Off the cuff tone, disinterested analysis of friends and fellow artists. Good as a companion to Dance. Certainly gives one up in a game of who's who in Dance. It's been about 15 years since I read this. ( )

Off the cuff tone, disinterested analysis of friends and fellow artists. Good as a companion to Dance. Certainly gives one up in a game of who's who in Dance. It's been about 15 years since I read this. ( )

Off the cuff tone, disinterested analysis of friends and fellow artists. Good as a companion to Dance. Certainly gives one up in a game of who's who in Dance. It's been about 15 years since I read this. ( )

Anthony Powell wrote a twelve volume novel, "A Dance to the music of Time", which I enjoyed very much. Into the bargain, Powell was an editor at Faber and Faber when they were publishing the works of my favourite historical novelist, Alfred Duggan. So this book is a treat on several levels. Powell and Duggan were at school together, as well and remained friends. ( )

A master-class in style--I can't imagine anyone wanting to read this who hasn't read Dance to the Music of Time, unless they for some odd reason really want to read about Maurice Bowra. The book is small, the topic is small, and Powell obviously isn't trying very hard. But that makes it perfectly readable and entertaining, particularly when he sketches the characters of his famous/not so famous friends (Orwell, Henry Greene, the aforementioned Bowra) and digresses to talk about his own work or other aesthetic issues. And Powell's ability to with-hold judgment but remain interesting and objective is extraordinary. Looking forward to the next volume! ( )