Society Newsletter #14

From the Secretary’s Desk The Anthony Powell Society The Anthony Powell Society Membership Renewal Registered Charity No. 1096873

Newsletter Members whose subscription expires this year The Anthony Powell Society is a will be receiving renewal notices during Issue 14, Spring 2004 ISSN 1743-0976 March. charitable literary society devoted to the life and works of the English author As always members are asked to not just renew Anthony Dymoke Powell, 1905-2000. their membership, but to do so promptly. Kalamazoo Anthony Powell.” It went on: “What would those supremely English Sending extra membership renewal reminders costs the Society a significant amount of Officers & Executive Committee by James Tucker characters in Anthony Powell’s 12 money – an amount which last year was the Patron: John MA Powell volume novel, A Dance to the Music of equivalent of several membership President: Hugh Massingberd In my talk at Balliol College, Oxford, Time, have made of it? I have it on the subscriptions in postage alone. Vice-President: John S Monagan (USA) 2003 I mentioned a previous Anthony authority of James Tucker, author of The Members who are UK taxpayers are reminded Powell Society that I’d had some contact Novels of Anthony Powell, that a thriving *Chairman: Patric Dickinson American fan club for Powell’s work has that they can GiftAid their subscriptions, with in the 1970s and 80s, but which enabling the Society to reclaim basic rate *Hon. Secretary: Dr Keith C Marshall seemed suddenly to disappear. I grown up in the US, with its centre in income tax already paid on the amount of the *Hon. Treasurer: Kevin Jewell wondered whether a few details about it deepest Michigan – Kalamazoo, no less.” subscription; currently this is 28p for every £1 now would interest members of our paid to the Society. Members who GiftAid *Committee Members: Anthony Powell Society; and also “‘Fan club is to put it flippantly, perhaps,’ their subscriptions/donations, and who pay UK Dr Christine Berberich, whether a Newsletter piece might prompt says Tucker. ‘This is in fact a body of higher rate tax, can also offset the amounts Dr Nicholas Birns (USA), against their higher rate tax. That doesn’t some information about what happened American academics who publish a Leatrice Fountain (USA), sound a lot, but if every UK member signed a Stephen Holden, to that earlier body. magazine concerned exclusively with GiftAid declaration it would be worth around Powell’s writing and who are currently £700 a year to the Society – very worthwhile! Tony Robinson, It was based in the Department of pushing his candidature for the Nobel Prof. Ian Young (N Ireland) We are working on offering UK members the English at Western Michigan University, prize.’” Dunn wrote that Issue 13 of Newsletter Editor: Stephen Holden Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA and (Continued on page 3) ability to pay subscriptions by Direct Debit. With luck this will be in place in time for this Hon. Archivist: Noreen Marshall produced an occasional journal called year’s renewals. As an alternative we are PR/Media Adviser: Julian Allason Anthony Powell Communication, edited looking at the possibility of allowing members by Nancy Cutbirth of the Department of to pay subscriptions for a number of years in All correspondence should be sent to: English. She took over from Professor advance at a small discount. This is quite a William B Stone of the University of juggling act as the subscription received has to Hon. Secretary, Anthony Powell Society Illinois. I have issues 12-17 and 19. be balanced against future inflation and 76 Ennismore Avenue, Greenford investment income while making the scheme Issue 12 is stamped on the cover, “26 Middlesex, UB6 0JW, UK attractive to members and ensuring the Society Phone: +44 (0)20 8864 4095 October 1979 90 copies.” Kalamazoo has sufficient funds to meet future obligations was, of course, made famous in the song, to members. Also in the background one of Fax: +44 (0)20 8864 6109 “A B C D E F G H I – I got a girl in our members in the USA is looking at securing Email: [email protected]

Kalamazoo – don’t want to boast, but I the equivalent of charitable status there, which know she’s the toast of Kalamazoo.” will allow our US members to reclaim tax on * Members of the Executive Committee who their subscriptions. Watch this space! are the Society’s trustees. All officers are resident in England or Wales unless stated. I worked for the Sunday Times at this Meanwhile, please renew your subscription period and told a colleague, Peter Dunn, promptly, continue to support the development about the US Society. He wrote a regular of the Society and enable us to capitalise on the © The Anthony Powell Society, 2004 and the individual opportunity which is Powell’s centenary in authors named. All rights reserved. arts column and in June 1980 published Published by The Anthony Powell Society. an item headed: “Kalamazoo Hails 2005 – we won’t have another such chance for Printed and distributed by Express Printing, a long time! Peterborough, UK.

2 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #14 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #14

(Continued from page 1) while after Professor Arthur Schlesinger Junior Maclaren-Ross Bends His Mind Anthony Powell Communication “reports that Tolland and Dicky Umfraville (Graduate School and University Centre, in some jubilation that the powerful are not of an age to be school City University of New York) says he by Tom Miller Modern Language Association will contemporaries, and had Alfred hesitates to claim he was the original mount a special Powell session at its make the correction in Books Do American Powell fan, but “I was Renewed interest in the exotic life of annual conclave in Houston … Suggested Furnish a Room.) At any rate, I certainly an early one. I happened on Julian Maclaren-Ross (see, for example, topics include ‘Powell and practically gave RHJ no entry in my “Who’s Venusberg and From a View to a Death in Paul Willetts on the subject in the Spring everybody – Powell’s personal, Who”, perhaps understandably, London during the war and became an 2003 Newsletter) reminded me of an professional and literary relationships since he never appears. I did include addict”. interesting contribution by this able, but with other people of letters.’” Tolland’s withdrawal of his claim in disturbed, writer, the original of X the entry on Alfred Tolland himself: And thereafter silence. I received no Trapnel in the great Powellite cycle. Dunn telephoned Powell about it and he ‘Umfraville not his fag,’ that entry more copies of Communication and no said: “‘Naturally one is pleased … I ends. More accurately it should replies to letters sent to Nancy Cutbirth at In the 1950s, an aspiring culture-fan, I certainly shouldn’t be able to go to the have read: ‘Dicky Umfraville not his her university and what I took to be her collected newspaper cuttings – as a conference, much as one enjoys going to fag.’ Worse, much worse, in the home address in Merrill Street, though matter of fact, I still do, though nowadays America. I’ve reached the age where I entry for Dicky Umfraville, I added until then she had been a dutiful I seem to accumulate more notices of just use my mornings for work.’” the initials RHJ. (In other words, I correspondent. My efforts at getting in films than of books. A theorist of ran two people into one, as Tolland touch could have been more thorough, I importance to me at that time was the I had an article in Issue 15 myself, largely for some reason does in The know. I might have picked up the novelist Aldous Huxley (1894-1963). devoted to an apology for messing up in Acceptance World). telephone or even made a trip to the “Who’s Who” chapter of my book an Kalamazoo, but didn’t. As things stood, Links between Anthony Powell and entry about Dicky Umfraville. This slip I was able to tell Communication readers and stand, there came a total breakdown Huxley are hard to establish: so far as I might be worth a digression. I don’t that in the British second edition of The in “Communication”, which I regret. am aware, the men never met, though excuse the error, but I still think Novels of Anthony Powell matters had Huxley may have been a resident of something dodgy went on in the way been righted; and that I hoped Columbia Southern California when Powell worked Powell presented the Umfraville material. University Press, who brought out the there as a scriptwriter before World War My article said: book over there, would follow suit. II. It is difficult to point to any influence of Huxley on Powell, though Afternoon Somehow I failed to take account of Issue 19 of Communication – the latest I Brief Lives Men reads slightly like an early Huxleyan that correction by Alfred Tolland, have – is dated July 1983. It refers to a “country house” novel; in To Keep the Erridge’s uncle, in Books Do draft constitution for the Society which Alan Watkins’ book Brief Lives is Ball Rolling, Powell admits that, when Furnish a Room (chapter 2) of his had been printed in Issue 18. Somehow I republished by Elliott & Thompson this Huxley’s Antic Hay came out, he was assertion in The Acceptance World lack that one. Two people had agreed to month. The book is a series of short “prostrated by its brilliance”. (chapter 5) that Dicky Umfraville stand for office: John Riley, of the autobiographies (somewhat in the style of had been his fag at school. In Books University of Lowell, for president, and John Aubrey), including an interesting On 21 April, 1956, Time and Tide Do Furnish a Room, Tolland says Bill Stone (William B Stone, as above, portrait of Powell. It also includes brief published Maclaren-Ross’ notice of rather sheepishly that his fag was a but by then of Indiana University). lives of, among others, Kingsley Amis, Heaven and Hell by Huxley. In that different Umfraville altogether: There’s a review by Fred Warner Richard Crossman, Roy Jenkins, AJP period, Time and Tide was a well- RHJ, in fact. (It would appear, (University of New Mexico) of Powell’s Taylor, Simon Raven and Auberon regarded weekly, owned and managed, it though, from The Acceptance World memoirs, To Keep the Ball Rolling, Waugh. It is illustrated by ‘Marc’ (Mark seems at a loss, by the right-wing that RHJ was also called Dicky, entitled “A Fine Tapestry.” He also Boxer) who did the front covers of the publicist, Lady Rhondda. Though the since Tolland smiles in recognition contributes a Quiz which opens with the paperback Dance in the 1980s. paper was ridiculed in one of his late when Nicholas mentions the first question: “General Conyers dies while novels by HG Wells as “Wear and Tear”, name. Powell is either indulging in (a) playing the cello, (b) stuffing Tuffy, Brief Lives by Alan Watkins; published by the standard of commentary presented some very fancy work; or realised a (c) chasing looters during an air raid?” Elliott & Thompson (London); ISBN 1904027164; £9.99 was far superior to anything regularly

3 4 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #14 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #14 available today. “… ‘the mind’s antipodes’ – a phrase of Further Reflections On Sunny more than opening his door at the critical which the author is so enamoured that it Farebrother moment, but Stripling ‘contorted his In 1954, Huxley had brought out The occurs on almost every page”, and he The Downy Old Bird features in such a manner that he looked Doors of Perception, an account of his added that, “The author’s observations not so much angry, or thwarted, as in experiment with mescaline. The late are repetitious in the extreme, and his by Derek Miles actual physical pain’. The incident still Dame Helen Gardner once told me that style marred amuses and pleases Farebrother in his she thought that this was, “The most by such I greatly enjoyed Nicholas Birns’ final appearance in Hearing Secret dangerous book ever written”, because of uncouth Maclaren-Ross was Reflections on Sunny Farebrother in Harmonies: ‘Poor old Jimmy hoped to its implicit advocacy of drug-taking. locutions as Issue 13 of the Newsletter. The older one put a po in my hatbox. I was too sharp an acute critic 3 Heaven and Hell was an attempt to ‘otherness’, gets, the more one appreciates that for him’. synthesise Huxley’s experience with his ‘indwelling’, whose reputation survival itself is an achievement (albeit reading. ‘randomness’, was well earned – it one doomed to ultimate failure), and Among their many battles in The ‘Thinghood’, Sunny Farebrother has always appealed Soldier’s Art, the crucial question was Maclaren-Ross’ review reveals a and – worse is not surprising who was to command the to me as the great survivor among the 4 surprising grasp of the subject, and, in still – ‘Thing- that he was used by Dance characters. Reconnaissance Unit? Farebrother’s part, it justifies Mr Willetts’ claim that in-Itselfhood’; candidate Ivo Deanery gets the job after Maclaren-Ross was a drug junkie. some readers, Powell in his cycle He is clearly also a fierce competitor, and the Major-General finds out about also, may feel Nicholas Birns is right to note that he is Widmerpool’s plotting. ‘How did he find Maclaren-Ross thought that English that it would one of the few people able to stand up to that out?’ asks Widmerpool. With no intellectuals were behind the times, be difficult for a theology to have teeth.” Widmerpool. Widmerpool recognizes attempt at dissimulation, Farebrother because in 1931 an article about peyotl, this, and refers to him towards the end of simply retorted ‘I told him’, irritating the from which mescaline is derived, had Maclaren-Ross reported that Huxley The Kindly Ones as ‘… the Brigade highly regimental Widmerpool further by appeared in the French magazine, Vu; and chilled his blood “… by mention of a Major. He’s a very sharp fellow called remarking ‘As you know well, amateur in the south of France attempts were ‘very fine electrode’, which, when Farebrother. City acquaintance of soldiers like you and me go about our made to organise peyotl parties, but it applied to certain areas of the brain, may mine.’1 Although indefatigable in business in rather a different way from was hard to acquire supplies of the drug. ‘elicit a long chain of memories relating furthering his own interests, one of the the routine a Regular gets accustomed According to Vu, to some past experience’, while the attractive features of Farebrother is that to’. patient (under a local anaesthetic) finds he is not actively disobliging as a matter the visions seen by Mexican Indians himself simultaneously in two times and of policy (as frequently is Widmerpool) Later the Szymanski affair enraged Finn, addicted to the drug, when under its places …” but, when he does retaliate, the retaliation who was secretive by nature and influence, took the form of primeval is well considered and effective (and ‘admitted to nothing but the deafness and landscapes analogous to those The technique that froze the gore of usually funny). the VC; not even the ‘L’ of his own described in Conan Doyle’s The Maclaren-Ross would in 2004 be initial, though he would smile if the latter Lost World or screened in the film regarded as old-fashioned, but it is The first example is the duel with Jimmy question arose, as if he looked forward King Kong, with attendant flora and interesting to trace the histories of studies one day to revealing his first name at the Stripling in A Question of Upbringing, 5 fauna. of the brain, and of the popular use of starting with Stripling’s attempt to most effective possible moment’. As a hard drugs. ridicule his collar-turning gadget looking result of another Widmerpool Maclaren-Ross complained that Huxley increasingly ineffective as six of his own intervention, Farebrother was associated his experiences less with Huxley is today accused of having tried ‘disciplined, demoted in rank, shunted off collars are damaged (three beyond 6 factual reports than with the historical to induce in himself a mystical repair).2 This leads to Stripling’s attempt to a bloody awful job’. Finn probably accounts of religious mystical experience. Maclaren-Ross, despite to interfere with his luggage. also had something to do with it, and experiences. grave faults of character, was an acute Farebrother’s retaliation consisted of no critic whose reputation was well earned – 3 Winter, HSH, p611 Maclaren-Ross was a scourge of it is not surprising that he was used by 4 Autumn, SA, p450 1 5 Huxley’s love of clichés: he condemned, Powell in his cycle. Summer, KO, p695 Autumn, MP, p486 2 Spring, QU, p89 6 Autumn, MP, p595

5 6 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #14 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #14 Farebrother settled the minor score with and although ‘verging on eighty’, he Christmas Limerick Competition appropriately minor retaliation by remains ‘extremely up-to-date, not to say revealing his first name as Lysander and brisk’. On the subject of attending by Stephen Holden ‘smiled, not displeased at finding this funerals and memorial services, he piece of information so unexpected’. remarks ‘you always meet a lot of people This year’s Christmas prize competition From Michael Goldman at them you haven’t seen for years, and was to write an Anthony Powell-related Getting even with Widmerpool took a that often comes in useful later’. limerick. The woman who’s called Myra Erdleigh good deal longer but, when he faced Was given to acting absurdly. likely disgrace as a result of his Eastern In his introduction to Invitation to the I received over a dozen entries in all and Poor Uncle Giles European activities, Farebrother Dance AP remarked ‘It is an aspect of they were of such a good standard that I Was caught by her wiles. 7 anticipated ‘no minor revenge’. In fact novels that has always fascinated me: the have decided to print them all in the And secret harmonies heard she. it was felt to be ‘not in the public interest prerogative of the reader to make an Newsletter. to proceed with the case’, but some individual judgement, not necessarily the There’s a girl called Gypsy Jones damage was done. More positively author’s, on characters and events’. That However, the limerick that seemed to me Who’s not in . Farebrother combined with Bertram is my excuse for exercising my individual to best capture a Powellian moment (and But A Buyer’s Market ups the ante Akworth (one of the first of judgement and agreeing that Sunny had that faint edge of naughtiness For here she’s found in flagrante, Widmerpool’s victims) to get him sacked Farebrother is one of the most interesting, redolent of so many limericks) was this Seduced by Nick’s Etonian tones. from the board of a bank. Many years subtle and amusing characters in Dance. from John Gould: later Widmerpool reflected ‘Farebrother It’s strange that Mr Deacon, always had it in for me. So did Akworth. As Nicholas recalls after Farebrother’s Pam had an unfortunate bent: 8 Always shining like a beacon, It was natural enough’. final appearance in Dance, Peter She tried, but she hated each gent. Templer’s judgement remained a valid Never appears without ‘Mister’ Sex moved her like lead; (Gypsy Jones, had he kissed her?) What drives Farebrother? Nicholas Birns one: ‘He’s a downy old bird’. Ah, she’d rather be dead! notes that ‘there is always an element in Painting as much as ever he can. So, instead of just coming, she went. Farebrother that Nicholas (Jenkins) finds ‘Tis said of Xavier Trapnel, hard to explain’. Farebrother certainly Congratulations to John Gould, who wins Who in war evaded shrapnel, works quite hard at survival and indeed a copy of the DVD of the Channel 4 That he’s based on Maclaren-Ross, also survived, and apparently enjoyed, television films of Dance. But Powell knows who’s boss: marriage to the formidable Geraldine Weedon, who had ‘a wonderful instinct The other entries were: He certainly makes every gap tell. for the right sort of economies’. In short, he is always good at taking care of All those who stayed at the Ufford himself in a quiet way. From Ed Bock Great boredom undoubtedly suffered. Giles died at the Bellevue In other words he is an effective manager, AP, to make perfectly sure Which Nick Jenkins well knew and admires effective management That his villain would have no allure, Was seaside twin of the Ufford. wherever he comes across it. He refers to Made Ken fish-eyed and fat Murtlock showing himself ‘perfectly And concerned always that capable of taking charge’ at Stripling’s From Philip Ivory He'd de-scented from liquid manure. cremation and said he demonstrated ‘an 9 air of efficiency. That always gets me’. There was an old fellow named Powell, Farebrother never ceases to look forward A sharply perceptive kind soul. Through the eyes of dear Nick 7 Winter, TK, p456 He showed how we tick: 8 Winter, HSH, p753 9 Winter, HSH, p612 He saw life as a dance on the whole.

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Centenary Corner Local Group News

Stockholm Meeting London Meeting

by Malin Siddiqi by Stephen Holden

From Katherine Barrett Anthony Powell The newly formed Stockholm AP A group of Society members met up at Centenary Conference network consists of Mats Wiklund, the Spaghetti House restaurant in St A dashing young writer named Waring, Regina Rehbinder, Hans Johansson and Martin’s Lane, London on 21 February. Lived a life of adventurous daring. is to be held on myself, Malin Siddiqi -- comprising an Those present were: Patric Dickinson,

His stories would ‘maze your eyes, excellent mixture of ages and Michael Hodges, Stephen Holden, Chris nd rd But they were all plagiarised Friday 2 & Saturday 3 occupations! After having successfully Hoskin, Keith & Noreen Marshall, Derek So Waring bowed out while seafaring. December 2005 identified each other, we started off by Miles, Prue Raper, Victor Spouge, Elwin sharing how we first came in contact with Taylor, Col Peter Taylor, David Ure and There once was a writer named Powell, at Powell, since he is not a well known Stephen Williams. We also welcomed

Whose name had to rhyme with a mole. writer in Sweden. It turned out that Hans Regina Rehbinder and Daniel Tarschys as His temper grew foul The Wallace Collection had actually read the Swedish a delegation from the newly formed If you rhymed it with towel London, W1 translations of A Question of Upbringing Swedish Group. For his Powell was always a Pole. and A Buyer’s Market in the sixties, Mats found a couple of the novels in his As usual the gathering ranged over many

father's collection and myself and Regina Powell-related topics. Regina gave more A schoolmaster sad and forlorn, There is not very much to report at this were seduced by the wonderful titles of details of the founding of the Stockholm Had his dignity shredded and torn, time, mainly due to the Christmas and the novels. We then proceeded to discuss branch of the Society, and said how He soon came to grief, New Year holiday. Work on the how to best spread the knowledge of grateful Swedish members were at the When mistook for a thief, Centenary Conference continues: we are Powell in Sweden and came up with a further reading list that flooded in on the In the case of Braddock and Thorne. in the process of securing keynote number of ideas such as a joint meeting APLIST when Malin Siddiqui requested speakers and hope to be in a position to with the Proust society, contact the suggestions. They said, ‘Tony, you’ve written enough, make an announcement in the next various English societies in Stockholm, And the going must really be tough!’ Newsletter. get one of the newspapers to write a few One group discussed the various pubs, He said, ‘Boys, I am fine, lines about us etc. Moreover, our real and imaginary (French-Polishers’ I have just written nine, Work is also proceeding slowly on the animated discussion provoked the Arms, Hero of Acre, Marquess of And I’ll scribble three more off the cuff.’ plans for the Wallace Collection’s solitary luncher next to us to ask of Sleaford, Wheelbarrow, Nag’s Head), that Centenary Exhibition. In addition we whom we were speaking with such appear in Powell’s work, and tried to understand there are plans afoot for a passion, so perhaps lunch discussions at equate the two. Meanwhile another From B Douglas Russell small centenary exhibitions in New York busy restaurants might be an idea as section of the party were reciting Harry and at Cambridge University Library as well ... Graham’s Ruthless Rhymes! There was ‘Have you heard of Anthony Powell?’ well as the possibility of an event at also discussion about possible venues for ‘Yeah, that famous top-secret mole. Georgetown University, which of course Finally, we put together some suggestions future London events and for the AGM. There was Burgess, MacLean, holds John Monagan’s collection of for future activities for the Anthony And what was that third guy’s name? Powell letters and photographs. Powell Society for Regina to bring with After lunch several members went across Sure, I’ve heard of Anthony Powell.’ her to the leap year lunch in London. We the road to the National Portrait Gallery More details in the next Newsletter. all agreed that it was truly great to have to view the Henry Lamb portrait of Well done and thank you to everyone met and that we would continue doing so Anthony Powell. who entered. in the future!

9 10 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #14 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #14 Royal Society of Literature Society News & Notices Announcement Roy Jenkins Memorial Lecture th Annual General Meeting Powell Biography The Society sends congratulations 27 May 2004 to Dr Christine Berberich on her The Society’s Executive has decided to Michael Barber’s long awaited unofficial recent engagement. To be given by David Cannadine move the normal date of the Annual biography of Anthony Powell is due for General Meeting from mid-September to publication in June. Duckworth are Making History, Writing History: late-October. offering our readers a generous discount an evening with Roy Jenkins on the cover price. Details and an order This retiming will allow the Society to form are on the enclosed flyer. Henry Lamb Portrait of “During the second half of the twentieth save on postage costs by being able to Anthony Powell century, Roy Jenkins was the foremost include all the AGM mailings with the Anthony Powell A Life by Michael Barber; author-statesman of his time. Why did he scheduled Newsletter mailings, thus Duckworth; ISBN 0715630490 As many members will know, the Henry become a writer? Why did he write the saving the cost of a specific AGM Lamb portrait of Anthony Powell was sort of books he did? And what was the connection between his penmanship and mailing to members. GF Watts Painting acquired for the nation (ie. the UK) from Lady Violet Powell’s estate in lieu of his politics? David Cannadine is Queen

Consequently this year’s AGM will now Inheritance Tax. The portrait is in the Elizabeth the Queen Mother Professor of Many who attended the Oxford be on the afternoon of Saturday 23rd care of the National Portrait Gallery in British History at the Institute of Conference dinner in Keble College last October in the London area. Details of London, of which Anthony Powell was a Historical Research at the University of April asked about the huge painting in the time and venue will be confirmed trustee from 1962 to 1976. London, and the author of many books on Keble College Hall (pictured below). later. Please add the new date to your nineteenth- and twentieth-century Britain. diary! We are pleased to report that the portrait Tony Robinson, who spent his Oxford He was a friend and admirer of Lord is currently on view in the Poets & Jenkins, and has contributed to Roy years at Keble, has done some research Writers display on the first floor of the Understanding Anthony Powell and tells us that the painting is The Story Jenkins: A Retrospective, to be published National Portrait Gallery – along with by the Oxford University Press in the An announcement from Nick Birns of Boccaccio by GF Watts. Painted in contemporaneous portraits of Constant 1844 it depicts a scene from the autumn.” Lambert and Dylan Thomas, amongst To my Powell fan friends! All of you, in Decameron. Watts (1817-1904), who others. one way or another, have kindly became known as the “Victorian The lecture starts promptly at 1900 hrs in expressed interest in my forthcoming Michelangelo”, was briefly, but the Kenneth Clark Lecture Theatre, monograph Understanding Anthony apparently unhappily, married to the Honour for Society Member Courtauld Institute, Somerset House, Powell, so it is my pleasure to tell you it teenage Ellen Terry. Strand, London WC2. Members of the is now available for pre-order on Society member Jonathan Hunt, of the public are welcome to attend There is a amazon.com and amazon.co.uk as well as Open University, has been asked by suggested contribution of £8. Tickets are (in USA and Canada) directly from the Worcester College, Oxford to give its not issued in advance. More information publisher, University of South Carolina 2004 Wilkinson lecture. The lecture will from the Royal Society of Literature: Press, at 1-800-768-2500. (Of course be entitled “An Aesthete among the www.rslit.org or +44 20 7845 4676. Quiggin and Craggs were the publishers Hearties: Jocelyn Brooke at Worcester, of choice but certain phrases about an 1927-8”. unnamed Balkan country made things a The lecture, which will last about an bit touchy ...) th hour, is on Wednesday 10 March in the Understanding Anthony Powell by Nicholas college’s Lower Library starting at 1700 Birns; University of South Carolina Press; hrs. The lecture is open to the public and ISBN 1570035490 will be followed by drinks.

11 12 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #14 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #14 Dates for Your Diary Local Groups From the APLIST th Saturday 6 March 2004 NE USA Group Recent Discussions on the Society’s Email Discussion Group London Group Pub Meet Area: NY & CT area, USA Venue: The Anchor Bankside Organiser: Leatrice Fountain 34 Park Street, London, SE1 9EF Email: [email protected] Time: 1230 to 1530 hrs From John Gould book), makes a tremendous impression – As I was driving down to NYC from on Nick, on Widmerpool (obviously), on Regular 4-monthly informal meet at this Great Lakes Group historic riverside hostelry Area: Chicago area, USA Massachusetts, I was listening to a Books us readers – with exceeding economy. on Tape recording of Hearing Secret Murtlock is a menacing, indeed Organiser: Stephen Pyskoty-Olle rd Harmonies, and I started to revise my frightening figure; and I now don't think Saturday 3 July 2004 Email: [email protected] feelings about that volume, which I have he is unbelievable at all. In fact as I was London Group Pub Meet Venue: The Anchor Bankside Swedish Group at times tended quietly to disparage. driving home from New York, I thought 34 Park Street, London, SE1 9EF Area: Sweden of Jim Jones, the leader of the Jonestown Time: 1230 to 1530 hrs Organiser: Regina Rehbinder In this listening I was reminded how cult's mass suicide in 1978, and thought small a part Murtlock "physically" plays how prescient Powell had been in Regular 4-monthly informal meet at this Email: [email protected] historic riverside hostelry in the book. He appears in only two of creating the little horror of Scorp. the seven London Group chapters (the I also felt in hearing the secret harmonies Changed Date Area: London & SE England rd first and the this time how carefully Powell has built Saturday 23 October 2004 Organiser: Keith Marshall Murtlock, like his sixth), the the novel around the Ariosto myth of Society AGM Email: [email protected] original, Dr Time: afternoon remainder of Orlando. Over and over again, the Venue: London Please contact the Hon. Secretary if you Trelawney, makes his presence threads recall the swans recovering lost Details to be confirmed in the next wish to make contact with a group and a tremendous consisting of reputations from the Lake of Oblivion. Newsletter don’t have email. other One after another, characters – St John impression characters' Clarke, X Trapnel, Mr Deacon, etc. – are Friday 2nd & Saturday 3rd reflections revived. Indeed, the Magnus Donners about him. prize, awarded to biographies, could be December 2005 His dialog consists of 66 lines in Chapter considered one of these swans at work. Anthony Powell Centenary Conference Venue: The Wallace Collection One, and many of these are questions, Manchester Square, London, W1 others terse pronouncements (two "Yes" Anyway, all this commentary hopes to Details to follow and two "No"). In Chapter Six he has spark some discussion. How do others only 16 lines, three of which are "No". feel about Hearing Secret Harmonies? Newsletter Copy Deadlines Do you suppose because I myself am These facts struck me because his getting closer to the age of the Contributions to the Newsletter Issue 15, Summer 2004 presence seems so overwhelming participants that I'm hearing some secret are always welcome and should Copy Deadline: 14 May 2004 whenever I have thought of the book, and harmonies of my own? be sent to: Publication Date: 4 June 2004 further because so many people (myself

included) have complained about him as From David Christie Newsletter Editor, Stephen Holden, Issue 16, Autumn 2004 a character – that he shows Powell's Hearing Secret Harmonies (and indeed The Anthony Powell Society Copy Deadline: 21 August 2004 inability to understand the cult the whole last trilogy) has got a lot of 76 Ennismore Avenue Publication Date: 10 September 2004 movements of the ‘60s and ‘70s. stick from some critics over the years, but Greenford, Middlesex, UB6 0JW, UK I have always liked it for two reasons. Issue 17, Winter 2004 Given his relatively small time on stage, The first is that I think that in some sense Fax: +44 (0)20 8864 6109 Copy Deadline: 12 November 2004 Murtlock, like his original, Dr Trelawney Hearing Secret Harmonies is the 'Book Email: [email protected] Publication Date: 3 December 2004 (who also appears physically in only one of Nicholas' where this character, who

13 14 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #14 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #14 has often irritated me over our Answers to the A to Z Christmas Quiz acquaintance, comes into his own as a Set by Mr Blackhead voice of sanity in a mad world. The second reason is that if the Dance can be The answers to the Christmas Quiz, which all concerned writers and writing (real or said to have a 'plot' then it is realised in imagined) mentioned in A Dance to the Music of Time. Hearing Secret Harmonies with the A. By Apollinaire, one of the few books M. Volume of Bernard Shernmaker’s Burton quotation in the penultimate on Moreland’s shelves. collected articles. paragraph where Nicholas solves, to his Alcools Miscellaneous Equities satisfaction, the metaphysical problem The Widmerpool Award B. A travel book by Mark Members. N. Jenkins reads The Castle of Fratta by that has been nagging at him for 3000 Baroque Interlude this author in Temporary Kings. pages. As it happens I do not agree with Last year the Society decided to C. Proust’s “Balbec”. what I see to be his solution, but the fact Ippolito Nievo inaugurate an annual Widmerpool Award, Cabourg O. Trapnel’s copy of this Russian novel that he has worked it out to his for that public figure who most embodies D. Erridge’s gauntness recalls this novel is worn to shreds. satisfaction is all that matters I guess. the characteristics of Kenneth character’s looks. Oblomov

Widmerpool. The award takes the form Don Quixote P. To Jenkins, Widmerpool resembles From Michael Henle of an engraved “wrong kind of overcoat”, E. “…banal de tous les vieux garcons” – this writer without his wig. What is the metaphysical problem that purchased by the Society (at no small lines from Baudelaire quoted by Nick solves to his own satisfaction in the Samuel Pepys expense) from some local flea-market or Moreland to Stourwater Castle. Q. Publishers of Fission. penultimate paragraph? And what is that charity shop. solution? Eldorado Quiggin & Craggs F. By GW Henty, one of the few books R. Author of these lines quoted by From David Christie The 2003 award, announced at the Balliol ever read by Farebrother. Moreland: “Chanson de la plus haut I think that one can apply the scientific conference, went to Lord Irvine, the then For Name and Fame: or, Through tour”. paradigm to the Dance in that Nick Lord Chancellor. The nominations the Afghan Passes Arthur Rimbaud proposes an hypothesis, namely that the referred to his “unabashed exercise of the G. Novel borrowed by Quiggin from S. Title of the only book Uncle Giles is events of one's life are predetermined and powers and privileges of his office Jenkins at university. ever seen reading. that man has no choice in its course. The without care of public opinion”. The The Green Hat by Michael Arlen Some Things That Matter hypothesis is laid out allegorically in the award was widely reported in the UK H. Moreland’s proposed title for an T. Novelist admired by Liddament. Poussin painting. He now questions this press. Shortly afterwards, not only did autobiographical work. Anthony Trollope hypothesis and challenges its validity. Lord Irvine cease to be Lord Chancellor, A Hundred Disagreeable Sexual U. Quiggins’ first and only book. but also it was announced the very post Experiences Unburnt Boats From Michael Henle was to be abolished. I. Ada Leintwardine’s first novel. V. Author of the lines that give the title I don't agree with your 'scientific I Stopped at a Chemist to Hearing Secret Harmonies. hypothesis' vision of Nick. True hints The Anthony Powell Society is formally J. Either this writer or Robert Louis Thomas Vaughan that at least life is patterned are thrown inviting members to submit nominations Stevenson told Le Bas his verse was W. Mr Deacon’s spiritual father. out throughout the series. But I don't see for the prestigious 2004 Widmerpool frightfully bad. Walt Whitman this as predestination; simply that life Award. Nominees must be living figures Henry James X. Trapnel’s first name. obeys some kind of laws. Equally the who are in the public eye. Nominations K. Title of a lecture delivered by Mark Xavier series shows happenstance and random should be sent to the Editor of this Members at the university Y. Lines from Jonson quoted by Newsletter to arrive no later than immediately after World War II. Moreland: “Put me to … foxes, circumstance in operation. The whole st thing is a delicate balance between the Thursday 1 April 2004. Kleist, Marx, Sartre, the milking of he-goats.” two. I will agree that this lifts Existentialist Equilibrium Yoking consideration of Dance to a different Once nominations are in, a cabal or Star L. Author of A Hero of Our Time. Z. Sir Basil …, financier and munitions philosophical plane! Chamber will decide the “winner”. The Mikhail Lermontov manufacturer, mentioned in Max award will be presented at some suitably Pilgrim’s Tess of Le Touquet. Widmerpudlian location. Zaharoff

15 16 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #14 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #14 Letters to the Editor From James Doyle From B Douglas Russell In Lady Molly by William Clinton The cover of the American paperback From Andrew Clarke Unfortunate Evening at Sleaford, which edition of William Boyd's Any Human From Andrew Clarke would be a good place for me to record Heart is a copy, in oils, of a photograph Casanova's Jewish Restaurant by During the course of Saturday afternoon I my urologist's appointments, for of AP circa 1925 which is reproduced in William Clinton cast financial caution to the winds and example? There would of course be Messengers of Day. Powell stands on a Temporary King by Gerald Ford spent a whole AUS$10.00 on a CD of old London Underground maps in the back lawn, legs crossed at the ankles, intently Hearing Secret Harmonics by Richard favourites from Edmundo Ross and His cover (the 1933 edition of course) plus a studying a newspaper. The credit for the Nixon Rumba Band, partly to demonstrate my wine guide and a plan of Jermyn Street. illustration makes no reference to the A Question of Upbringing by George W multicultural credentials but also to go original photograph. Bush back to the days when the Light And perhaps our Cambrian correspondent At Auntie Mamie's by DD Eisenhower Programme was worth listening to, could furnish a guide to the pronunciation It is not, to tell the truth, a very The Valet of Bonzo by Ronald Reagan although the rumba is something that I of Michael Howard's birthplace? Yes, I accomplished rendering. But I thought and don't forget Richard Nixon's second have only recently attempted with any know The Spectator recently published that the Hon. Sec. might consider novel, Bugs Do Furnish A Room degree of success. one, but I don't think it quite cut the securing the original on behalf of the mustard. Society to "sky" in the hallway of the From William Warren And of course this particular petite ______Society's headquarters next to Boyhood of Banking friend, Steve Kelly, suggests that madeleine brought back other memories Cyrus or behind the bar in the Jenkins from the Board at Enron should appear of a fifties upbringing: the harp From Nick Birns Arms. Two Sets of . arpeggios, the cultured tones, the sounds ______of tea being poured, all part of the Rereading Stephen Holden's excellent Nick Birns replies: everyday happenings of a doctor's wife. article on Powell and Larkin in the last The US Boyd paperback cover is a From Tom Miller This particular savonnette was called Mrs Newsletter but one – Stephen raises the painting (based on that photograph) by Dale's Diary, it was broadcast twice question of why AP was so critical of the American artist Duncan Hannah, who I recently read a collection of speeches daily, and many was the Confused Larkin taking the interval-shutter attended our recent celebration of by Enoch Powell, A Nation Not Afraid. I Elderly Person who thought it was real. photographs in which he left the group, Powell’s 98th birthday in NYC. concluded that Enoch was very nearly a The BBC regularly advertised, and then returned to be included in the ______great man, but what I want to know is, presumably sold in vast quantities, a real picture. Stephen seems to be puzzled by did he ever meet Powell? diary called Mrs Dale's Diary, in which this, and I can understand that. Was it From James Doyle one might find, in addition to the phases that Larkin was trying, in a way, to be of the moon and particulars of Moveable both photographer and subject – and that Button Gwinnett, signer of the Feasts, the date of Dr and Mrs Dale's Powell saw this as too much of a drive Declaration of Independence and wedding anniversary, the birthdays of for power or control? I'm thinking a bit ancestor of Russell, makes an appearance their children, the day when Mrs of Henchman in The Fisher King. Or in today's New York Times Book Review. Freeman struck Mr Aneurin Bevan with was he being like Sir Magnus in the Apparently he appears in a historical her umbrella while descending from a Seven Deadly Sins, trying to stage- novel written by Jimmy Carter. No Green Line Bus, and other incidents of manage a tableau? mention of whether the former President note. refers to Button's necrophiliac descendant. Pray God this novel-writing Following this august precedent, why mania doesn't seize Carter's successors. could not the Anthony Powell Society turn an honest penny towards expenses The following suggestions for books were by publishing Mrs Jenkins's Diary? It sent in: could have all kinds of interesting events in it, such as the date of Widmerpool's

17 18 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #14 Society Merchandise The Anthony Powell Society Registered Charity No. 1096873 The Master and The Congressman Audio Tapes of Dance ** A 40 page monograph by John Monagan Copies of the following audio tapes of describing his friendship with Anthony Simon Callow reading (abridged) volumes Membership Form Powell. A small treasure for all collectors of Dance: Member Information Payment Information of Powelliana. · A Question of Upbringing Price: £5 (post free to all members) · The Kindly Ones Type of membership (please tick): Total amount payable: £ ______· The Valley of Bones ¨ Ordinary Member – £20 a year. (No. of years x membership rate) Society Postcard ** · The Soldier’s Art ¨ Joint Membership – £30 a year. Any two B&W postcard of Powell with his cat Price: £2.50 each (postage rate C) persons at the same address. ¨ I enclose a sterling cheque drawn on a UK ¨ Gold Member – £30 minimum a year. bank. Please make cheques payable to Trelawney. Picture on page 7. ¨ Student Member – £12 a year. Please send The Anthony Powell Society. Price: £1.75 for 5 (postage rate B) Society Bookmarks ** a copy of your student card. Price: £1 for 5 (postage rate A) ¨ Organisation – £100 minimum a year. ¨ Please debit my Visa / MasterCard Wallace Collection Postcard ** st Postage Subscriptions are due on 1 April annually. If Card No.: The Wallace Collection’s luxurious st postcard of Poussin’s A Dance to the All Society merchandise is post free to members joining after 31 December membership includes following full subscription year. Valid from: Expires: Music of Time. Picture on page 18. in the UK. Regrettably we have to ask overseas members to contribute to airmail postage using Price: £2 for 5 (postage rate B) the following rates: Full Name: Name & address of cardholder (if different from above): Wallace Collection Poster Rate A B C D Address: The Wallace Collection’s 48.5 x 67.5 cm UK free free free free (half life-size) poster of Poussin’s A Dance Europe 20p 30p 50p 70p World 50p 85p £1 £1.40 I am a UK taxpayer and I want all donations I’ve to the Music of Time. Mailed in a poster th Postcode/Zip: made since 6 April 2000 and all donations in tube. Picture on page 18. Non-members will be charged postage & packing the future to be Gift Aid until I notify you Price: £5.75 (postage rate D) at cost. Country: otherwise. (Delete if not applicable.)

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