Publication
University of Chicago Press (1995), Edition: 1, 731 pages
Original publication date
London, Heinemann, 1964, 1966, 1968
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Description
Anthony Powell's brilliant twelve-novel sequence chronicles the lives of over three hundred characters, and is a unique evocation of life in twentieth-century England. It is unrivalled for its scope, its humour and the enormous pleasure it has given to generations. Volume 3 contains the seventh, eighth and ninth novel in the series- The Valley of Bones; The Soldier's Art; The Military Philosophers
User reviews
LibraryThing member alwaysmlo
I think the second and third movements of Dance were my favorites. Sorry to say some of the best characters do not carry over to the 4th Movement.
Powell is quite witty, and I laughed out loud at some of his writing. He must have known a Scorpio in his life that he really did not like, as two of
Powell is quite witty, and I laughed out loud at some of his writing. He must have known a Scorpio in his life that he really did not like, as two of
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them most depraved characters are both Scorpios. I did query whether someone like Widmerpol could really exist, and then I thought of Dick Cheney, and realized of course such a character could exist in real life. Show Less
LibraryThing member GarySeverance
The Third Movement of Anthony Powell’s A Dance to the Music of Time contains three volumes in which the narrator, Nicholas Jenkins has just joined the British Army ‘territorials’ during World War II. This part of the Army is similar to today’s US Army National Guard. The three volumes, The
The three volumes are very interesting accounts of the unexpectedly hard work, arbitrary discipline, and desultory intrigue of the home bound officers in Great Britain during the War. The paper trail of all military activities is gruesome and there is very little room for error. There is opportunity for advancement, but only to more paper drudgery responsibility. Mistakes in conduct are often punished by personal humiliation and transfer to far off theaters of the War. As with any closed system, intrigue abounds with typical inane one-upmanship in the name of achievement of rank, pips on non-combat uniforms.
Powell captures the utter boredom of jobs in the Army, very limited opportunities for social life, and the physical fear related to the apparently random buzz bombing of London and the foreign assignments of some of Nick’s acquaintances. Although generations apart, the experiences in the Third Movement remind me closely of my US Army experience in Berlin during the Vietnam War.
This Movement adds to the rich reading dance that spans so much time and area of Powell’s great work. I look forward to reading the Fourth and final Movement of his grand novel, but I am already mourning the end of this wonderful living experience.
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Valley of Bones, The Soldier's Art, and The Military Philosophers describe Nick’s adventures in the military from enlistment to demobilization. The three volumes are very interesting accounts of the unexpectedly hard work, arbitrary discipline, and desultory intrigue of the home bound officers in Great Britain during the War. The paper trail of all military activities is gruesome and there is very little room for error. There is opportunity for advancement, but only to more paper drudgery responsibility. Mistakes in conduct are often punished by personal humiliation and transfer to far off theaters of the War. As with any closed system, intrigue abounds with typical inane one-upmanship in the name of achievement of rank, pips on non-combat uniforms.
Powell captures the utter boredom of jobs in the Army, very limited opportunities for social life, and the physical fear related to the apparently random buzz bombing of London and the foreign assignments of some of Nick’s acquaintances. Although generations apart, the experiences in the Third Movement remind me closely of my US Army experience in Berlin during the Vietnam War.
This Movement adds to the rich reading dance that spans so much time and area of Powell’s great work. I look forward to reading the Fourth and final Movement of his grand novel, but I am already mourning the end of this wonderful living experience.
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LibraryThing member DinadansFriend
This omnibus volume contains three of Anthony Powell's novels, The Valley of Bones", "The Soldier's Art", and "The Military Philosophers". The whole work, with its twelve scenes, is a great portrait of British Life in the Mid Twentieth Century and should not be missed by those desiring to be
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well-read. Powell, an editor at Faber and Faber was well placed to observe most of the social currents of the time and had the eye to see them. though his writing is all from the POV of one character Nick Jenkins, that person would be a valuable friend to all those he was in contact with. There's too much for a short review. Show Less
LibraryThing member mlbelize
A Dance to the Music of Time: 3rd Movement includes these three novels:
The Valley of Bones
The Soldier's Art
The Military Philosophers
The Soldier's Art. Jenkins is now firmly entrenched in the military life with Widmerpool as his direct superior. The characteristics shown previously are now fully on display and making life interesting to say the least. A brief appearance by one of my favorite characters, Charles Stringham, is made in a very unexpected role. A few of Jenkins' old friends, such as Moreland, also make appearances but mostly we are introduced to a new cast of characters to get to know.
The Military Philosophers introduced still more characters and takes us through to the end of the war. We have seen many of the people we were introduced to in earlier books killed, forge new alliances, romances and even a few marriages.
The last novel in this book just didn't appeal to me as much as the others did. I really missed the earlier friends, wanted to know how they were getting on and what was new in their lives but sadly barely got a mention of their names during this time period. Conversely, I saw way too much of Widmerpool, my least favorite character. He is that person we all know, the self-centered, arrogant yet competent and extremely ambitious guy that will gladly step on you to get further ahead. Overall, I am really impressed with the sequence so far. Powell's ability to keep track of the numerous characters each with their own comings and goings is amazing.
The Valley of Bones
The Soldier's Art
The Military Philosophers
The Valley of Bones heralds the beginning of the war and Jenkins' life in the military. We find Jenkins, a thirty something year old second-lieutenant in an infantry
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regiment trying to now adapt to the new rules and regulations which now constitute his life in the military. We are also given more information about the life of Widmerpool who has managed to get promoted to the Divisional Headquarters. Brief appearances of some of the earlier characters make their way into this book but it is the introduction of a host of new characters who give a glimpse of the people caught up in the struggle for preparation for war.The Soldier's Art. Jenkins is now firmly entrenched in the military life with Widmerpool as his direct superior. The characteristics shown previously are now fully on display and making life interesting to say the least. A brief appearance by one of my favorite characters, Charles Stringham, is made in a very unexpected role. A few of Jenkins' old friends, such as Moreland, also make appearances but mostly we are introduced to a new cast of characters to get to know.
The Military Philosophers introduced still more characters and takes us through to the end of the war. We have seen many of the people we were introduced to in earlier books killed, forge new alliances, romances and even a few marriages.
The last novel in this book just didn't appeal to me as much as the others did. I really missed the earlier friends, wanted to know how they were getting on and what was new in their lives but sadly barely got a mention of their names during this time period. Conversely, I saw way too much of Widmerpool, my least favorite character. He is that person we all know, the self-centered, arrogant yet competent and extremely ambitious guy that will gladly step on you to get further ahead. Overall, I am really impressed with the sequence so far. Powell's ability to keep track of the numerous characters each with their own comings and goings is amazing.
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LibraryThing member amerynth
I'm reading Anthony Powell's 12-book "A Dance to the Music of Time" this year, one book per month. This volume contains books seven, eight and nine, which I'm reading in July, August and September. I'm reviewing the books as I go.
I was disappointed with "The Valley of Bones," which was my least
I enjoyed "The Soldier's Art" much more than the previous installment, even though there was still a focus on World War II. I find I enjoy our narrator Nick much more at his dinner parties as opposed to his activities while soldiering. This installment takes place during the London Blitz, which has tragic consequences for a few of the characters. 4 stars.
I'll admit I've grown weary of the war years, so "The Military Philosophers" was a big of a slog. The final 50 or so pages made up for it, even though several events were pretty well foreshadowed so it was easy to see them coming. Definitely not my favorite book in the series. 3 stars.
I was disappointed with "The Valley of Bones," which was my least
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favorite of the series of so far. Our narrator, Nick Jenkins, is now in the Army at the start of World War II. I didn't find his Army buddies particularly interesting... the only bright spots of this book were his leave trip to visit his family and the ending, where he renews his association with the ever-present Widmerpool. Powell has was perhaps too successful in portraying Nick's boredom with his military "career" because I was bored with it as well. I'm hopeful the next installment will be more interesting. 3 stars.I enjoyed "The Soldier's Art" much more than the previous installment, even though there was still a focus on World War II. I find I enjoy our narrator Nick much more at his dinner parties as opposed to his activities while soldiering. This installment takes place during the London Blitz, which has tragic consequences for a few of the characters. 4 stars.
I'll admit I've grown weary of the war years, so "The Military Philosophers" was a big of a slog. The final 50 or so pages made up for it, even though several events were pretty well foreshadowed so it was easy to see them coming. Definitely not my favorite book in the series. 3 stars.
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LibraryThing member farrhon
I learn I am not immortal
LibraryThing member hemlokgang
In Powell's inimitable style, the three books of Volume 3, encompass WWII. Nicholas Jenkins, our narrator, continues to share his internal monologue. Many characters, new and old, populate these years. The reader is privy to the absurdities, the humanity, the vanity and selfishness, of former
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society scions coming face to face with themselves, with war, with reversal of circumstances, with kindness, with cruelty and with the sheer exhaustion of individuals and nations after six years of war. Powell's capacity to share the minutiae of daily life and the inner psychological pondering of the narrator can occasionally feel Dickensian, so bear that in mind when taking this volume, and the others, on. I thoroughly enjoyed this volume! Show Less
LibraryThing member therebelprince
The past, just as the present, had to be accepted for what it thought and what it was."
Volumes #7 to #9 of Powell's epic sequence are here collected: The Valley of Bones, The Soldier's Art and The Military Philosophers, which form his "War Trilogy". Here we follow the characters through both the
I think these three books may be Powell's greatest achievement. Many of our beloved characters meet their demise; many others view the combat, and the endless rounds of death - whether armed or cowardly, long-foreshadowed by illness or the unexpected bombing of a nightclub - as yet more statistics, yet more heroics. Just more kindling for the fire. (From a year shadowed by the greatest pandemic in a century, I rather understand.)
On one level, Powell's sequence of 12 novels charts the demise of the British upper class (well, most of it; the very rich would of course emerge on an upward trajectory that would never end). On another level, this is a series about how we define ourselves in relation to culture, especially through our experiences with - or dismissal of - art and literature. Yet 12 novels on such a subject may seem extravagant and, perhaps mercifully, the author here subjugates both of those themes. They remain tangible, and occasionally dominant, but this really is a narrative about the strangeness of war and yet also the ordinariness of it, perhaps even the banality.
Powell has two strengths which may at first seem contradictory. Let's say that literary skill sits on a spectrum from "tiny details" (the miniaturists like Barbara Pym) at one end to "people and their relationships" (the storytellers like Dickens) to writers of "big ideas" (the novelists of grand scale like Salman Rushdie) at the other end. Powell isn't especially strong at the middle section; his characters' relationships are symbols, whether dysfunctional or completely functional; in the latter case, they barely need to be mentioned, as with Nick's wife Isobel. But the author is just grand the closer one gets to either end of the spectrum. The meticulous small moments, like a high-ranking military official fulminating on the lack of porridge, delight the reader page after page. And the astonishing sense of scope, the growing awareness that every character's destiny has been preordained and that the real protagonist of the story, somehow, is Time... well, that's where he really gets you.
There is an argument to be made that the final three novels are unable to recapture the grandness and generosity of these volumes. I'm quite sympathetic to that. But that's a discussion for another time. Here and now, even if only for readers who don't mind an incredibly lengthy narrative about people and customs long dead and buried, the artist is very much present.
Volumes #7 to #9 of Powell's epic sequence are here collected: The Valley of Bones, The Soldier's Art and The Military Philosophers, which form his "War Trilogy". Here we follow the characters through both the
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light and dark days of World War II. Interestingly, in comparison to other great war novels of the time, we very rarely leave the British Isles. I think these three books may be Powell's greatest achievement. Many of our beloved characters meet their demise; many others view the combat, and the endless rounds of death - whether armed or cowardly, long-foreshadowed by illness or the unexpected bombing of a nightclub - as yet more statistics, yet more heroics. Just more kindling for the fire. (From a year shadowed by the greatest pandemic in a century, I rather understand.)
On one level, Powell's sequence of 12 novels charts the demise of the British upper class (well, most of it; the very rich would of course emerge on an upward trajectory that would never end). On another level, this is a series about how we define ourselves in relation to culture, especially through our experiences with - or dismissal of - art and literature. Yet 12 novels on such a subject may seem extravagant and, perhaps mercifully, the author here subjugates both of those themes. They remain tangible, and occasionally dominant, but this really is a narrative about the strangeness of war and yet also the ordinariness of it, perhaps even the banality.
Powell has two strengths which may at first seem contradictory. Let's say that literary skill sits on a spectrum from "tiny details" (the miniaturists like Barbara Pym) at one end to "people and their relationships" (the storytellers like Dickens) to writers of "big ideas" (the novelists of grand scale like Salman Rushdie) at the other end. Powell isn't especially strong at the middle section; his characters' relationships are symbols, whether dysfunctional or completely functional; in the latter case, they barely need to be mentioned, as with Nick's wife Isobel. But the author is just grand the closer one gets to either end of the spectrum. The meticulous small moments, like a high-ranking military official fulminating on the lack of porridge, delight the reader page after page. And the astonishing sense of scope, the growing awareness that every character's destiny has been preordained and that the real protagonist of the story, somehow, is Time... well, that's where he really gets you.
There is an argument to be made that the final three novels are unable to recapture the grandness and generosity of these volumes. I'm quite sympathetic to that. But that's a discussion for another time. Here and now, even if only for readers who don't mind an incredibly lengthy narrative about people and customs long dead and buried, the artist is very much present.
Show Less
Language
Original language
English
ISBN
0226677176 / 9780226677170
Physical description
731 p.; 8.07 x 1.57 inches
Pages
731