The Anthony Powell Society Newsletter

Issue 54, Spring 2014, ISSN 1743-0976, £3

Venice Conference Announcement Fondazione Giorgio Cini Cini Giorgio Fondazione Details page 19 – Booking from 1 April

Contents From the Secretary’s Desk … 2 Lady Widmerpool’s Purse – I … 3-7 Poussin’s Rhythms … 8-10 Kaggsy’s Ramblings – SA … 11-13 Kaggsy’s Ramblings – MP … 14-16 Christmas Quiz Answers … 17 Dates for Your Diary … 18-19 Society Notices … 20 Local Group News … 21-23 More Talking About Books … 24-25 2014 Literary Anniversaries … 26-27 Letters to the Editor … 28 Cuttings … 29-33 Merchandise & Membership … 34-36 2013 AGM Minutes … centre insert

** Don’t forget to renew your subscription! ** Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #54

From the Secretary’s Desk The Anthony Powell Society Venice. Yes, what you’ve all been asking Registered Charity No. 1096873 for is going to happen … we’re going to Venice! After two years incredibly hard The Anthony Powell Society is a work by Elwin & Susan Taylor, John Roe, charitable literary society devoted to the Jeff Manley, Julian Allason and others it life and works of the English author has been possible to organise a Anthony Dymoke Powell, 1905-2000. conference weekend in Venice, staying at Officers & Trustees the Fondazione Giorgio Cini (whose support is greatly appreciated), the Patron: John MA Powell backdrop to Temporary Kings. President: The Earl of Gowrie PC, FRSL Elwin’s team have put together a Hon. Vice-Presidents: programme of five talks, all by renowned Julian Allason academics, and as the pièce de résistance Patric Dickinson LVO a visit to the normally closed Palazzo Michael Meredith Labia to see the influential Tiepolo Dr Jeremy Warren FSA frescoes. The weekend will also include Society Trustees: a reception and a dinner. Jeffrey Manley (USA) Pricing is not yet fully nailed down, so Dr Keith C Marshall (Hon. Secretary) booking will not open until 1 April, but Dr Derek WJ Miles (Hon. Treasurer) there are more details on page 19. Harry Mount Tony Robinson (Acting Chairman) Trustees. Unfortunately Paul Nutley and Prof. John Roe Stephen Holden have both had to stand Elwin Taylor (Switzerland) down as Society Trustees because of health problems. Both are thanked for Membership & Merchandise Secretary: their tremendous contributions to the Keith Marshall Society over the years – in Stephen’s case Acting Newsletter & Journal Editor: since the Society’s inception – which Keith Marshall have been greatly appreciated. This Hon. Archivist: Noreen Marshall Newsletter’s success is thanks to Stephen. All correspondence should be sent to: For the time being this leaves the Society Hon. Secretary, Anthony Powell Society without two Trustees and an Editor. 76 Ennismore Avenue, Greenford While I can fill the Editor’s chair as a UB6 0JW, UK stop-gap measure, I cannot do so long- Phone: +44 (0) 20 8864 4095 term. So we need volunteers to join the Fax: +44 (0) 20 8020 1483 Society’s Executive as Trustees, and Email: [email protected] someone to step forward to fill the Editor’s comfy armchair. If you are one of those people, please get in touch. Cover photograph © John S Monagan 1984 and reproduced by kind permission. Meanwhile we wish both Paul and © The Anthony Powell Society, 2014. All rights reserved. Stephen a speedy and successful Published by The Anthony Powell Society. Printed and distributed by Lonsdale Direct Solutions, recovery. ■ Wellingborough, UK. 2 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #54

Lady Widmerpool’s Purse or The Message in the Painting – I By Antonio di Leoni with apologies to both Donna Leon and Anthony Powell

O Engländer! Seid ihr nicht Toren After removing some crumpled pages of Ihr lasst euern Weibern den Willen. the Gazzettino from the late 1950s that had Wie is man geplagt und geschoren been used as packing material (in his Wenn solch eine Zucht man erhält… opinion, probably the highest and best use to which that publication could be put), he Oh Englishmen what fools you are found among other assorted objects a To let your women have their way. woman’s leather purse with what looked What a bother and nuisance it is like a gold chain and clasp. The crocodile To be landed with such a creature… skin was now a bit powdery but the metal [Mozart, Die Entführung aus dem Serail ] parts were in good condition, and he was able to open its clasp. After his mother’s death, Comissario of Police Brunetti moved a number of cartons As he peered inside it, he recalled how, as from her retirement home into his a young boy, he had found it in a narrow apartment in San Polo. Paola was canal near San Marco. This was before he constantly urging him to sort through these started school. He had just learned to boxes as they were cluttering up the swim, and it was a very hot day at the end limited storage area in the apartment, of the summer. Brunetti and his mates always a problem for Venetians. The were not allowed to swim in the canals, lower areas of Venetian buildings (usually but this one was quiet and not used by used for storage in other cities) were motor launches. It was also relatively subject to flooding during periods of shallow which made it easy to find a large acqua alta. This forced Venetians to find object such as the purse lying on the storage space in areas that were in bottom. It had not been there very long competition for use as living spaces. when they found it as it was still lying on top of the mud. The boys thought the One Sunday morning, he reluctantly purse might contain money since it looked dragged out a dusty box that had begun its as if it was expensive. Rather than risk life as a case of wine from an obscure trouble if they rifled through its contents vineyard in the Alto Adige region (which and had to explain where any new-found had been one of his father’s favorites). He pulled open the top, releasing a cloud of dust that was probably a health hazard given the damp Venetian climate that encouraged the growth of dangerous varieties of mold. He was confident that Lt Vianello could tell him what a serious risk he was taking by probing into such a musty box without wearing some form of protective clothing or mask.

3 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #54 wealth came from, they decided Brunetti There was no date on the letter. The only should give it to his mother. After other document in the side pocket was an rebuking him for swimming in the canal, airline ticket. This was issued to a Lady she took the purse without any apparent Pamela Widmerpool for a trip on British curiosity or further comment. How it then European Airways from Venice to found its way into this box of London. He noticed that it was a First miscellaneous items was impossible to say. Class ticket for the midnight departure. The contents included a small change He set the rest of the contents aside and purse with a few moldy oversized lire took the purse and the letter to show notes, some keys and various items of Paola. She had no interest in the purse feminine grooming such as combs, itself but looked with interest at the clippers, nail files and dried make-up and envelope and the letter. He held them in lipstick. In addition, there was, in a side front of her while she stirred the risotto. It pocket that had been zipped up, an smelled like one of his favorites, probably envelope. He could see that it was porcini cooked in veal stock. addressed to Sir Kenneth Widmerpool at “Where did this come from, Guido?” the Palazzo Bragadin, Cannareggio 3230 and marked Attesa per l’arrivo, the Italian After explaining its progeny, Brunetti for “Hold for arrival”. It appeared to have asked her what she made of it. been opened. In it was a hand-written letter on the stationery of the Italian “Guido, are you involved in some sort of Railroad (the sort of thing they still made treasure hunt game? This letter is available to international passengers in addressed to a character in an English those days); he could make out the novel by a writer named Anthony Powell. message because it was written in ball- He’s not one of my favorites, but I have point ink. It read as follows: read some of his novels including the one that was set in Venice. It’s been a while I am not able to meet you at since I read it, but I think the character conference due unforeseen named Widmerpool was involved in some circumstances. Have left message sort of espionage mission. “B” is containing your instructions from probably Dr Belkin who was supposed to superiors at home of artist D be his contact. I also remember a scene in Tokenhouse at Castello 4348. I which his wife (who was a very nasty placed it behind painting I bought piece of work) threw her purse into a from him called “Any Complaints?: canal. Her name was Pamela, as on the An Army Scene”. He is not aware airline ticket, so the purse probably that I concealed message. I left it belonged to her. The Widmerpools were with the artist, telling him to wrap it both rather larger than life, even properly, and said I would have grotesque, nothing like the characters in unnamed person collect it to hand Henry James who are much more to my over to me at conference. You should liking. And there was something about a tell him that you are this person. You Tiepolo painting. I’m sure this is some may dispose of the painting how you kind of joke, perhaps a prank by some of like. Is rubbish. But please do not to the English Literature students. It might try to contact me. Yours, B. even be a publicity stunt to promote a

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Fondazione Giorgio Cini conference on the novelist Powell this Fall Island of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice at the Cini Foundation that I recently saw advertised in a flyer on the English Department’s notice board.” vaporetto from the San Toma dock. He “I don’t see how that’s possible,” he still bemoaned the renumbering of that replied, “as it was in a box at my mother’s route from what used to be the 82 since it since about 1958 or ’59. When was the rather dated all the references in the earlier novel about Venice published?” novels where he appeared and probably confused readers who did not read the “It was one of the later ones in a series … books in chronological order. He got out probably in the 1970s. I read it in my as usual at San Zaccaria and walked student days”. through the campo, past the ornate white church (one of his favorites because it was “Well, maybe there’s another dimension at so extravagantly Venetian). work here. After all, we’re also characters in a series of novels. Why shouldn’t we He stopped at the caffè by the Greek have contact with other fictional characters Church to have his coffee, knowing the and plots, particularly as this one seems to pastries would be fresh on a Monday involve what may be an unsolved morning. He specially liked the one that mystery.” was shaped like a lobster and filled with ricotta cream. It was the type they make in “Oh, Guido. Don’t be silly. You’ll just Naples (probably the only good thing that complicate your own life (not to mention ever came from that benighted region). Lt that of our creator) if you insist on Vianello was standing at the counter, just intervening in a story by another writer.” finishing his coffee, when Brunetti arrived. He let the matter rest until the next day As they walked up the fondamenta to the when he put the letter into his pocket as he Questura, Brunetti mentioned the purse left for the Questura. He took the No. 2 and the letter as well as Paola’s reaction. 5 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #54

“I think Paola’s right,” said Vianello. “You don’t really have authority as a character in one set of novels to investigate possibly unsolved mysteries from another, even if there is a gap in the plot. No telling where that might lead”. “You both may be correct,” replied Brunetti, without much conviction. He began to see how he could become a more complex, more nuanced character, one of greater interest to literary critics and scholars, if he could solve a mystery from Brunetti and Signorina Elletra a literary novel such as Paola had described. When he got to his desk there was the She continued: “Commissario, I have usual pile of inconsequential paperwork. never had to do this kind of research There was nothing much going on. It was before. This information was not in the not easy making oneself interesting as a secure files of government agencies, banks police Commissario in a city where there or individuals. It was on the computer as was no serious crime to speak of. After an e-book. I was able to use my computer moving papers around for a few minutes, skills to hack into it without paying, but it he decided to show the letter to Signorina did not pose the usual challenge of finding Elettra to see what she could find out a way through a security wall. These about it. people are all characters in a novel written in English. They are no more real than Her office was next to that of their boss, you or I. When I looked for an Italian Vice-Questore Patta. After exchanging translation, I found that, while a few greetings, he showed her the letter and novels in that series have been published asked her to see what she could find out on in translation, not this one. My English her computer about Kenneth Widmerpool, language is more limited than my D Tokenhouse and the mysterious “B”, computer skills and the Google translation without giving her the information he was rubbish. Why are you so interested in already had received from Paola. these people and what do you expect to find?” He didn’t see her again until the next day when she came to him full of information “It’s hard to say at this point, but I am based on her computer searches. She sufficiently interested to look a bit deeper. explained who the characters Kenneth Let me see what I can find out on my Widmerpool, Daniel Tokenhouse and Dr own.” Belkin were and what they were doing in Venice. She also filled him in about “Well, Commissario, I should perhaps Pamela (or Lady) Widmerpool, her purse warn you. When I searched for these (a gift from a rich American) and how it people, I came up with hundreds, perhaps found its way into the canal. But she thousands of hits from e-mail messages could find no mention of the letter that he between people on a blog called APList. had found in the purse. These messages go on and on about who 6 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #54 these people were in ‘real life’. There suggest that this Gwinnett was implicated seems to be no end to the ridiculous in the death of Mrs Widmerpool in London lengths these bloggers will go in their about a year later. The agency did what character identity speculations. Are you was needed to cover that up. They also sure you want to get involved in this sort kept a careful watch on Kenneth of thing? It may even risk opening us up Widmerpool during his period as Professor to similar speculation as to who we may of Political Economics at Brigham Young ‘really’ be. University. But I assume you have no interest in that.” He smiled and responded, somewhat patronizingly, “Thanks for your research. “Well, Signorina, as usual, you have given I think I can take it over from here”. me a lot to go on with. For now, you don’t need to delve any deeper into “Well, perhaps I should also tell you that Widmerpool’s activities in the US but after I finished the easy research, I was remember how to find them again should sufficiently curious to resort to my usual, that be necessary. Grazie molto.” more secure sources. I broke through the security wall of the CIA archives and “One more thing, Commissario. I don’t found the file of Kenneth Widmerpool. know whether it’s relevant or not, but this They have digitized all their files that are Gwinnett in his report on his Venice more than 40 years old to save storage activities said that he had met an costs but their security system was not Englishman named Nicholas Jenkins who very challenging, for me at least. I must was also attending the conference. confess, that I have a contact at that Gwinnett reported that Jenkins was a well- agency (as I have in most places) who informed gossip who seemed to know helped me a bit. The file contained a everything about everyone of any memo by a Russell Gwinnett, one of their importance in English cultural and agents who, as his cover, taught English political circles. He recommended that Literature. He was assigned to attend a London Station might want to contact him conference in Venice in 1958 to make to see if he could be of any use to them.” contact with “Agent Squirrel 2”. This was “I’ll try to remember that if this name probably the mysterious Dr Belkin whose comes up again.” name means squirrel in several Slavic languages. Long story short, he [To be continued] discovered that Squirrel 2 was working both sides and was also the contact of Jeff Manley writes: Donna Leon’s Kenneth Widmerpool who was supplying Comissario Brunetti novels are published information from Western sources to his in the UK by William Heinemann and in bosses in the East. Gwinnett ingratiated the US by Atlantic Monthly Press. The himself with Mrs Widmerpool, who next is due for release in April 2014 in exposed Squirrel 2 and prevented her both countries; By Its Cover, number 23 in husband from meeting him. Later files the series, will involve the antiquarian also report that, as a result of her actions, book trade. The best in my opinion are the Squirrel 2 (now identified as Belkin) was first, Death at La Fenice and number five, exterminated. There are also some Acqua Alta, but it is not necessary to read references in another document that them in order. ■

7 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #54 These Rhythms of Life are Calm By Willard Spiegelman

Nicolas Poussin has always been a hard next year [2014], it will return to its usual sell. One learned friend of mine told me position when the museum’s Great Gallery unashamedly: “In the entire history of art is renovated.) there is only one artist I have no time for: All paintings demand to be appreciated, Poussin. Cold, empty, and analyzed for form, color and overintellectualized”. technique. Poussin’s pictures also demand Without Poussin, the course of French – to be “read”: With few exceptions, his indeed modern – painting would be utterly pictures tell stories. At the start of the different. He spent his adult life in Rome. “Ode on a Grecian Urn,” John Keats asks: Along with his countryman Claude “What men or gods are these?” It’s what Lorrain, who also lived in Italy, he effected every child will say: What is going on the transition between the high here? Who are these people? Renaissance and modernity. In Poussin Poussin’s scenes from the Bible, ancient (1594-1665), the Baroque gives way to the history and classical mythology require Neoclassical. History, religion, myth and little explanation to well-educated people. landscape all blend in his pictures. “Dance” – at 32½ inches by 41 inches, a Painters in Rome in the early 19th century small picture by comparison to some of the followed “la promenade de Poussin”, master’s greatest, especially late canvases literally walking in the master’s tracks: – is a tougher nut to crack. What do we JMW Turner and John Constable as well as see? Théodore Géricault did this. Paul Four figures, holding hands and moving Cézanne, above all, worshipped him: “Like clockwise in a circle, are flanked by a two- Poussin”, he said, “I would like to put headed column (Janus, the Roman god of reason in the grass, and tears in the sky”. doors and boundaries) on the picture’s left, This assessment hardly refers to a cold and and by an old winged man playing a lyre, overintellectualized painter, although our on the right. The attractive quartet is contemporary tastes usually look askance dancing to the music of Time. Two small at Poussin’s kind of formal perfection. boys in the foreground represent another Poussin had it all. At London’s Wallace aspect of temporality. On the left, one Collection – a sumptuous house museum blows soap bubbles; on the right, the chock-a-block with art, china, armour and second watches, somewhat suspiciously, furniture – you’ll find one of his great sands going through an hourglass. And early pictures, “A Dance to the Music of above the terrestrial scene, Apollo, god of Time” (c.1634-36), whose title the British the sun, led by Aurora, goddess of dawn, novelist Anthony Powell borrowed for his and followed by the Hours, steers his own 12-volume masterpiece (1951-1975). chariot across the heavens for the daily Currently the painting hangs on a damask- round. Time is, so to speak, everywhere. covered side wall in a corner of the It’s the central foursome that commands smoking room, bereft of good light. (Late our attention, and provokes questions not

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easy to answer. Who are these people? representing Autumn, who was usually How are they different, and – an equally pictured as female. Now, scholars think important question – how are they the that the four figures are not the seasons but same? stages in human fortune: poverty, labour, wealth and pleasure. The picture is clear and mysterious at once. Even its title is troublesome. It had Which is which? By one reckoning, the earlier been called La Danse des saisons, man is the figure of poverty, and he is ou l’image de la vie humaine. Poussin was holding the hands of labour and pleasure. involved, in his early years in Rome, in But if he is (also) a god of the harvest, he literary circles that would have found such can hardly be thought impoverished. allegorical tours de force meaningful and Today, a viewer is more likely to be as engaging. He received a commission for moved by the elegant sameness of the four the picture from Giulio Rospigliosi (who figures as by their subtle distinctions. Two later became Pope Clement IX), and who are sandaled, two barefooted. The first probably dictated the terms of its woman, on the left, garlanded with iconography. But “seasons” and “human flowers, casts a come-hither smile. The life” are pretty broadly conceived terms. third figure (Labour?) has the plainest An older interpretation held the single headdress, and the fourth, in front male dancer to be Bacchus, the god of (Wealth?), the one we see most clearly, wine crowned with grape leaves, and

9 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #54 with pearls in her hair, leans back smiling. This fanciful thinking says more about She, too, wears sandals. Jenkins than about Poussin’s painting, in which we find no “meaningless gyrations,” Regardless of sameness and difference, all only the inexorable sadness – however four project a stately, classic calm. All are beautiful – of human movement occurring youthful, pink-cheeked and beautiful. If under the watchful eye and command of this were a different kind of depiction of Time. the seasons of human life, surely “winter” or poverty would mean “old age” or Willard Spiegelman is the Hughes Professor of ugliness, and be depicted appropriately. English at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, The four make a frieze: motion caught in Texas. stillness. And even Time, the ancient This article first appeared in the Wall Street musician, has gay, glittering eyes and a Journal on 22 November 2013 and is reprinted body like that of a muscular youth, not an with kind permission. ■ old man. Poussin’s mastery of color is evident. The palette of salmon, white and blue used for the dancers is repeated in the sky, the drapery of the putti, and the wings of Father Time. Harmony prevails. The details of the picture, in other words, complicate or positively undo any strict allegorical readings we might project upon it. Just as you can’t really demarcate one season from another, or one period of human life from the next, so here in “Dance,” it’s the constant process, not the individual chapters of life, that stand out. At the start of Powell’s novel, Nick Jenkins the narrator thinks about these figures and human mortality: ... human beings, facing outward like the Seasons, moving hand in hand in intricate measure: stepping slowly, methodically, sometimes a trifle awkwardly, in evolutions that take recognisable shape: or breaking into seemingly meaningless gyrations, while partners disappear only to reappear again, once more giving pattern to the spectacle: unable to control the melody, unable, perhaps, to control the steps of the dance.

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Kaggsy’s Bookish Ramblings – 9 The Soldier’s Art by Anthony Powell Book blogger Karen Langley set herself the task of reading a book of Dance a month during 2013 and to write about the experience volume by volume on her weblog. Here are her reviews of volumes eight and nine of Dance.

I confess I am very behind with August’s episode of Dance to the Music of Time – life and other books got in the way – but I’m going to try to read two of the books in one month. In the meantime, here are my thoughts (belatedly) about book 8 in the sequence. Actually, episodic is the right word to describe Powell’s novels, as it’s become clear by now that each chapter relates the story of an event, or series of events, that have made up an episode of Nick’s life. And how like real life this is, because very few of us remember our lives sequentially; instead, particular times, places and happenings stand out in our memories, and so Powell is adept at capturing what the draws the wrath of Biggs, an unpleasant real experience of remembering is. Captain. The Soldier’s Art continues from The There are only three long chapters in this Valley of Bones with Nick now working for book and the second covers Nick’s leave in Widmerpool at Divisional HQ. It is 1941 London. The interview for the Free and so the War is taking hold. Being French does not go well, as Nick’s employed by the wonderful Kenneth is not language is not up to the job. However, he the most scintillating of jobs, and Nick manages to meet up with old friends, obviously craves something more. A fluke having a drink with Chips Lovell, and conversation with General Liddament dinner with Moreland and, most leads to a recommendation for a position unexpectedly, Audrey Maclintick. with the Free French forces, and Nick is Emotions are running high as Priscilla due for an interview during his Lovell, Nick’s sister-in-law, has been forthcoming leave. Meanwhile, having an affair with Odo Stevens, and Widmerpool is heavily involved in army turns up at the same restaurant with him as politics, jockeying for position with a he is off on a posting. Chips, meanwhile, colleague, Colonel Hogbourne-Johnson. wants a reconciliation and has gone off to And in the Mess, a shock is in store, as an a gathering where he thinks she will be. unexpected Mess Waiter turns out to be an Nick goes home with Moreland and old friend of Nick’s, and unfortunately Audrey, where they encounter Max Pilgrim with some dramatic news ...

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The third chapter sees us and Nick back at so much as here – I came out of this book HQ where there are all sorts of upheavals feeling quite emotionally wrung out! going on. The Mess Waiter has been The portrait of army life is of course transferred to the mobile laundry; Bithel, excellent – the petty everyday brutalities, who is in charge of that unit, is caught the boredom, the relentless procedures, the drunk by Widmerpool (despite Nick and caste system of the ranks – but it is the the waiter’s attempts to cover up) and our despair caused by the war that is shown so Kenneth has him dismissed from the army. well here. The norms go out of the Widmerpool’s behind the scenes window and people take unexpected manipulations go a little too far and actions: a suicide by a solid army man despite his promotion, there is a hint things thrown into sudden anguish; the union of may not go well for him. And Nick, Moreland and Audrey, who previously previously unsure of what would happen very much disliked each other; and the to him on Widmerpool’s promotion, is breakdown of marriages and normal summoned to the War Office! relationships as a kind of recklessness This is one of the shorter books of the takes over. sequence, but my goodness it delivers It’s become clear that one of the most quite a punch! I’ve worded my comments important elements in these books is as carefully as I can above because I don’t friendship and Nick/Powell reflects on this want to give out any spoilers, but there is complex relationship: plenty of drama in this book and I was really gripped from beginning to end. Friendship, popularly represented as The War starts to hit home in a particularly something simple and hard way, and what is surprising is that straightforward – in contrast with love – is perhaps no less complicated, much of the dramatic action happens when Nick is on leave in London. The first requiring equally mysterious deaths that really affect us take place nourishment; like love, too, bearing also within its embryo inherent seeds amongst civilians, in the blitz, and so are more powerful because we are not of dissolution, something more necessarily expecting them. One character fundamentally destructive, perhaps, than the mere passing of time, the all- seems to have some kind of premonition of what is happening and their leavetaking is obliterating march of events which touching and poignant. There is much had, for example, come between [X] and myself. Widmerpool in this book, and it’s fascinating to look back to the first It’s going to be hard to pick a favourite of volume, A Question of Upbringing, and these books when I’ve finally read the recall his appearance at the start, his whole sequence – if, indeed, that turns out dogged running reflecting his stubborn, to be something relevant to do – but I have determined nature. to say that this has been one of the most gripping I’ve read so far. There’s a There are unexpected reappearances, as poignancy to it, a combination of ageing there usually are, and some losses referred and changing and loss. One character to almost casually – which makes the quotes Browning from “Childe event even more shocking. Powell is Roland” (the title comes from this poem): always adept at delivering these, but never

12 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #54 Charlotte Street, as it stretches northward I shut my eyes and turned them on my towards Fitzroy Square, retains a certain heart. unprincipled integrity of character, though As a man calls for wine before he its tributaries reach out to the east, where, fights, in Tottenham Court Road, structural I asked one draught of earlier, anomalies pass all bounds of reason, and happier sights west, into a nondescript ocean of bricks and mortar from which hospitals, tenements Ere fitly I could hope to play my part. and warehouses gloomily manifest Think first, fight afterwards – the themselves in shapeless bulk above mean soldier’s art; shops. Mr Deacon’s ‘place’ was situated in One taste of the old time sets all to a narrow by-street … of modest eighteenth- rights. century – perhaps even late seventeenth- century – houses, of a kind still to be seen There is a sense that more losses are to in London, though growing rarer, the fronts come before the world is set to rights – I of some turned to commercial purposes, can’t wait to get into the next book, but in others bearing the brass plate of dentist or many ways I don’t want to! Excellent midwife ... Mr Deacon’s premises stood writing as always by Powell; a remarkably between a French polisher’s and the offices good book! of the Vox Populi Press. It was a sordid spot, though one from which a certain First published at http:// implication of expectancy was to be kaggsysbookishramblings.wordpress.com/2013/0 derived. Indeed, the façade was not unlike 9/15/recent-reads-the-soldiers-art-by-anthony- that row of shops that form a back-cloth for powell/ on 15 September 2013 and reprinted with the harlequinade … kind permission. ■ [A Buyer’s Market]

Is this the model for Mr Deacon’s shop? 76 Charlotte Street, London W1 in 1926 (left) and today. The plaque on the shop is to the painter John Constable who died here on 31 March 1837. 13 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #54

Kaggsy’s Bookish Ramblings – 10 The Military Philosophers by Anthony Powell

Yes, I’m still a month behind with my Powell reads, but I have just managed to squeeze book 9 in before the end of October so that I don’t get even further in arrears! The Military Philosophers is the third in the ‘war trilogy’ and contains a lot of events, emotions, changes and losses. As we start the book, Nick is now working in military liaison, looking after a varied bunch of foreign attachés and dealing with the pettiness and politics of military life. He is based in London, looking after the Polish contingent, working under Pennistone and Finn. Needless to say, he crosses paths with the dreaded Widmerpool, as well as a number of old acquaintances such as Sunny Farebrother Belgium, through war zones, devastation and Templer. He also encounters old and some very moving Proustian scenery. haunts, and in a chilling reminder of how The book ends with peace at last arriving things are changed goes off on a visit to and a thanksgiving service at St Paul’s the Polish HQ in London, which turns out Cathedral. The war is over and Nick, like to be Uncle Giles’ erstwhile home, the so many others, has to return to civilian Ufford Hotel. life. We are memorably introduced to Reading MP is something of an emotional Stringham’s niece, the notorious Pamela rollercoaster, as we follow the ups and Flitton, who is working as a driver for the downs of the ending of the war and the army; she reveals that Stringham was corresponding ups and downs of the captured when Singapore fell. The war various characters. Indeed, in the war rumbles on, Nick is promoted to trilogy Powell paints a brilliant and supervising Belgians and Czechs, and then moving picture of wartime Britain and the during an air raid he runs into Pamela and effects of the long conflict on people and her current man, who turns out to be Odo places. There are so many losses, so many Stevens. Her temperament is rather lives turned inside out, and this is really violently displayed here as they row brought home in these books. His dramatically. Also present is Mrs Erdleigh somewhat laconic style doesn’t hide up the who is in full soothsaying mood. pain and hurt which is going on around him and I think I’ve come to realise that Then Nick finally makes Major and is the books are just not really about Nick, assigned to accompany a group of assorted but those around him – he is simply the foreign attachés round Normandy and carrier, the method of telling the tale, so

14 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #54 we should not expect any inner Until you have dealings with monologues about his emotions. Blackhead, the word “bureaucrat” Nevertheless, we do come to care about will have conveyed no meaning to him, despite Powell’s refusal to allow us to you. He is the super-tchenovnik of get too close! the classical Russian novel. Even this building can boast no one else quite It’s going to be difficult to write in-depth like him. about this book without giving too much away, but let’s get on with specifics. Once And later: again, there are some really wonderful characterisations in MP, and my favourite ‘Blackhead is a man apart’, said has to be the ultimate civil servant, Pennistone. ‘Even his colleagues are aware of that. His minutes have the Blackhead, whose convoluted paperwork and refusal to allow anyone to have abstract quality of pure intention.’ anything has to be unrivalled: Powell captures him beautifully, as always – he really is a master at nailing character The stairs above the second floor led with words! And his writing is just up into a rookery of lesser activities, exquisite – for example, this wonderful some fairly obscure of definition. On description of Donners: these higher storeys dwelt the Civil branches and their subsidiaries, In the seven years or so that had Finance, Internal Administration, passed since I had last seen him, Sir Passive Air Defence, all diminishing Magnus Donners had grown not so in official prestige as the altitude much older in appearances, as less steepened. Finally the explorer like a human being. He now converged on attics under the eaves, resembled an animated tailor’s where crusty hermits lunched frugally dummy, one designed to recommend from paper bags, amongst crumb- second-hand, though immensely powdered files and documents discreet, clothes (if the suit he was ineradicably tattooed with the wearing could be regarded as a circular brand of the teacup. At these sample) adapted to the taste of heights, vestiges of hastily snatched distinguished men no longer young. meals endured throughout all Jerky movements, like those of a seasons, eternal as the unmelted marionette – perhaps indicating all upland snows. Here, under the leads, was not absolutely well with his like some unjustly confined prisoner physical system – added to the in the Council of Ten, lived impression of an outsize puppet that Blackhead. It was a part of the had somehow escaped from its box building rarely penetrated, for even and begun to mix with real people, Blackhead himself preferred on the who were momentarily taken in by the whole to make forays on others, extraordinary conviction of its rather than that his own fastness mechanism. should be invaded. So many of our old favourites reappear, Pennistone warns Nick: with in many cases a certain amount of poignancy, and of course the dreadful

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Kenneth has a prominent part in the events The military attachés, with their various that take place in the book. Widmerpool’s temperaments and peculiarities, are an behaviour and quest for power attains engaging bunch and the interplay between monstrous proportions in MP; but then he them is a joy. And then there is a very is a completely self-serving egotist, so it is unexpected reunion at the end … no surprise when he hooks up with Pamela Saying much more will risk spoilers so I Flitton who seems to be driven by nothing won’t; all I *will* say is that the more I but anger and her own desires. And read of Powell, the more convinced I Widmerpool has been a man driven from become of his mastery as a writer – the the opening pages of the first book, our blurb on the back of my edition calling the first encounter with the man where his sequence “the greatest modern novel since personality was already on display, and Ulysses” and “one of English fiction’s few here his nature is fully displayed. His twentieth century masterpieces” doesn’t actions, if what is alleged about him is exaggerate! true, are shocking and appalling. Truly, he and Pamela deserve each other. First published at http:// kaggsysbookishramblings.wordpress.com/2013/1 It’s fascinating seeing Nick moving in the 0/31/recent-reads-the-military-philosophers-by- higher echelons of power, and his anthony-powell/ on 31 October 2013 and description of a visit to a secure meeting in reprinted with kind permission. ■ a bunker-style room is very telling: In this brightly lit dungeon lurked a sense that no one could spare a word, not a syllable, far less gesture, not of Why Not Advertise Here? direct value in implementing the *** matter in hand. The power principle Display Advert Rates could almost be felt here, humming Full Page: £30 and vibrating like the drumming of ½ page or full column: £20 the teleprinter. The sensation that ¼ page (½ column): £12 resulted was oppressive, even a shade B&W artwork only alarming. *** Flyer Inserts £30 per A4 sheet £15 per A5 sheet plus printing costs *** Small Ads Free to Society members Others 10p/word, minimum £3 *** Births, Deaths & Marriages Poet John Clare (left) and Alexander Pope. Free to Society members See “Literary Anniversaries”, page 26. Others 25p/word, minimum £5

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Christmas Books Quiz Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (1998)] 1. The Arabian Nights (8th-13th centuries); by JK Rowling Sir Magnus Donners 25. Nurse Matilda, in the series by 2. Samuel Pepys Christianna Brand (1964-1974) 3. St Nicholas in the poem ‘The Night Before Christmas’ by Clement Clarke Anagrammatic Acrostic Quiz Moore (1823) 1. Edward VII 4. Mr Pickwick, The Pickwick Papers by 2. Nina Hamnett Charles Dickens (1837) 3. Noddy 5. Not washing, and wearing his hair and 4. Edgar Deacon nails long and dirty 5. Ufford 6. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by 6. Eton College Lewis Carroll (1865) 7. Farinelli 7. Tom Brown in Tom Brown’s Schooldays 8. Dotheboys Hall by Thomas Hughes (1857) 9. Achilles 8. Ebenezer Scrooge, in A Christmas Carol 10. Kingsley Amis by Charles Dickens (1843) 11. Engelbert Humperdinck 9. Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy March in Little 12. Henry Yorke Women by Louisa M Alcott (1868) 13. Mr Norris 10. Katy and Clover Carr in What Katy Did at 14. Benjamin Britten School by Susan Coolidge (Sarah 15. Charles Ives Chauncey Woolsey) (1872) 16. Richard III 11. MR James (his first book of these was 17. WE Johns published in 1904) 18. Horace Isbister 12. Nanny Ogg in Nanny Ogg’s Cookbook by 19. Sultan Terry Pratchett, Stephen Briggs and Tina 20. Arthur Sullivan Hannan (1999) 21. Radnorshire 13. Puck of Pook’s Hill by Rudyard Kipling 22. Susan Nunnery (1906) 23. George Orwell 14. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Which gives the letters for John Aubrey Grahame (1908) and His Friends. ■ 15. Lord Peter Wimsey in The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L Sayers (1934) Christmas Crossword Solution 16. Tin Tin by Hergé (1930s/40s) 17. Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by TS Eliot (1939) 18. The Starkadders in Christmas at Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons (1940) 19. Minka Varda, the daughter of (Dorothy) Varda and Jean Varda (1944) 20. In the Australian bush, in the books by SA Wakefield (1967-1989) 21. Dylan Thomas in A Child’s Christmas in Wales (various versions, mostly 1940s) 22. Narnia in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis (1950) 23. Her sister (née Lady Mary Pakenham) 24. Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (1997) [USA: Harry

17 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #54

Dates for Your Diary

Summer Saturday Stroll London Quarterly Pub Meets In the Footsteps of Milly Andriadis Saturday 10 May 2014 and Charles Stringham Saturday 9 August 2014 Saturday 1 November 2014 Saturday 14 June 2014 1030 for 1100 hrs The Audley 41-43 Mount Street, London W1 Meet: Angel & Crown Pub 58 St Martin’s Lane, London WC2 1230 to 1530 hrs (very close to Leicester Square Underground) Good beer, good pub food and informal The walk will depart from the Angel & conversation in a Victorian pub AP Crown at 1100 hrs sharp. would have known. Why not bring something AP-related to interest us? The route, which is about 2 miles, will Non-members always welcome. meander along Gerrard Street in Soho, Further details from the Hon. Secretary. through St James’s and Mayfair towards Hyde Park and the Achilles statue, ending in Shepherd Market. Venice Conference Once in Shepherd Market we will lunch at Da Corradi, a small, friendly, family- 9-11 October 2014 run Italian restaurant. Lunch is booked for 1300 hrs. See page 19 No need to book for the walk, but if you wish to join the lunch party please let us Annual General Meeting know so we can book a group table. Saturday 25 October 2014 There is no charge for the walk itself 1400 hrs (although donations in the Secretary’s top hat will be welcomed) and lunch London venue tbc will be pay on the day. Further details when available from the Non members will be welcome. Hon. Secretary. For further details and booking please contact Ivan Hutnik, [email protected], or the Hon. London AP Birthday Lunch Secretary (address, page 2). Saturday 6 December 2014 1200 for 1230 hrs London venue tbc Further details when available from the Hon. Secretary.

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Venice Conference Announcement Arrangements are now being finalised for the Venice event and bookings will be taken from 1 April 2014 Thursday 9 – Saturday 11 October 2014 Fondazione Giorgio Cini Isola di San Giorgio Maggiore Full details and confirmed pricing will be announced on 1 April 2014

Programme - Friday and Saturday Fondazione Giorgio Cini  Two mornings of conference sessions with internationally recognized experts on Anthony Powell and his period.  Tour of Fondazione Giorgio Cini, including the re-creation of Veronese’s Wedding at Cana.  Visit to Palazzo Labia to see the Tiepolo frescoes, and the setting for the ‘Gyges and Candaules’ scene in Temporary Kings.  Prosecco reception at Palazzo Labia.  Conference dinner at Do Forni Restaurant.  Two or three nights accommodation at Vittore Branca Study Centre, attached to and part of the Fondazione Giorgio Cini. Pricing – all above included  Members approx. €325 per person for 2 nights (approx. £270 / $445).  Members approx. €395 per person for 3 nights (approx. £325 / $540).  Extra nights accommodation may be arranged directly with the Study Centre (subject to availability) at €70 euros per person per night (single) or €60 euros per person per night (double).  Please note: delegates are responsible for their travel costs to, from and in Venice. Availability and Reservation  Bookings are limited to 50 people. Double rooms subject to availability.  To reserve places in advance, subject to confirmation by submission of booking form and payment after 1 April but before 18 April, please email or phone the Hon. Secretary, Keith Marshall (address on page 2) with your name and number of places required. PLEASE DO NOT SEND MONEY NOW as prices are still to be fully confirmed We are looking forward to seeing you in Venice!

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Society Notices

Welcome to New Members Local Group Contacts We would like to extend a warm London Group welcome to the following who have Area: London & SE England joined the Society in recent months: Contact: Keith Marshall Gerard Connors, Kenmore, USA Email: [email protected] Philippa Fawcett, London New York & NE USA Group Bruce Fleming, London Area: New York & NE USA Allan Lloyd, Herefordshire Contacts: Nick Birns Kathleen McCook, Ruskin, USA Email: [email protected] Matthew Nimetz, New York, USA Great Lakes Group Thomas Paul, London Area: Chicago area, USA Meredith Ramsbotham, London Contact: Joanne Edmonds J Steer, Pont-Rouge, Canada ■ Email: [email protected] Nordic Group Area: Sweden & Finland Contact: Regina Rehbinder Email: [email protected] Toronto Group Subscriptions Area: Toronto, Canada Contact: Joan Williams Members are reminded that Email: [email protected] subscriptions are due annually on 1 April (for rates see back page). Please contact the Hon. Secretary if you Reminders are sent during March to wish to make contact with a group and those whose membership is about to don’t have email. If you wish to start a local group the Hon. Secretary can advise expire. on the number of members in your area. ■ Anyone whose membership is expired will be removed from the membership list at the end of June. Newsletter Copy Deadlines As we will be using email wherever Newsletter #55, Summer 2014 possible, please keep a look-out for Copy Deadline: 16 May 2014 emails from the Society. Publication Date: 6 June 2014 Subscriptions should be sent to the Newsletter #56, Autumn 2014 Hon. Secretary, address on page 2. ■ Copy Deadline: 11 August 2014 Publication Date: 5 September 2014

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Local Group News

New York Powell Birthday Lunch Reporter Ed Bock

On three occasions the timbers of the Portraits in String by X Trapnel, published Grolier Club vibrated to loud expressions by Quiggin and Craggs, was placed in the of approbation during the December 13 Grolier Club Library. annual AP Birthday Luncheon in New After desert came a performance of “An York. Aria for Pam”. The first followed the announcement that Making smashing debut performances John Gould and Gerald Ruderman had were Beth Williams as Polly Duport, been named joint winners of the Gerald Ruderman as Louis Glober, and Umfraville Award for their 7 minute Cheryl Hurley as Isobel Jenkins. addresses of “wit and/or devil’s Established Noel-Poel stars created new advocacy”. Cheers and smiles continued roles: Eileen Kaufman as Ada as Ruderman and Gould were escorted to Leintwardine, Nick Birns as Quiggin, John laureled chairs by Herald Cheryl Hurley. Gould as Nick Jenkins, and Arete Warren Applause came also with the award of the as Pamela Widmerpool. Tom Wallace was Noel-Poel 2013 Theophrastus Prize “for available for the first time as understudy. Literary Artistry in Witty Character Wild applause released audience shock at Delineation & for his Unique Contribution th Arete Warren’s fierce delivery of Pam’s to the Canon of 20 Century English closing laugh. Fiction” to Dr Bernard Stacey. Dr Stacey was also made a Lifetime Honorary Cheryl and Gerald explained their Member of the Noel-Poel Players conceptions of their roles as Isobel and Company. A signed copy of his book, Glober in post-performance interviews with this correspondent. ■

Contributions to the Newsletter and journal Secret Harmonies are always welcome and should be sent to: Newsletter & Journal Editor, Anthony Powell Society 76 Ennismore Avenue Greenford, UB6 0JW, UK Fax: +44 (0)20 8020 1483 Email: [email protected] We are always especially grateful for reports or notices of Powell-related events and relevant photographs. Gerard Manley Hopkins (left) and Lewis Carroll. See “Literary Anniversaries”, page 26. 21 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #54

Local Group News

Conversations with Glass in Hand Reporter Noreen Marshall

Over the last few months, Society that although a private room might be members in the UK have had several agreeable we did not want to move pub to opportunities to meet and chat over food achieve this – indeed everyone was quite and drink: Anthony Powell’s Birthday content with the Audley, especially give its Lunch on 7 December, the Hon. appropriate location. The group was also Secretary’s New Year Brunch on 18 against having a required theme for January and the Pub Meet on 8 February. discussion other than perhaps very occasionally. Most recently, twelve of us (including some new faces) convened at The Audley Present at the Pub Meet: Robert Beech, Robin on the corner of Mount Street for the pub Bynoe, Jill Chalmers, Bruce Fleming, Ivan meet, and lost no time in tucking into fish Hutnik, Christopher Long, Keith Marshall, Noreen Marshall, Gerald Parsons, Tom Paul, Guy and chips etc. while discussing various Robinson, Rob Tresman. topics, notably this year’s forthcoming  Society events. Uppermost were the London Summer Walk which Ivan Hutnik is planning for mid-June (see page 18) and the Venice Extravaganza which will take place in October (see page 19). Literary matters also had a good airing, and included Dance as social history, the work of Stella Gibbons, the publishing and re- publishing of various works (including Powell’s), and last but not least ‘Which characters in Dance are most and least likely to be willing to have a go on a The Audley, Mount Street, Mayfair. A Victorian bouncy castle?’ pub still with many of its original fittings. Even if we don’t know that he drank there, Powell surely Variety was added in the shape of Blue knew this pub as it is only minutes walk from Plaques, eating places, the current Shepherd Market and Hill Street. iniquitous rates of UK postage, the Army, Society merchandise, Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy, American football and the Russian Orthodox Church. The Hon. Secretary posed the question as to whether the group are happy continuing to meet at the Audley. The consensus was

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Local Group News

 John Standing The lunch and brunch both took place at Da Corradi, a friendly family-run Italian Patric Dickinson writes: restaurant near the location of the flat AP once had in Shepherd Market, and some of Last week [3 February] I went to see John those present took the opportunity to go Standing (who played the older Nicholas and look at the site afterwards. Jenkins in the TV version of Dance) in cabaret and it was a thoroughly Among other topics, members talked about entertaining evening. The Crazy Coqs is television adaptations of literature (notably a pleasant little cabaret bar attached to the most recent takes on Father Brown Brasserie Zedel, a rather spectacular (and and Sherlock Holmes), food, art, cricket, good-value) restaurant in what was the Australia, legal matters, AP’s literary Grill Room of the old Regent Palace criticism and London. Hotel. John Standing performs there on the first Monday of each month. I would And, of course, discussion often turns to certainly recommend it. More details can how to get Powell’s pre-war novels back in be found at http:// print. Generally few useful conclusions www.brasseriezedel.com/crazy-coqs/john are arrived at, although suggestions for -standing/8285661. ■ possible niche publishers etc. do surface and are relayed to the Powell family who continue to control the publishing rights. Christmas Limerick Competition Pat Chambers has very kindly offered the Society’s Archives a collection of copies Regrettably there were very few entries of the Daily Telegraph containing Powell for this year’s prize competition. The book reviews. This has been gratefully Hon. Archivist, who was judging the accepted and we are in the process of competition, has therefore decided not to arranging the transfer. nominate a winner. Those few who entered are thanked for their interest and Present at Lunch: John Blaxter, Robin Bynoe, Jill enthusiasm. ■ Chalmers, Bruce Fleming, Hilary Green, Eddie Hathaway, Jill Hathaway, Ivan Hutnik, Dan McCarthy, Keith Marshall, Noreen Marshall, David Massa, Prue Raper, Robert Welham. Present at Brunch: Christine Apperly, Robin Bynoe, Jill Chalmers, Pat Chambers, Philippa Fawcett, Ivan Hutnik, Clive Gwatkin Jenkins, Keith Marshall, Noreen Marshall, Derek Miles, Pat Miles, Stephen Walker, Robert Welham. ■

Da Corradi is situated in the passage between Curzon Street and Shepherd Market which is almost opposite Heywood Hill Bookshop.

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More Talking About Books By Robin Bynoe

At the end of November 2013 something first time in my life I have a room so significant happened for lovers of the designated, and I have spent the last few novels of Anthony Powell: particularly the days shoehorning a vast pile of books, mean ones. acquired over decades, onto appropriate His great work A Dance to the Music of shelves. Some will make it, others will Time comprises twelve volumes. These not. Some important and indeed loved were originally published in hardback works are going on the Oxfam pile, on the between 1951 and 1975 and then grounds that they will always be available separately in paperback. The paperback and probably better taken electronically publishing programme changed when than in the form of a dilapidated Powell fell out in mid-series with Penguin, paperback. On the other hand my so that there is an incomplete set of enormous collection of Michael Penguin paperbacks and then complete Moorcock, never found in hardback, never sets published later by other publishing to be reread and probably too frail to be houses. In due course they published the subjected to real life any more, has pride novel in four volumes – three each – of place. which was a good idea, and entitled At the other extreme there are authors them Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, where one is attempting to assemble a which was a bad idea. Nick Jenkins, the collection of first editions. Alice Thomas narrator, spends Autumn fighting the Ellis is complete. Penelope Fitzgerald is Second World War: it was a melancholy halfway there. With Anthony Powell business but he was only in his thirties, as himself I have made a creditable start, but indeed he is at the onset of Winter. The will never be able to complete the set as Folio Society apparently published the the early novels are far too expensive. The four-volume version in hardback, no doubt later Powells I already have as first with their customarily winsome artwork, editions, simply because I bought them on but I have never seen it. the day they came out, but in those days I There are also American equivalents as didn’t realise about first editions and so well as translations into other languages. they have been, like my childhood teddy bear, loved to death and have needed to be Then the individual volumes became replaced with sensible copies with Near available on Kindle. And what happened Fine dust jackets. at the end of November was that that the four-volume version also became available There have been false starts. I read all the on Kindle, occasioning a small saving. novels of Elizabeth Taylor in Virago paperback decades ago and loved them. I immediately bought it. As in life, I am Recently I thought that I would build up a now embarking on Winter. collection of her first editions: they All this gives rise to musings about what weren’t that expensive. I bought At Mrs books, and Kindle files, are for. Lippincote’s, and reread it. I thought that Coincidently, having just moved house, I it was good but not that good: so it is my am trying to assemble a library. For the only Elizabeth Taylor first edition and I have moved capriciously on. 24 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #54

the novel itself but the author’s earlier works. We can marvel how they got it wrong; we can wonder yet again, ‘What exactly was the point of Peter Quennell?’. Less prestigious publications, with no reviews available, may have instead advertisements for Woodbines or the like. The artwork will be contemporary: it will strike as dated or quaint – or funky, like the Moorcocks. It will probably, compared with today, be Of course a library is also a bit of personal built to last: bound not glued, a nice PR: I will admit to Jane Austen in garish weight to it. 1970s paperback, but it is on Moorcock and Penelope Fitzgerald that I want to be And Kindles – apart from the obvious judged. advantages of instant ordering and Tube- compatibility? It is a truism that soon we will have our books only either electronically or in a One thing I have noticed while putting the form that we treasure as objects: because library together is that omnibus editions of beauty or rarity or funkiness. People tend to be no longer legible to my rheumy say that this will mean the end of the old eyes. With the Kindle, you can have paperback and they are probably right, the words as large as you like – and you although I would except my Moorcocks – get a choice of typeface. on all three grounds – and I imagine that in You can’t browse through a Kindle file as years to come bibliophiles, meeting well as a printed book but you can word- together, will want to dig out their copies search. This is a boon for Powellites: of Morrissey’s Autobiography, an instant Penguin Modern Classic forsooth, and When is Nick Jenkins first called by his agree, over a companionable single malt: Christian name? Not until halfway ‘What a tit’. through volume two. What is the point of buying a first edition? Was Uncle Giles really disturbed picking up a hooker in Shepherd Market? Simple Partly it is rarity: the same impulse that to check. (I don’t think so.) leads people to collect postage stamps or unique ‘states’ of etchings. That is rather Even the Handbook can’t help us with dull. these important questions. Partly they are beautiful: although not as And how am I planning to embark on beautiful as a good reproduction, and Winter? Book in bed and Kindle on the probably less smelly, given the effects over Tube: a judicious combination; but more the years of damp, cats and cigarettes. book, I hope, as Christmas comes. I think that mainly it is because the first This article was first published on the À la blague edition is the novel shorn of its reception. weblog at http:// alablague.wordpress.com/2013/12/22/more- No one knew then if it was going to be a talking-about-books/ on 23 December 2013 and is classic. The back cover features reprinted with kind permission. ■ quotations from reviewers, not of course of

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A Miscellany of 2014 Literary Anniversaries By Keith Marshall

There are a few big literary anniversaries this year, but let’s start with the Powell related ones first. Perhaps the biggest is that this year is the 80th anniversary of the private publication of Caledonia, in 1934 and the Powells’ 80th wedding anniversary: they were married at All Saints, Ennismore William Shakespeare Gardens, SW7 on 1 December 1934. This (top) and Christopher year also sees 75 years of What’s Become Marlowe of Waring, 65 years of Powell’s edition of John Aubrey’s Brief Lives and the 50 years Moving forward 50 years, 1614 saw the of The Valley of Bones. first performance of Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi at London’s Globe All this pales into insignificance, however, Theatre (in Dance, Matilda Wilson appears compared with this year’s big anniversary: th in the play shortly before her marriage to the 450 anniversary of the birth of both Moreland). 1614 also saw a new edition William Shakespeare and Christopher of the King James Bible set in a new user- Marlowe. We don’t actually know the friendly Roman typeface. exact date of Shakespeare’s birth – in Tudor times these things were just not 1714 saw the publication of Alexander recorded; his birth is always given as 23 Pope’s The Rape of the Lock, and 1764 April, but this appears to be based on little brought the publication of Horace or no evidence. What we do know is that Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto. the infant Shakespeare was baptised in Moving forward another 50 years to 1814, Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-on-Avon on 3 October saw the birth of Mikhail 26 April 1564, for such is recorded in the Lermontov – who AP certainly enjoyed parish register. Shakespeare’s anniversary reading – and on 2 December the death of should be especially meaningful for AP Marquis de Sade. aficionados, given the prevalence of Powell’s Shakespearean references and to 1864 brought the deaths of Nathaniel his regular rereading of the plays – Hawthorne and the poet John Clare plus referenced in the three volumes of publication of Charles Dickens’ Our Journals. Mutual Friend and Jules Verne’s Journey to the Centre of the Earth. If we know little about Shakespeare’s birth, we know equally little about that of Just 125 years ago in 1889 we have the Christopher Marlowe. We know he was births of Jean Cocteau, Conrad Aitken and born in Canterbury and baptised at St CK Scott-Moncrieff, translator of Proust’s George the Martyr on 26 February 1564, À la recherche du temps perdu. The year but again his actual date of birth is also saw the deaths of Gerard Manley unknown. Shakespeare died on 23 April Hopkins, Wilkie Collins and Robert 1616 at the age of 52, whereas Marlowe Browning – the latter dying on 12 was murdered in Deptford in May 1593. December the same day his Asolando was

26 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #54 published. Also in 1889 were published Jerome K Jerome’s Three Men in a Boat, Tennyson’s complete Idylls of the King and Lewis Carroll’s little known Sylvie and Bruno. The start of WWI – and the start of the stories in Dance – in 1914, brings us anniversaries of a number of well-known names. Births that year include Laurie Lee, Hammond Innes, Gavin Maxwell, Tove Jansson, John Berryman and Dylan Thomas. It was probably in early 1914 that Ambrose Bierce mysteriously disappeared in Mexico – although to this day no-one really knows what happened. Cartoonist and illustrator John Tenniel died in February 1914; he is now remembered mainly for his seminal drawings for Lewis Carroll’s Alice books – which brought us the Frog Footman – although he was a renowned cartoonist for Clockwise from top left: Baroness Orczy, Sir John Punch long before that. Tenniel, Arthur Rackham, CK Scott-Moncrieff. Publications in 1914 included The Dubliners by James Joyce, Edgar Rice of Practical Cats – the basis for the Burroughs’ Tarzan of the Apes and Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats. Baroness Orczy’s The Laughing Cavalier Eeeek! Is 1964 really 50 years ago? As as well as the first (of only two) issues of already mentioned The Valley of Bones BLAST, a vorticist literary magazine edited was published this year as were Roald by Wyndham Lewis. Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, With the advent of 1939 and WWII we Ian Fleming’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang have the arrival of many contemporary and You Only Live Twice and Evelyn literary figures including Alan Ayckbourn, Waugh’s A Little Learning. Seamus Heaney, Margaret Drabble, Clive Deaths in 1964 included the James, Auberon Waugh and Powell’s aforementioned Ian Fleming, Edith nephew Ferdinand Mount. Sitwell, Flannery O’Connor, Brendan Amongst the deaths in 1939 were Sigmund Behan, TH White and Grace Metallious Freud, WB Yeats, Ford Maddox Ford, (author of Peyton Place, which I read as a Arthur Rackham and Zane Grey. In teenager around 1964 because it was addition to What’s Become of Waring supposedly titillating but like Lady publications included Berthold Brecht’s Chatterley’s Lover was actually rather play Life of Galileo (which starred Simon tedious). Russell Beale when staged at the National The 1964 Nobel Prize for Literature was Theatre a few years ago), and one of my awarded to Jean-Paul Satre. ■ favourites, TS Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book 27 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #54

Letters to the Editor

Re.: Edward St Aubyn Much of the satiric dialogue survives (in particular, the breakfast confrontation From Mr Jeffrey Manley between Dourke and Patrick over further In my review of Edward St Aubyn’s erosion of Patrick’s guest privileges). But “Patrick Melrose” novels in APS overall the film’s plot is doomed by the Newsletter #47 (Summer 2012), I noted unrelievedly depressing story. Indeed, that Mother’s Milk (the fourth novel in the what it needs is the comic relief that was series of five) had been made into a film. provided in the novel by the USA holiday. At the time of writing, the film had not But the time frame has been truncated to been released for general distribution. It put all of the action into one summer has now been released on DVD (Region 2) holiday rather than spreading it over four and is available for sale, at least in the UK summers as in the novel. So, there is no (Mother’s Milk, Guerilla Films UK, 2013, room for the USA trip. 2:09 hrs including extra features, £9.25 on The film is worth watching if you liked the Amazon.co.uk). I am not aware whether it books. The acting and script are well done ever had a theatrical release. but cannot compensate for a story that What has been filmed is about 80% of the doesn’t work on film. Indeed, to do the novel. It is missing the USA interlude story justice, it should probably be filmed (Chapters 13-15). What is left is the part from the beginning to the end, including dealing with the decline of Patrick’s all five novels. This would allow mother (Eleanor Melrose played by dramatization of the set piece scenes such Margaret Tyzack) and her signing over as parties and funerals that St Aubyn uses what is left of her fortune (after Patrick’s much the same way as did Powell. It father frittered much of it away) to Seamus would also enable the truly comic Dourke, thus disinheriting Patrick and his characters such as Aunt Nancy, Nicholas young sons. Dourke (played to perfection Pratt, Victor Eisen, and Johnny Hall to by Adrian Dunbar who even looks the lighten up the story. ■ part) is an Irish fraudster who runs a New Age consciousness expansion centre in the South of France. This is housed in the seaside villa belonging to Patrick’s mother. It is Patrick’s loss of this property that is the focus of the story. Patrick is played by Jack Davenport and his wife Mary by Annabel Mullion (known in this parish for her performance as Mona in the C4 TV film of Dance). Diana Quick (Julia Flyte in Granada TV’s Brideshead) appears as Mary’s mother, “Kettle”. The script was co-written by St Aubyn and the Left, Tove Jansson, creator of the Moomins (born film’s director, Gerry Fox. 1914) & right Ambrose Birece, disappeared 1914. See “Literary Anniversaries”, page 26. 28 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #54

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The Guardian’s “Book Blog” on 17 In Standpoint, January/February 2014, January 2014 in “Pen portraits: fine Alasdair Palmer introduces edited art in fiction” observes: extracts from One Hundred Letters from Hugh Trevor-Roper edited by The Goldfinch, the painting Donna Richard Davenport-Hines and Adam Tartt’s new novel is built around, is Sisman (OUP, January 2014). In an just one of many real-life works of art April 1985 letter Trevor-Roper writes reworked into literature. to Nöel Annan: Of Dance and Poussin it says: But seriously, do you think that our Poussin, A Dance to the Music of dear PM has gone bananas? I was Time rather shaken by some of the things Viewable at London’s Wallace she said at that curious dinner party Collection, Poussin’s neo-classical … Her Toryism seems to be rather painting shows women representing that of Charles I than of Edmund the seasons dancing in a circle to a Burke … What do you think lay lyre. It informs the texture as well as behind that party? Did someone say, the title of Anthony Powell’s Proustian we must improve your public image, novel sequence, in which characters especially in universities and places “disappear only to reappear” and no where they brain-wash the young! dancer can control the dance. ■ Get some dons and writers to dinner? But what an odd collection! Who, for instance, can have recommended Theodore Zeldin? And the idea that Tony Powell and VS Naipaul and Iris The Daily Telegraph of 7 January Murdoch would be her literary 2014 carried an obituary for Robert paladins is very comic. As for the Boscawen, who died on 28 December Lord Quinton, no one could have done 2013 at the age of 90. Boscowen was more harm to her cause than he did by a WWII tank commander, when he his ridiculous flippant speech in received severe burns and won an Congregation at Oxford ... ■ MC, and later Conservative MP for Wells, Somerset. He was a friend of the Powells (he was their MP) and makes a couple of appearances in the Journals. He was also at one time a Trustee of the Widmerpool estate in Nottinghamshire. Spotted by Nick Birns. ■ Hugh Trevor- Roper 29 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #54

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In a Guardian (7 February 2014) Constant Lambert and the rackety Soho comment on Hanif Kureishi’s latest literary man Julian Maclaren-Ross; novel, The Last Word, DJ Taylor writes Evelyn Waugh’s Vile Bodies … draws about Kinglsey Amis’s accusation that lavishly on the collection of Bright Young Powell was unable to be inventive: People whose antics Waugh had observed in late 1920s Mayfair, and Amis himself, The Letters of Kingsley Amis contains a for all his snootiness about “not making bravura passage in which Amis, writing things up”, makes hay with his much- to Philip Larkin sometime in 1982, disliked father-in-law in Lucky Jim ... complains about the theory of novel- writing espoused by their mutual friend More often, the novelist projects certain Anthony Powell. “It did suddenly strike aspects of the original – “elaborating the me how fed up I was about all those real scope a little” was Powell’s account of people and real incidents he’d put in his how Maclaren-Ross metamorphosed into books,” Amis insists. “I thought you were the saturnine dandy-novelist “X Trapnel” meant to make things up, you know, like a of Books do Furnish a Room ... leaving novelist.” The prime source of Amis’s less picturesque details behind on the irritation turns out to be Powell’s cutting-room floor to create something forthcoming novella, O, How the Wheel that is not a mirror image of its subject Becomes It! The subject is a famous but, equally, could not have existed writer who, like Powell, has just had without the subject’s authenticating stare. a TV programme made about him. Powell’s Erridge, Lord Warminster, who “Couldn’t he at least make it a famous wanders diffidently through the early art historian?” Amis continues. “Can’t volumes of Dance is a cunning he make anything up?” demonstration of this process at work. Tall, cadaverous, ascetic, mingling leftist Had these strictures ever got back to him, politics with a weakness for bound copies Powell would doubtless have replied that of Chums and the Boy’s Own Paper, there are ways of making things up, and “Erry” bears a passing resemblance to that nearly all of them have some kind of George Orwell, but the final portrait grounding in reality. He would probably leaves Orwell far behind. also have comforted himself with the thought that accusations about novelists James Tucker also points out two taking their material directly from life mentions of Powell in a scorching review have been going strong almost since in Private Eye (24 January 2014) of The novels first came to be written … Last Word; the first is a reference to the Journals; the second a dismissive rating In fact, most of the great English novels th of Powell (along with Bertrand Russell, of the 20 century come crammed with Graham Greene and Orwell) by the supercharged versions of real people. novelist ‘hero’ of the book. Never mind Powell’s 12-volume A Dance to the Music of Time … with its lightly Spotted by James Tucker & Mike Jay. ■ veneered portraits of the musician

30 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #54

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From the Observer, 8 December DJ Taylor reviewed Richard Hoggart: 2013: Virtue and Reward by Fred Inglis in Dinner with Margaret Thatcher: the the Guardian, 19 December 2013. story of a secret supper Anthony Powell’s Journals 1982-1986 In 1982, London’s leading literary lights has an amusing account of the day in gathered for a secret dinner party. The September 1985 when the Powells guest of honour? Margaret Thatcher. entertained Richard Hoggart to lunch. Nigel Farndale interviews the survivors. The host, forewarned by his friend On a clear autumn night in 1982, a Kingsley Amis to expect a “lefty, all government Daimler pulled out of the same not at all bad”, was Downing Street and began its glide favourably impressed – “I liked him. across London to a house in Ladbroke He has some idea of a joke” – but Grove. In the passenger seat was a puzzled by his guest’s table manners: personal protection officer … In the back “He somewhat defiantly tucked his was Margaret Thatcher, the prime napkin into his waistcoat”. This, minister ... Powell thought, “suggested old- The guest list read like a who’s who of fashioned French bourgeois life literary London including, as it did, the rather than the modes of today’s lower poets Stephen Spender and Philip Larkin, income brackets”. ■ the novelists Anthony Powell and Dan Jacobson, the writer and critic Sir VS Pritchett, and the Peruvian novelist (and, later, presidential candidate) Mario Vargas Llosa (described by one guest as “some Panamanian novelist”) … Amis replied on 17 December 1982: “Jolly vivid a/c of the Mrs T gathering. Funny that H-F D (you are a shit) was down at the Jewish end of the table. Might have known that Al, lately as lefty as they come, would get his foot in there. It’ll be Lord Alvarez before we know it”. H-F D stood for Horse-Faced Dwarf, Larkin and Amis’s unkind private nickname for the author of A Dance to the Music of Time. When the Larkin letters were posthumously published in 1992, Anthony Powell wrote in his diary: “Larkin’s unfriendly comments on myself are all but insane. They are absolutely inspired by jealousy” ... ■ Stephen Spender (top left), Mario Vargas Llosa (top right) and Margaret Thatcher. 31 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #54

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Writing in the Catholic Herald, 10 Purists will no doubt shudder at the way February 2014, Fr Alexander Lucie- I have blended fact and fiction here. I am Smith asks “Was Anthony Powell right aware that Powell is not Nick Jenkins, about John Galsworthy?” the protagonist of Dance, just as Galsworthy is not Clarke. But it is nice It is widely accepted that the novelist St to have a bit of fun when reading, so John Clarke in Anthony Powell’s A purists can step back for the moment. Dance to the Music of Time, is a lightly disguised portrait of Galsworthy. I love And the answer? How good or bad is Dance more than any other work of Galsworthy? Was Powell right? fiction; St John Clarke and his works are The truth is Powell was right. touchstones of bad middlebrow taste in Galsworthy is not much good. One can the novel sequence. Various characters see by reading one volume that admit to liking his works, and that is Galsworthy must have exerted a never, one feels, a good thing. The fascination for a certain type of reader, Clarke oeuvre – he is credited with writing Match Me Such Marvel and but I am not that reader. I have been Fields of Amaranth, among others – is formed in my tastes by Woolf, I suppose. I have read one volume of the [Forsyte] held up as just the wrong sort of fiction. Saga, and will, perhaps go back to it. In Moreover, Clarke is a snob and an order to cleanse my palate, though, armchair Marxist. If there is one theme ironically, I turned back to Dance, and running through Dance it is the hatred am now on volume ten of twelve. After that Anthony Powell has for armchair Powell, it will be Galsworthy. How that Marxists. Powell clearly loathes Clarke, would have annoyed the Nobel Laureate, though, being Powell, this is subtly to think that he is now really just a conveyed. In reading Galsworthy, who is footnote to Powell! ■ supposedly Clarke, one wants to find out the answer to the question: was St John Clarke as ghastly as Powell seems to indicate?

This seems so typical of a lot of criticism that one wonders whether it does not derive from what is basically a dislike for reading novels at all … A moment’s thought never seems to be spared for what the author is trying to do. Anthony Powell writing in the Daily Telegraph, 11 November 1971 John Galsworthy 32 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #54

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The Novel Cure by Susan Elderkin The Daily Telegraph in a obituary and Ella Berthoud is the recent notes the passing of yet another handbook of the fictional branch of Powell connection, Tom Rosenthal bibliotherapy – the prescription of who died on 3 January 2014, aged 79. appropriate novels for the treatment of Although the obituary doesn’t ailments. mention AP, Rosenthal was Chairman of Heinemann for several years in the Bibliotherapy is not new, as Gavin early 1980s at the time when O, How Francis, reviewing the book in the the Wheel Becomes It! was published. Guardian, 18 September 2013 observes: Spotted by Nick Birns. ■ Seneca wrote his Consolation to Marcia almost two thousand years ago, but it is still powerful advice for The Daily Telegraph, 11 February a mother mourning the death of her 2014, proffers a list of the Top Ten son. Robert Burton’s sprawling Vicious Literary Hatchet Jobs, Anatomy of Melancholy is an including at number six: intermittently helpful, but always involving, series of meditations on 6. Auberon Waugh on Anthony sadness and its alleviations … Powell (1990) This piece for The Telegraph left At the outset Berthoud and Elderkin Auberon Waugh with blood on his make it clear that they are not going hands. On reading the article, to make any distinction between Anthony Powell offered his immediate emotional and physical pain; they are resignation after 54 years service to as interested in literature that will the newspaper. help you heal a broken leg (Cleave by Nikki Gemmell) as much as a broken “… in a long career he appears to heart (Jane Eyre). Opening almost have known practically no-one …” randomly in the “L”s, I find “… Waugh suggests: “Perhaps Powell “libido, loss of” (Mario Vargas should have stayed in the Intelligence Llosa’s In Praise of the Stepmother). Corps officers’ mess. That, I feel, is where his heart belongs.” For some unfathomable reason Dance is prescribed as a treatment for Editor at the time Max Hastings pregnancies. sought to make amends and commissioned a bust of Powell that Spotted by, inter alia, Jeff Manley. ■ still stands in the offices today. Spotted by Julian Allason. ■

33 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #54

Society Merchandise

SOCIETY PUBLICATIONS OTHER PUBLICATIONS 2011 Conference Proceedings. Violet Powell; A Stone in the Shade. Collected papers from sixth biennial Fourth & final volume of Lady Violet’s conference at the Naval & Military Club, autobiography covering mostly the 1960s. London. Includes many of Lady Violet’s coloured UK: £8, Overseas: £14 travel sketches. Hardback. Jeff Manley et al.; Dance Music. UK: £24, Overseas: £29 150-page guide to the musical references The Acceptance of Absurdity: Anthony in Dance; compiled in the style of Powell – Robert Vanderbilt Letters 1952 Spurling’s Handbook. -1963; John Saumarez Smith & Jonathan UK: £7, Overseas: £10.50 Kooperstein (editors); 2011. Centenary Conference Proceedings. Fascinating letters between Powell and his Collected papers from the (third, 2005) friend and first American publisher Robert centenary conference at The Wallace Vanderbilt. Collection, London. Paperback: UK £16, Overseas £19.50 UK: £11, Overseas: £17 Hardback: UK £26, Overseas £32 Oxford Conference Proceedings. Anthony Powell, Caledonia, A Fragment. Collected papers from the second (2003) The 2011 Greville Press reprint of this rare conference at Balliol College, Oxford. Powell spoof. Now publicly available in UK: £7, Overseas: £13 its own right for the first time. UK: £8, Overseas: £10.50 Eton 2001 Conference Proceedings. Papers from the first (2001) conference. John Gould; Dance Class. Copies signed by the Society’s Patron. American High School student essays UK: £6.50, Overseas: £10.50 from John’s two teachings of Dance at Philips Academy. Many fresh and Writing about Anthony Powell. perceptive insights. Talks given at the 2004 AGM by George UK: £12, Overseas: £17 Lilley, Michael Barber and Nick Birns; introduced by Christine Berberich. UK: £4, Overseas: £7 JOURNAL & NEWSLETTER The Master and The Congressman. Secret Harmonies: Journal of the 40-page monograph by John Monagan Anthony Powell Society. Back numbers describing his meetings with Powell. of issues 1 to 4/5 available. UK: £4, Overseas: £7 UK: £5.50, Overseas: £9 each Newsletter Centenary Issue. 120-page celebratory Centenary Newsletter (issue 21; December 2005). UK: £5.50, Overseas: £9

Society Merchandise

34 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #54

Society Merchandise

AUDIO ORDERING BBC Radio Dramatisation of Dance. The prices shown are the Society Originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4 members’ prices as of October 2013 and between 1979-82. 26 one-hour episodes. are inclusive of postage and packing. Single CD containing 26 MP3 files. For Please note the different UK and copyright reasons available to Society overseas prices which reflect the members only. additional cost of overseas postage. Non- UK & Overseas: £10 (£5 + minimum £5 members will be charged the Donation) appropriate member’s price shown plus postage & packing at cost. POSTCARDS & POSTERS Please send your order to: Anthony Powell’s Ancestral Lands Postcards. Anthony Powell Society Merchandise, Set of four colour postcards from photos 76 Ennismore Avenue, by John Blaxter of the Powell ancestral Greenford, UB6 0JW, UK lands on the Welsh borders. Phone: +44 (0) 20 8864 4095 UK: £2.50, Overseas: £3.50 Fax: +44 (0) 20 8020 1483 Society Postcard. Email: [email protected] B&W postcard of Powell with his cat Payment may be by cheque, Visa, Trelawney. Pack of 5. Picture below. Mastercard or PayPal. If paying by credit UK: £2, Overseas: £3.50 card please include the card number, Wallace Collection Poussin Postcard. expiry date, 3-digit secure code, and the The Wallace Collection’s postcard of billing name & address. Cheques must be Poussin’s A Dance to the Music of Time. payable to the Anthony Powell Society, for Pack of 5. Picture on page 9. UK funds and drawn on a UK bank. UK: £3, Overseas: £4 PayPal payment should be sent to [email protected]. You may also order through the Society’s online shop at www.anthonypowell.org. ■

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