"To compensate a little for the treachery and weakness of my memory, so extreme that it has happened to me more than once to pick up again, as recent and unknown to me, books which I had read carefully a few years before . . . I have adopted the habit for some time now of adding at the end of each book . . . the time I finished reading it and the judgment I have derived of it as a whole, so that this may represent to me at least the sense and general idea I had conceived of the author in reading it." (Montaigne, Book II, Essay 10 (publ. 1580))

Monday, December 12, 2022

A Dance to the Music of Time (Volumes 1-3) (Anthony Powell, 1951 - 1955)

(728 pages)

Powell wrote a 12-volume series between 1951 and 1975; this book includes the first three volumes (A Question of Upbringing, A Buyer's Market, The Acceptance World). 

Author is looking at English political, cultural, military life in mid-20th century.

Narrator is Nicholas Jenkins.  He has school chums or acquaintances in the early going - Kenneth Widmerpool, Charles Stringham, Peter Templer, Quiggin, Mark Members, etc.  There is an Oxford don named Sillery (manipulative).  He meets family members of the schoolmates. 

Mr. Deacon - eccentric; hangs with Gypsy Jones.  St. John Clarke (Quiggin and Members compete for him).

The characters graduate from school and begin their professional careers, relationships.

I've seen some comparisons to Proust's novel, but so far it hasn't struck me in that manner (unfortunately).  Still, I think I'll continue reading.  Hopefully things pick up.

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