Anthony Powell Criticism
The critical scholarship surrounding Anthony Powell offers a nuanced exploration of his contributions to literature, particularly through his masterful blending of fiction and memoir. Powell's most celebrated work, the twelve-volume series A Dance to the Music of Time, is recognized for its intricate narrative structure and thematic depth, drawing inspiration from the titular Poussin painting to reflect the cyclical nature of life. As highlighted by Arthur Mizener, Powell captures the subtle dynamics of human relationships and character, using formal elegance and wit to critique upper-class society, as observed by James Tucker. This series, lauded for its humor and insight into personal and societal change, draws attention to the seemingly trivial aspects of life that enhance its narrative coherence, as discussed by John Bayley.
In addition to his fiction, Powell's memoirs, To Keep the Ball Rolling, provide a reflective account of his life and era, rather than a traditional autobiography. Critics such as Martin Green note that while they may lack the dramatic intensity of his fictional works, the memoirs offer valuable insight into Powell’s artistic vision and creative process. This is supported by Harold Acton and Michiko Kakutani, who highlight the connections between his life experiences and the fictional characters he so vividly portrayed.
Powell's work is characterized by subtle pacing and thematic richness, providing a unique lens through which to view the historical and cultural nuances of twentieth-century society. This complexity is further examined by William B. Hill, S.J. and Hilary Spurling, who delve into the series' exploration of time and humor. As readers delve into Powell's oeuvre, they encounter a sophisticated interplay of narrative detail and social commentary, providing a comprehensive understanding of both an individual’s journey and the broader cultural landscape.
Contents
- Powell, Anthony (Vol. 3)
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Powell, Anthony (Dymoke)
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On the Margin
(summary)
In the following essay, Simon Raven examines Anthony Powell's memoir "Infants of the Spring," highlighting Powell's philosophy of accepting life's given circumstances with ironic amusement and civilized understanding, and his skillful, humorous navigation of societal institutions and human interactions without advocating for change.
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Infants of the Spring
(summary)
In the following essay, C. David Benson argues that Anthony Powell's Infants of the Spring is an artful, indirect, and self-concealing memoir that functions more as an "anti-autobiography," highlighting Powell's preference for observing others while maintaining his own emotional distance, reminiscent of the 17th-century style of John Aubrey.
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An Intelligent Bystander
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In the following essay, Martin Green critiques Anthony Powell for his lack of intensity and self-dramatization, arguing that Powell's detailed observations of English dandyism in both his novels and autobiography are insightful yet ultimately lack the dramatic depth and energy to capture sustained interest.
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Infants of the Spring
(summary)
In the following review, the critic assesses "Infants of the Spring" as a collection of derived memories and portraits of notable figures like Orwell and Connolly, offering a reflection on the seasoned novelist's life and friendships.
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Anthony Powell and His Crowd
(summary)
In the following essay, Philip Terzian critiques Anthony Powell's memoirs as lacking the narrative depth and insight found in Powell's fictional works, highlighting the memoir's failure to deliver the same level of personal introspection and vivid characterization that characterizes Powell's acclaimed series, A Dance to the Music of Time.
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Robert Murray Davis
(summary)
In the following essay, Robert Murray Davis critiques Anthony Powell for his lack of vividness and precision in literary judgments, suggesting that Powell's writing, though rich in detail, is stylistically clumsy and unremarkable compared to his contemporaries, notably struggling to match the intensity of figures like Evelyn Waugh.
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Gentleman's Reflections
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In the following essay, Simon Blow critiques Anthony Powell's memoirs for lacking the imaginative vitality and emotional depth of his novels, attributing this decline to Powell's rigid adherence to convention and his inability to rejuvenate his creative faculties after the Second World War.
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Faces in My Time
(summary)
In the following essay, Anatole Broyard critiques Anthony Powell's memoir "Faces in My Time," characterizing it as an engaging yet verbose reflection on Powell's acquaintances with notable literary figures and his experiences, with stylistic comparisons to John Aubrey's "Brief Lives" but lacking Aubrey's brevity.
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Anthony Powell: Meat and Drink
(summary)
In the following essay, Harold Acton explores how Anthony Powell's autobiographical series provides insights into the origins of his fictional characters, highlighting Powell's polite and reserved narrative style, as well as his ability to weave humor and social interactions into his storytelling, reflecting on their shared acquaintances and environments.
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An Anglophile's Delight
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In the following essay, Maggie Lewis explores Anthony Powell's autobiographical work "Faces in My Time," highlighting its engaging narrative style, the subtle revelation of personal and historical insights, and its continuity with the thematic richness of Powell's previous novels, particularly "A Dance to the Music of Time."
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Muted Memoir
(summary)
In the following essay, Melvin Maddocks critiques Anthony Powell's autobiography "Faces in My Time" for its characteristic understatement, illustrating how Powell's subdued narrative style muffles mid-20th-century tumult and personal setbacks into mere whispers, reflective of his broader literary approach.
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The Modesty of Anthony Powell
(summary)
In the following essay, Michael Gorra argues that Anthony Powell's memoirs exhibit a deliberate modesty that distinguishes them from autobiographies, emphasizing Powell's reticence and observational style, while highlighting the profound, albeit understated, insights they offer into the themes and stylistic virtues of his acclaimed novel series, A Dance to the Music of Time.
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The Strangers All Are Gone
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In the following essay, Stephen Brook critiques Anthony Powell's memoir The Strangers All Are Gone, arguing that its lack of organization and self-effacement results in a dispiriting work that fails to convey Powell's notable skills as a novelist.
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An Album of Odds and Ends
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In the following essay, Allan Massie contends that Anthony Powell's memoirs, while lacking traditional narrative structure, provide a compelling and insightful exploration of memory, the interplay between life and literature, and the evolution of literary themes, particularly through vivid portraits and reflections on the art of writing.
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Voyeur
(summary)
In the following essay, Paul Delany analyzes Anthony Powell's novels and memoirs, arguing that Powell's narrative style, characterized by a voyeuristic detachment and focus on social interactions rather than individual psychology or politics, results in a portrayal of characters as enigmatic and their motivations as largely inscrutable.
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The Novelist As Memoirist
(summary)
In the following essay, Kakutani examines Anthony Powell's memoirs and fiction, arguing that while his memoirs lack the transformative myth-making of his fiction, they still offer a fascinating glimpse into the English literary world between the wars, though they do not quite match the literary artistry of his famous series, "A Dance to the Music of Time."
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On the Margin
(summary)
- Powell, Anthony (Vol. 7)
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Powell, Anthony (Vol. 10)
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Arthur Mizener
(summary)
In the following essay, Arthur Mizener explores Anthony Powell's "The Music of Time," emphasizing Powell's nuanced portrayal of human character and relationships within the complexities of twentieth-century society, highlighting his subtle exploration of ego, power, and the passage of time through a richly visual narrative style.
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The Novels of Anthony Powell
(summary)
In the following essay, James Tucker evaluates Anthony Powell's novels, emphasizing the distinctive prose style, humorous yet insightful depiction of upper-class society, and the balance between surface wit and deeper philosophical themes, while noting a tendency towards emotional detachment and a critique of social mores.
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William B. Hill, S.J.
(summary)
In the following essay, William B. Hill, S.J., contrasts the subtle pacing of Anthony Powell's A Dance to the Music of Time with the lively, disordered style of his autobiography Infants of the Spring, noting its appeal primarily to those familiar with the period and its literary figures.
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The Artist as Raconteur
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In the following essay, John Bayley argues that Anthony Powell's works, including his memoirs and fiction, uniquely maintain a focus on the anecdotal and trivial aspects of life, eschewing representational figures and thus enhancing the coherence and nuanced subtlety of his narratives.
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The Heresy of Naturalism: Some Notes on Structure
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In the following essay, Hilary Spurling examines the intricate structure and thematic elements of Anthony Powell's "A Dance to the Music of Time," highlighting how time, humor, and a diverse character ensemble intersect to reflect the complexities and absurdities of human experience.
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Arthur Mizener
(summary)
- Powell, Anthony (Vol. 1)
- Powell, Anthony (Vol. 9)