Dancing with Lindsay

     

     Over at Books do furnish a room my friend Lindsay is well on with his annual (yes, annual!) read of Anthony Powell's twelve volume "A Dance to the music of time". I happen to have just finished the fourth book in the series, At Lady Molly's, so I still have a long way to go but even when I reach the end I shall never come close to Lindsay's immense knowledge of  - and feel for - the work.

     However, I am, I think, getting the gist. A friend asked me the other day why one might add "Dance" to a 'to be read' pile and I answered thus: almost nothing happens - that is, major life events occur but they are described with a detachment which makes them seem almost 'everyday'. The beauty is in the writing - which is very precise - and in the intricate scheme of things which is gradually being revealed.

     I'll quote two passages from "At Lady Molly's" which seem to illustrate the books' point:

     "Life is full of internal dramas, instantaneous and sensational, played to an audience of one."

     "I attempted to find some parallel, however far-fetched, to link Widmerpool with General Conyers; thereby hoping to construct one of those formal designs in human behaviour which for some reason afford an obscure satisfaction to the mind: making the more apparent inconsistencies of life easier to bear."

    And so the series goes on, small steps causing big shifts, a tiny part of the whole moving just a little to effect a major re-alignment. But don't take my word for it, go and see what Lindsay has to say.

Comments

[Curzon Tussaud]

..."almost nothing happens - that is, major life events occur but they are described with a detachment which makes them seem almost 'everyday'. The beauty is in the writing - which is very precise - and in the intricate scheme of things which is gradually being revealed."
Sounds like Proust......thirty pages on getting into bed and turning out the light: well, it always takes me at least thirty pages to get the light out, so maybe Marcel has a point?

[adele geras]

I am one behind you, Cornflower, and awaiting Lady Molly which will come from amazon very soon. This series is a revelation (at the third time of trying.) It's like stepping into a life and a soap opera at the same time and though it's a very high-class soap opera, I can see that the various storylines and characters are coming together nicely after only three books. It is a little hard to get into but well worth it. As well as being dazzlingly written it is also HILARIOUS at certain points. Laugh out loud stuff. I can't wait to go on with the saga.

[Sarah]

I'm planning to read this as one of my bumper reads of 2008, so your posts are both an inspiration and an encouragement!

[Lisa]

Added this to my insurmountable tbr pile. Thanks for the recommendation.

[adele geras]

Just finished Lady Molly's and it's ace! Can't wait to get hold of the next book....I'm reading them with other books in between, and it's amazing how the characters stay with you between times. There's a conversation at the very end of the book, between our hero and General Conyers which is absolutely superb!