. And Kenneth Widmerpool is surely one of the all time great literary creations.
Sad, comic, reflective, generous, and at times disarmingly powerful. I adored it.
Sad, comic, reflective, generous, and at times disarmingly powerful. I adored it.
gengelcox's review
2.0
Project Powell ends off with a whimper. It took me awhile to get through this last volume in the "Dance to the Music of Time" series. Now that I've read all twelve, I think I can make some sweeping generalizations about the series.
Although the first book implies that the series is about four people, basically it is just about two: Nicholas Jenkins, the narrator, who is a rough stand in for the author himself; and Kenneth Widmerpool, the man who rises above his station and falls off the ladder. I like Jenkins. His demeanor and outlook on life is wry, sophisticated, and inimitable. Just how an author would like to be seen. However, I did not like Widmerpool, and I felt mad with myself for falling into Powell's trap. I get the feeling that you aren't supposed to like Widmerpool for a single reason: he does things the wrong way. He's pushy, self-centered, and vain, or at least that's the words we use for people who are failures. If Widmerpool had been successful (that is, if we were to speak of him before his fall), we would have said that he was aggressive, driven, and eccentric.
In this last book, Powell tries to pull in the loose ends, updating us on a little bit of all the characters we have met in the past, while trying to put the finishing touches on his comments on this generation. I found it anti-climatic. The climax came in the last book with Pamela Widmerpool dropping the horrible revelation about Kenneth's sexual habits. The wind out of his sails, he floats about afterwards, his previous accomplishments now meaningless. It's a sad story, alright.
I'm not inclined to read more by Powell. While I found the series interesting, and do not regret having taken the time to work my way through it, his style was a little too "laid back" for me to enjoy.
Although the first book implies that the series is about four people, basically it is just about two: Nicholas Jenkins, the narrator, who is a rough stand in for the author himself; and Kenneth Widmerpool, the man who rises above his station and falls off the ladder. I like Jenkins. His demeanor and outlook on life is wry, sophisticated, and inimitable. Just how an author would like to be seen. However, I did not like Widmerpool, and I felt mad with myself for falling into Powell's trap. I get the feeling that you aren't supposed to like Widmerpool for a single reason: he does things the wrong way. He's pushy, self-centered, and vain, or at least that's the words we use for people who are failures. If Widmerpool had been successful (that is, if we were to speak of him before his fall), we would have said that he was aggressive, driven, and eccentric.
In this last book, Powell tries to pull in the loose ends, updating us on a little bit of all the characters we have met in the past, while trying to put the finishing touches on his comments on this generation. I found it anti-climatic. The climax came in the last book with Pamela Widmerpool dropping the horrible revelation about Kenneth's sexual habits. The wind out of his sails, he floats about afterwards, his previous accomplishments now meaningless. It's a sad story, alright.
I'm not inclined to read more by Powell. While I found the series interesting, and do not regret having taken the time to work my way through it, his style was a little too "laid back" for me to enjoy.
giddypony's review
4.0
Final analysis on A Dance to the Music of Time by Anthony Powell.
This is a 12 (!) book series taking place in England from post WWI to 1968 roughly. The narrator is Nick Jenkins, of whom we learn very very little about. He is upper class, probably wouldn't think he is rich but he is, and an artsy guy (novelist, well educated, etc) There are many many reoccurring characters, incidents, call backs to previous stories. One of the characters most focused on is a man named Widmerpool who is loathsome and annoying and really a Rev. Collins. Because of the time span of the books we see the rise, sometimes fall, deaths, character development and eternal cycle of life. Some deaths are flat out shocking and unexpected. In parts, because Nick Jenkins is the unknowable narrator (for example, his relationship with his wife is very mysterious while a love affair he had early is written about in detail) its a lot like a long chat with your most gossipy friend. One thing in particular that I liked is how through the course of the novels, at first when Nick is at boarding school and meeting his most important friends and enemies, there's an immediacy, and most everything is first hand. As he becomes more settled and old, more of the incidents take place off stage and not to people he knows terrifically intimately. The war books are particularly immediate and striking.
I started this series in 2014, and he really is a wonderful author (except for the stuff about that fucking quarry in the last book) You feel the characters live and breath. There is a temptation to think they are wholly based off of real people - like he's writing this pointing his finger at certain individuals, but I feel that takes away from his artistry.
Very well worth, for me, the time spent, and the last chapter of the last book wraps it up by showing the same themes playing out for all people despite the time one finds oneself in. The last quotation from Richard Burton's The Anatomy of Melancholy (a book that Nick writes his dissertation on) is very spot on. So if you like long cozy gossips, a good story but dealing ultimately in the huge themes of an individual's narrative of their life, the nature of life, love, and ther perplexity of choices made, I recommend it.
This is a 12 (!) book series taking place in England from post WWI to 1968 roughly. The narrator is Nick Jenkins, of whom we learn very very little about. He is upper class, probably wouldn't think he is rich but he is, and an artsy guy (novelist, well educated, etc) There are many many reoccurring characters, incidents, call backs to previous stories. One of the characters most focused on is a man named Widmerpool who is loathsome and annoying and really a Rev. Collins. Because of the time span of the books we see the rise, sometimes fall, deaths, character development and eternal cycle of life. Some deaths are flat out shocking and unexpected. In parts, because Nick Jenkins is the unknowable narrator (for example, his relationship with his wife is very mysterious while a love affair he had early is written about in detail) its a lot like a long chat with your most gossipy friend. One thing in particular that I liked is how through the course of the novels, at first when Nick is at boarding school and meeting his most important friends and enemies, there's an immediacy, and most everything is first hand. As he becomes more settled and old, more of the incidents take place off stage and not to people he knows terrifically intimately. The war books are particularly immediate and striking.
I started this series in 2014, and he really is a wonderful author (except for the stuff about that fucking quarry in the last book) You feel the characters live and breath. There is a temptation to think they are wholly based off of real people - like he's writing this pointing his finger at certain individuals, but I feel that takes away from his artistry.
Very well worth, for me, the time spent, and the last chapter of the last book wraps it up by showing the same themes playing out for all people despite the time one finds oneself in. The last quotation from Richard Burton's The Anatomy of Melancholy (a book that Nick writes his dissertation on) is very spot on. So if you like long cozy gossips, a good story but dealing ultimately in the huge themes of an individual's narrative of their life, the nature of life, love, and ther perplexity of choices made, I recommend it.
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