Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #16

From the Secretary’s Desk The Anthony Powell Society The Anthony Powell Society Registered Charity No. 1096873 The Secretary Towers Workhouse has been Newsletter even busier than normal in the last couple The Anthony Powell Society is a of months. July and August are always Issue 16, Autumn 2004 ISSN 1743-0976 busy months for the Hon. Secretary: we charitable literary society devoted to the have to put together the Annual Report, the life and works of the English author papers for the AGM and the Autumn Anthony Dymoke Powell, 1905-2000.

Hail the Lord of the Dance Sunday Telegraph. Interestingly, he Newsletter, which all have to be mailed to sublimated consideration of the merits you in early September. And let’s not Officers & Executive Committee by Colin Donald and demerits of the book under forget the Hon. Treasurer’s toils turning a Patron: John MA Powell consideration to the higher purpose of multitude of small transactions into President: Hugh Massingberd According to Edith Sitwell in her dotage, performing posthumous assassination of meaningful accounts which will pass professional scrutiny. Vice-President: John S Monagan (USA) “It’s wonderful being able to make a writer he knew quite well and once people so angry when one is so old”. greatly admired. But this year has been manic, even by my *Chairman: Patric Dickinson Anthony Powell does better; he can still *Hon. Secretary: Dr Keith C Marshall Why such bile? His own well normally busy standards. In addition to the induce apoplexy from beyond the grave. usual work we have been burning the *Hon. Treasurer: Kevin Jewell documented admiration for Powell’s midnight oil at both ends to get the *Committee Members: For a teller of comic stories, Powell has achievement counts for nothing with Sir proceedings of the Oxford Conference to Dr Christine Berberich, always been strangely prone to violent Max against the fact that Powell was very the printer and to prepare the “Call for attacks. Malcolm Muggeridge and mildly disparaging about the Great Editor Papers” for next year’s Conference. Dr Nicholas Birns (USA), Auberon Waugh are amongst the many in his published Journals. Now that Leatrice Fountain (USA), who have taken the flimsy excuse of a Powell is dead, the time has come for Preparing the Oxford Proceedings for Stephen Holden, book review to launch jeremiads against Hastings to cut himself a whacking great publication has taken much longer than Tony Robinson, slice of cold revenge pie, and exercise the expected – but then they are 50% larger Prof. Ian Young (N Ireland) him and all his works, as if his high reputation and enthusiastic following journalist’s God-given right to the last than the Eton Proceedings and the text is more densely academic, meaning the Newsletter Editor: Stephen Holden were an affront to them personally. word. Hon. Archivist: Noreen Marshall editorial team had an especially tough job. As I write this – in an hotel room in PR/Media Adviser: Julian Allason Now, just when Powell was slipping into Newcastle upon Tyne on yet another the post-mortem limbo of neglect, where business trip (it’s surprising how that eats All correspondence should be sent to: even Nobel laureates must spend some into time too!) – the printer is busy creating Hon. Secretary, Anthony Powell Society time (Samuel Beckett and William the final product on paper. Golding are there now – hang in there, 76 Ennismore Avenue, Greenford gents!), along comes a reminder that The Centenary Conference “Call for Middlesex, UB6 0JW, UK Powell is a writer who precludes a Papers” will be sent out during October, so Phone: +44 (0)20 8864 4095 neutral response. the text for this is in the process of being Fax: +44 (0)20 8864 6109 honed to squeeze all the key messages into Email: [email protected]

The chance of reviewing the first the available space. biography of Powell by Michael Barber * Members of the Executive Committee who has allowed Powell-lovers and Powell- Oh!, and between all this and their full time are the Society’s trustees. All officers are resident in England or Wales unless stated. haters to get things off their chests. The jobs, the officers usually want some family holiday! But then as my colleagues always proper answer to the most hysterical of remind me: if you want a job done give it the hatchet jobs is to recommend tablets © The Anthony Powell Society, 2004 and the individual to a busy man. authors named. All rights reserved. and a darkened room, but that did not Published by The Anthony Powell Society. quite apply to Sir Max Hastings in the Printed and distributed by Express Printing, Peterborough, UK.

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(Continued from page 1) A major critical biography would give either. He does not get to grips with reader at different times of life. He some direction to Powell’s posthumous Powell’s style or techniques though he would never use the term, but he held to In last judgement tones, and apparently journey. Michael Barber’s book, while credibly asserts that the elaborate the post-modernist precept that the more in sorrow than in anger, Sir Max not remotely bad, is not remotely ‘major’ sentences might be the result of his receiving end was where the art called Powell “priggish, pretentious and either. The biographer of , immersion in 17th century literature. happened. He implied as much as he pompous”, consigned him to the “second Barber has deep reservoirs of knowledge said, leaving the reader to make the leap; rank” of 20th century English literature, about 20th If anyone is going to write the definitive perhaps the secret of his huge impact on and dismissed him as a vain and deluded century literary book it will be Hilary Spurling, whose the lives of his admirers. snob, who lived a “pretty arid life”. and intellectual Barber does not affinity with Powell and with his work is Jocular remarks of Powell’s – he once life that take himself or very well So far critics have been reluctant to told a friend that his only ambitions in illuminate the documented, grapple with Powell because he is hard to life were a “wife with a title and a house panorama of his subject too In any book about and whose key categorise and comes with off-putting with a drive” – are used mirthlessly Dance. A solemnly work A class associations. That should matter against him, his many attractive aspects typical example Powell you would Handbook to less in time, and alongside the unmentioned. of this is his expect good gossip Anthony acknowledged value as a chronicler of his linking the post-War incarnation of Powell’s Music times, his technical innovation will get its But Hastings did land one punch that Widmerpool to James Burnham’s The of Time (1977) due. Barber’s diligent digging turns up might momentarily unnerve Powell fans, Managerial Revolution, a now forgotten remains the essential starting point of forgotten critical insights from others, for not least those concerned with sustaining Russophile tract as trendy then as The Powell studies. She is said to be writing example the 1968 New Statesman critic the longevity of the Anthony Powell End of History was in more recent times. the ‘access all areas’ official biography in praise of Powell’s powerful indirect Society. He said that Powell’s readers though the time frame remains vague. evocation of the power of sex by a were dying off and not being replaced, Barber does not take himself or his “process of indirection … by dwelling on that his magnum opus A Dance to the subject too solemnly, is not fastidious Without declaring this interest, Spurling its social consequences – people not only Music of Time portrays a world in which about clichés, and includes his own hit- wrote a surprisingly snippy review of go to bed, but forgo money, abandon the under-40s “possess little interest, or-miss pleasantries. AN Wilson has, Barber’s book for careers and from a perspective they find wickedly but justifiably, compared his which can only increase expectations leave homes in unsympathetic.” style to an amiable bore holding court in about her own much-discussed effort. order to do so.” He held to the the saloon-bar. It was exceptionally We fans hope for something along the post-modernist Time rather than Sir Max will arbitrate on generous-minded of Barber to undertake lines of Andrew Motion on Philip Larkin, Conveying sex, that one, though it is easy to imagine the the labour of the biography on behalf of a Richard Ellmann on Oscar Wilde or in all its myriad precept that the same being said about many authors who man who has slighted him in his Journals Claire Tomalin on Pepys; not forms and receiving end was fell out of fashion but have since come as “uninspired to say the least”, a hagiography but a clearing away the litter moods – some back for good; from Trollope to Proust to judgement that Barber is disarmingly of received opinions and journalistic of them where the art F Scott Fitzgerald. In the meantime happy to quote in the book. error that reveals the achievement afresh. extreme – is happened Powell has an international hard core of one of Powell’s proselytising support, spearheaded by Sourced mostly from Powell’s memoirs In Powell’s case this will not be easy. chief fictional one of the liveliest web and email ‘list’ and Journals as well as newspaper His technique was to synthesise achievements, more interesting than the presences in literary cyberspace. As we interviews and others’ letters and diaries, complicated patterns and bold modernist snobbery issue. While we are pausing to are all aware, there are big plans for his his book is full of good stories and and post-modernist devices beneath a enjoy the spectacle of Max H levelling centenary next year, including a major widens our knowledge of the real sources voice as understated and urbane as accusations of pomposity and snobbery, it conference. Anyway, the books, which of the various characters who make up Sergeant Wilson on Dad’s Army. Aiming could also be noted that he exemplifies speak so intimately to so many diverse the Bohemian ambience of Dance. He to be lifelike, his books are multifaceted another big theme; the contorting effects people, are built to sustain argument makes a load of shrewd and illuminating and slippery, and he revelled in the fact of power-pursuit. The electrical force of without end. points about Powell’s life and work, that they were read in totally different power in its myriad forms is a theme while never getting under the skin of ways by different readers or by the same stamped throughout the sequence, giving

3 4 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #16 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #16 it its heady blend of the comic and the Understanding Anthony Powell which grows out of Nick’s love for grotesque. literature, for reading. Reviewed by John Gould In any book about Powell you would Powell would also, I think, love the expect good gossip, and the book is full I have spent a hugely enjoyable Friday sensibility that Nick brings to his task. of good stuff, some of it new, about who and Saturday reading Nick Birn’s He is generous and perceptive but slept with who, who was modelled on Understanding Anthony Powell. It is reasonably unflinching. He does a who. Readers of the memoirs will know very rich, and I’m not going to go over superb job of stilling the adenoidal the cast: Constant Lambert, Cyril Anthony Powell Resides Here what he says in any detail, since everyone grumpings of those who whine about Connolly, Nina Hamnett, Malcolm Powell’s snobbery (a complaint I’m very CRAWFORD DOYLE BOOKSELLERS seeks in this Society needs to get it and read it Muggeridge, George Orwell, Julian and sells early editions of Anthony and get your libraries to get it as well. tired of hearing, by the way. I think the Maclaren-Ross and many other fading Powell's works together with those of But I feel the need to make some Society members should all ignore this ghosts. Having never provided any other distinguished British authors such observations. issue from now on – or maybe send a commentary on his work, refusing to as Evelyn Waugh, P. G. Wodehouse, copy of Understanding Anthony Powell Virginia Woolf, Henry Green and ‘descant’ on it, Powell has in fact said James Lees-Milne. In addition to rare First, I cannot imagine a more perfect to anyone who raises it). quite a lot about his life and this is an books, we offer a complete collection of reader for Powell’s work than Nick. His efficient summary of those writings, with new books in our store near the own reading is wonderfully broad, Finally, the last section, about the added indiscretions. It is also laced with Metropolitan Museum. Catalogs issued catholic and eclectic. He draws Journals, is absolutely brilliant. It uses upon request. illuminating asides like Jilly Cooper fascinating lines between Powell’s work these last works as keys to help evaluate saying, “Tony was always very nice to 1082 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10028 the whole oeuvre, in a persuasive and Open seven days per week and American, European, and British waiters”. If there is a big revelation it is Telephone: 212 289 2345 writers, both contemporary and classical. comprehensive way. One great point is that Powell’s father, a bad-tempered [email protected] Relations between The Great Gatsby and that Powell, as a reader, was remarkably military man (perhaps the closest reality- Member, Antiquarian Booksellers’ The Acceptance World (remember TJ generous, even if he didn’t like some fiction parallel in Dance), to everyone’s Eckelberg and the diving woman at aspects of a writer. Nick writes, “Despite amazement left him the equivalent of a Maidenhead?) grow his pronounced lack of respect for Woolf million pounds. So now we know how crystal clear. Joyce, and Forster, Powell would he could live journalistic influence. Proust, Faulkner, Hardy: not want to see them in style on the the list goes on. The book, shoved to the side for The proper answer proceeds of If you believe Powell’s own ‘ars longa’ like Dance itself, as Nick political reasons.” He, for to the most uncommercial message, such score-settling and himself says at one point, instance, would never, novels and bitchiness is eternal and does not mean provides an outline for a ever, have written hysterical of the book reviews. much in the end. One of the motifs in the university-level education. something like Professor hatchet jobs is to book is a drawing by Modigliani, first Carey’s review of Michael recommend tablets The media seen in the first volume of Dance, set in Generally speaking, it’s Barber’s biography. attention that the 1920s, which passes – sometimes due well written (although and a darkened the silly- to cataclysmic upheavals – through the there are too many typos; So those out there who room season release hands of charlatans, no hopers and Nick should shoot his haven’t yet read of this book philistine monsters. It is casually copy editor). In Nick’s Understanding Anthony has attracted mentioned as still being in existence in own prose little springs of Powell for the first time, I has to be appreciated by the Powell-head the last volume, set fifty years later, still lines from TS Eliot and envy you. There’s great community, intensely irritating though the same imperturbable, mesmerising others come bubbling up. pleasure lying ahead. some of it has been. The closing pages of artwork, still good. “Farebrother, as To Keep The Ball Rolling give the best reencountered, is a fragment shored Understanding Anthony Powell by Nicholas advice on how best to react to these A version of this article first appeared in The against the ruins of Jenkins’s world.” Birns. University of South Carolina Press unpleasant and hypocritical abuses of Herald (Glasgow). (ISBN 1570035490). $39.95 (USA) or £30.50 Powell himself would love this language, (UK).

5 6 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #16 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #16 A Weekend Invitation survived. Sotheby’s were called in by the given way to dinner jackets (tuxedos) executors to auction off what remained. worn with black bow tie, long dresses by Julian Allason The director, a glamorous American remaining usual for all but the youngest blonde, was accommodated in one of the and prettiest women. If there was no ball Key scenes in the Dance are set in principal guestrooms, where she to attend a neighbouring houseparty stately homes, and Powell assumes a discovered in the bedside table several might join the dinner, swelling numbers familiarity with the rhythm of country capsules of amyl nitrate – ‘poppers’ to two dozen or more, and providing house life that may now be fading. supposed to confer aphrodisial powers – occasion to deploy the best porcelain and and a French maid’s outfit. Mentioning silver. Minor domestic staff would join Victor Hervey cut a figure sharp enough this to colleagues over dinner served by The ‘placement’ at dinner was automatic, butler and footmen to serve, and it was to warrant a place in the dramatis the Smith-like Bristol butler, she was being protocol driven, unless one of the not unusual for servants from the visiting personae of Waugh’s satires. Aristocratic subsequently amused to find the drawer lady guests was possessed of exceptional house to assist. Billiards, charades and gunrunner, partygiver, gentleman burglar, empty when she retired. beauty, wit, or embonpoint, in which case party games might follow at the less convict and floggee, the sixth Marquess promotion to the host’s left (but rarely stuffy houses. Photographic tableaux of Bristol was perhaps too colourful a A recent visit to Ickworth to inspect a right) hand might be gazetted. After enjoyed a brief vogue in the 1920s: Sir figure to provide character inspiration to curiously under-catalogued Titian and cheese the ladies would retire, leaving the Magnus seems to have been a late starter a serious novelist, although acquainted some Chinese porcelain worthy of men to port and cigars, and perhaps to – or a tenacious promoter of the practice. with several. His seat, Ickworth in Pamela’s attention set me to reflect upon ‘water the lawn’. It is still considered Suffolk, was the venue for numerous the country house parties in the Dance. poor form to keep your host up late on a Appearance at breakfast on Sunday country house parties even beyond its Each tableau intrigues by the manner in Friday evening, particularly in the winter morning was no more obligatory than passage into the hands of the Treasury in which it both conforms to, and departs when an early rise for shooting might be attendance at Church from the Great War lieu of death duties. His son, the seventh from what was – and to some extent on the cards. on. Luncheon was another matter; at it remains – a rigid social prescription. Whatever the season a hearty breakfast gossip from the night before would be What then was the format for the country could be anticipated, to include such exchanged and loose ends tied. Guests’ house weekend during the decades of the dishes as devilled kidneys, kippers and departure would take place no later than Dance? cold cuts. Shooting brakes and Land 3pm, after the servants had been tipped. Rovers stood by to take the ‘guns’, never Such was the model to which all but the Convention demanded arrival upon a more than eight in number, off to the first most bohemian subscribed, a model Friday afternoon in time for tea, at which drive. Some of the ladies might follow to scaleable downwards to more modest a gift would be presented to the hostess. pick up downed birds, or join the ‘guns’ houses, but varying little even in ducal Meanwhile suitcases would be carried up for lunch. palaces. to bedrooms and unpacked by servants. At the statelier homes cars were driven Outside the shooting season Saturday To the contemporaneous reader of the Ickworth House, Suffolk round to the stable block, washed and afternoons were usually devoted to Dance such a pattern might have been with luck refuelled. Guests were then cultural affairs – or just affairs. Options second nature, even if experienced only Marquess, known as John Jermyn, expected to disappear until seven or so could include a tour of the property, its through the mediation of farceur or maintained the family tradition of wild when cocktails were served prior to pictures and dungeons, a game of bridge, detective novelist. Today it seems the partying. Having retained a lease on dining. In the Midlands it was usual to or expeditions to nearby churches or social minuet of a lost age. Yet any guest Ickworth’s residential east wing he sound the gong not for dinner – that archaeological remains. Planchette and invited to stay at a Stourwater or even a terrorised National Trust visitors to the would be announced by the butler – but bezique seem to have been reserved to Thrubworth today would still be well rest of the estate by racing vintage cars twenty minutes earlier to winkle any the unromantic upon rainy afternoons. advised to enquire, “Shall we be dressing through it. latecomers out of the bathroom. (En- for dinner?” But not, alas, at Ickworth, suite facilities were not widely adopted Until the Second World War white tie and now an hotel decorated in Festival of By the time of his death from drug until the 1980s, and are still rare in tails were the norm for Saturday dinner. Britain style. And certainly not in a addiction in 1997 aged 44 little of Scottish country houses and castles.) By the 1960s these had almost entirely French maid’s outfit. Jermyn’s £30 million inheritance

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Notes from our Patron important influence in the early careers Widmerpool Award 2004 Carey, The Don Who “Reviews” of Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest A recent letter from the Society’s Patron, Hemingway … Tony Bower, who had Among the nominations received for the by Douglas Russell John Powell, to the Hon. Secretary brought us to the party, told me how 2004 Widmerpool Award were ones for brings two pieces of news. much he enjoyed watching his hosts on Lords Falconer, Hutton, and Butler; King Carey, the don who “reviews” the telephone, angling for invitations to Carl Gustav XVI of Sweden; Peter with a cat in his lap while he’s nude, “The London Library was a haven for parties in which he, Bower, felt no Mandelson; the Australian politician thought it parochially droll research for both my parents throughout interest. The end of Tony Bower’s story Alexander Downer; “the sublimely self- to score cheap points off Powell, their lives, where they never had an was a sad one. He met his death at the centered Greg Dyke and Andrew but instead bit off more than he chewed. unhappy moment. In recognition of this hands of a criminal boy-friend in New Gilligan”; and Alistair Campbell (for Tristram has arranged for the family to York City, an incident that might have “having achieved power without The myope’s strabismic view present the Library with the new edition come out of Tender Is the Night.” responsibility”). of the subject evinced that he knew of the Dictionary of National Biography more hearsay than fact – [and for it] to be placed in the Reading However, the most popular nominee, and the true sign of a hack Room in [Anthony and Lady Violet’s] 2004 winner of the Widmerpool Award, like a parrot that’s taught to be rude. memory. Nine feet of shelves have been is Sir Max Hastings. The nominations The Quotable Powell – I were “on the grounds, not only of Those with two eyes and two ears cleared for the new volumes. physical traits (thick specks, booming know that his Reckoning nears – Information from the DNB will be “I began to brood on the complexity of available to members of the Library manner) but for petty abuse of power” in like that cat in his lap writing a novel about English life, a using the medium of a review of a new it will suddenly snap through [their] Website.” subject difficult enough to handle with biography of Powell as an excuse for and droll Carey will wind up in tears. authenticity even of a crudely naturalistic personal score-settling (Powell was very Secondly John reports: sort, even more to convey the inner truth mildly disparaging about Sir Max in his of the things observed ... Intricacies of published Journals.) Hastings certainly “For more information on the Powell social life make English habits murders (Newsletter 10, p. 15 & reveals a Widmerpudlian lack of self- unyielding to simplification, while knowledge in referring to Powell as Newsletter 15, p. 17) see The Departure understatement and irony – in which all Platform by Violet Powell where there is “priggish, pretentious and pompous” and The Quotable Powell – II classes of this island converse – upset the a “snob”. a description on page 87 of a visit to normal emphasis of reported speech ... Venice in 1956, and a meeting with Even the bare facts had an unreal, almost “People think because a novel’s invented, Tony Bower.” satirical ring when committed to paper, it isn’t true. Exactly the reverse is the say in the manner of innumerable case. Because a novel’s invented, it is The relevant passage in The Departure Russian stories of the nineteenth century: true. Biography and memoirs can never Platform reads: ‘I was born in the city of L-, the son of an be wholly true, since they can’t include infantry officer...’ To convey much that every conceivable circumstance of what “An old friend of mine, Tony Bower, was relevant to the reader’s mind by such happened. The novel can do that. The had invited us for drinks in a flat at the phrases was in this country hardly novelist himself lays it down. His top of the Palazzo Polignac … One of possible. Too many factors had to be decision is binding. The biographer, even the guests was Esther Murphy, who had taken into consideration.” at his highest and best, can be only been the first wife of the politician John – Anthony Powell; The Acceptance World tentative, empirical. The autobiographer, Strachey, and who was an admirer of for his part, is imprisoned in his own Powell’s novels. I think it was only later “Atwater ... began to bite the apple. It egotism. He must always be suspect. In that we discovered that this quiet, was green and tasted of absolutely contrast with the other two, the novelist is pleasant, but unstriking American lady nothing. It was like eating material in the a god, creating his man, making him was a sister of Gerald Murphy who, abstract.” breathe and walk.” with his wife Sara, had been an – Anthony Powell; Afternoon Men – Anthony Powell; Hearing Secret Harmonies

9 10 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #16 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #16 Anthony Powell Papers and discussions during the Centenary Conference conference might include, but are by no Local Group News means limited to: 2 & 3 December 2005 · the influence of London on Powell’s The Wallace Collection, London writing about the London social scene Dance Fans and Dancing Goring than for Jean Templer. Eileen in Powell’s time A Ballet Outing, July 2004 also had the Barber book itself, which Preliminary Call for Papers · Powell’s literary friendships most of us had not yet seen, so we spent · Powell and biography by Nick Birns time getting a first glimpse at what looks Following the success of the first two · the importance of the publishing to be an invaluable volume and noting biennial Anthony Powell Conferences industry to Powell and his friends The Frederick Ashton centenary Jonathan’s mention in the (held at in 2001 and Balliol · the influence of art on Powell and his celebrations are in full stride here acknowledgments. But soon enough we College, Oxford in 2003 respectively) the literary contemporaries (actually, according to Clive Barnes in the noticed that the curtain was drawing nigh Anthony Powell Society is proud to July 2004 issue of Dance magazine, a and dinner was not arriving. I had announce the third international The organisers are proud to announce more concerted observation of the Ashton ordered something called “Viennese conference dedicated to the life and times that Hilary Spurling and Ian Rankin have centenary is taking place in New York than Schnitzel” which was chicken, not veal, of Anthony Dymoke Powell, which will agreed to be among the 2005 conference in London) and Jonathan Kooperstein and and I was interested in exploring actually be held at The Wallace Collection, keynote speakers. Ed Bock thought it appropriate to organize what this meant. After repeated London, on Friday 2 and Saturday 3 a local group meeting to see the Joffrey assurances that the food would arrive in December 2005. Prospective speakers are invited to Ballet perform three of Ashton’s works at just a couple of minutes, we finally submit for review abstracts of not more the Metropolitan Opera House in New realized that we had to decamp, 2005 is a pivotal year for the Society, and than 300 words for 20-minute papers. York. We had arranged what promised to dinnerless, in order to make the ballet, for Powell’s friends and admirers, as it Submissions, which may be made be a splendid dinner at Cafe Mozart on and the staff at Cafe Mozart graciously th marks the centenary of Powell’s birth. To electronically, must arrive with the Hon. West 70 St. let us depart only having paid for the celebrate this in style, the conference is Secretary by 31 January 2005. Papers drinks and appetizers we had actually being held in conjunction with The which have been rejected for previous By 6.30, Ed, Jonathan, myself, Leatrice consumed. The entire effect was that of a Wallace Collection, home of Poussin’s Anthony Powell Conferences will not be Fountain, Arete and William Warren, one-act farce, where the dinner guests sit painting A Dance to the Music of Time reconsidered. Eileen Kaufman and her daughter Erin, down, make some amusing conversation from which Powell’s magnum opus takes and John Gould – whose researches into and just as some climax is about to its title – The Wallace are also organising Authors will be advised in April 2005 Constant Lambert made him an especially develop are told that there won’t be any a Powell Centenary Exhibition to whether their abstracts have been interested student of the evening’s dinner and are hustled out of the coincide with the conference. accepted. Completed papers will be performance – had all arrived. (John and restaurant/theatre. In fact, this could required by 28 October 2005 to ensure Jonathan have contributed some details to have been Anthony Powell’s third play, The aim of this international conference their inclusion in the Conference and the this report.) We had just sat down when a with an additional dollop of self- is to provide a forum for the discussion of Proceedings. waiter at the restaurant turned out to be referentiality at the principal topic of Powell, his life and works. The one of John’s former students – a truly conversation being a hostile review of a organisers hope to attract Powell Papers will be accepted on the basis that Powellian coincidence! Dinner began biography of the play’s author! aficionados and newcomers to his work authors pay the appropriate delegate fee promisingly with asparagus soup and tuna alike. Papers that deal with Powell’s and attend the conference. tartare, which we consumed The second act, as it were, of the evening friendships with, or influence on, his enthusiastically as the Warrens circulated went much more smoothly. We arrived at contemporaries such as Evelyn Waugh, Abstracts of the accepted papers will be John Carey’s splenetic review of Michael the opera house about ten minutes prior Henry Green (also a 2005 centenarian), issued to delegates at the conference. Barber’s Powell biography in the Sunday to curtain, and of course several of us Graham Greene, George Orwell or The conference proceedings, including Times. We agreed the dark-haired woman thought of that final performance in composer Constant Lambert (another the full text of presented papers, will be in the picture accompanying the review Temporary Kings, after which celebrating his centenary in 2005) will be published after the event and will be sent was likelier to be the model for Barbara Widmerpool and Pamela have their big highly welcome. to all participants.

11 12 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #16 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #16 dustup and during which the second London AP Birthday Lunch sample the other delights of South violinist is identified as Carolo. John Kensington: The Oratory, Natural History continued to entertain us with fascinating The London Group will be holding this Museum, a walk through Brompton observations about Moreland and his year’s AP Birthday Lunch at 12 noon on Village to Rutland Gate, Ennismore similarities and differences from Lambert Saturday 4 December 2004 at Zia Teresa, Gardens and the Albert Memorial or (who, as arranger of the Meyerbeer music 6 Hans Road, London, SW3 1RX. perhaps afternoon tea at Patisserie for the first ballet, Les Patineurs, was on Members, supporters and their guests will Valerie, 215 Brompton Road. the program – though listed as all be very welcome. ‘Constance Lambert,’ something which AP Birthday Lunch would no doubt have made Powell Zia Teresa is an excellent and reasonably Saturday 4 December 2004 chortle). Les Patineurs was entertaining, priced Italian restaurant. As well as good with its fairly realistic if robust Italian food they boast some excellent I wish to reserve ____ places at the AP representation of dancers as skaters. The house wine. The Hon. Secretary and Birthday Lunch. I enclose a deposit of vivid sets and costumes were by Powell’s Hon. Archivist have known this £5 per person. friend William Chappell, who is, of restaurant for almost 30 years(!) and have course, mentioned in the Journals. The even been known to entertain visiting Name: second ballet, Monotones, was actually Constant Lambert dignitaries there. two separate if structurally aligned Address: pieces, both set to music by Erik Satie As before, the lunch is being organised and both featuring three performers. novels written in the 1930s or those on a “pay as you go” basis, so you can These later dancers were restrained and books of Dance depicting London choose whatever you wish to eat and striking and gained the attention of bohemian life in that decade and the one drink on the day and pay accordingly. everyone in the audience. At the second immediately previous. Constant There is something on the menu for [ ] I enclose a cheque for £______intermission, we regrouped and Leatrice, Lambert, incidentally, was the original everyone! Cheques must be in sterling, who had not eaten all day, had a smoked narrator for the ballet – an important role, drawn on a UK bank and payable salmon sandwich, a kind of pocket performed here by former Joffrey dancer All we ask is that if you wish to attend to The Anthony Powell Society. version of the full salmon entree she had Christian Holder. please return the form opposite to the ordered at Cafe Mozart. Hon. Secretary no later than Friday 26 [ ] Please debit my Visa / Mastercard We left better educated and in higher November so we can advise the with £______The highlight of the evening, though, was spirits than we came in. Though I still restaurant of exact numbers. In order to the third ballet, Wedding Bouquet, with had vistas of the chicken schnitzel I had secure your booking a £5 deposit is Card No.: music and set design by Lord Berners (as missed, I remembered the wise quotation payable; this will be deducted from your Powell might have wanted us to clarify, so often uttered by that eminent diplomat, spending on the day. Expiry Date: the 20th century Lord Berners, not the Sir Gavin Walpole-Wilson: “For lust of

15th century translator of Froissart). This knowing what we should not know, we Hans Road runs off Brompton Road Signature: was an alert and uplifting spectacle, and take the Golden Road to Samarkand.” along the western side (nearest the its combination of classicism and Consoled that I had, metaphorically Victoria & Albert Museum) of Harrod’s; Please return this form by Friday 26 modernity, of frivolity and technical speaking, stayed on this side of the Oxus Zia Teresa is just a few doors from the River, and with the additional consolation November 2004 to: accomplishment, brought to mind corner. aesthetic and stylistic elements that of having a reasonably sized lunch earlier Hon. Secretary Ashton, Powell, and their musical in the afternoon, I gladly continued to After celebrating Powell’s 99th birthday, The Anthony Powell Society contemporaries such as Lambert had in remain dinnerless and accompanied those still capable will be well placed for 76 Ennismore Avenue, Greenford common. The way the tableau depicted Leatrice and John in a taxi to the train a little light Christmas shopping in Middlesex, UB6 0JW, UK was both celebration and fiasco reminded station. Harrod’s, Harvey Nichols or the Victoria Tel: +44 (0)20 8864 4095 one of many of the parties in Powell’s & Albert Museum; alternatively why not Fax: +44 (0)20 8864 6109 London Group News appears on page 16.

13 14 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #16 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #16

Anyone who wishes to book a found at the newsagent’s just up the road Centenary Corner provisional place at the conference or from the pub: thus armed with the book who wishes to make an initial payment and several of the most recent reviews, it towards their delegate fee may also do so was for once almost a single topic now by contacting the Hon. Secretary. discussion, though we still managed to of the responses to the “Call for Papers” touch on clothing and that traditional Anthony Powell which will be distributed in October. A Powell Centenary Exhibition British topic of conversation, the weather, preliminary version of the “Call for The Society’s exhibitions team has now along the way. In conclusion we felt that Centenary Conference Papers” is included on page 11. suggested to The Wallace Collection the biography was eminently readable, what we consider the most appropriate good value and a very welcome addition is to be held on If any member has useful contacts to objects to be included in their exhibition to our bookshelves. whom we should mail conference of Powell’s life and work. Arranging the

Friday 2 & Saturday 3 information, then please would they send loan of objects and putting together the Much to everyone’s delight, another December 2005 the names and addresses to the Hon. exhibition is now in the very capable excuse to meet at the Anchor for drinks Secretary, who is gradually building up a hands of The Wallace’s exhibitions team. and chat presented itself on 9 August at mailing database for the Society – the The exhibition is scheduled for mid- with the presence in London of not only The Wallace Collection more people we can mail the more likely October 2005 to early-January 2006. John Gould of Andover, USA, but Malin we are to succeed. Saddiqi and her husband Faik on holiday London, W1 Other Events from Stockholm. Malin and Faik were Our aim is to make the two days a little Not so much news here, however rest gathering more AP-related places to add less densely packed than the Eton and assured that a number of other Society to their itinerary; John is currently Things are beginning to move now with Oxford Conferences. The start times will events are being planned for 2005. Nick researching links between AP’s character preparations for Centenary Year. be a little later, and we must finish Birns’s team is also working to ensure Hugh Moreland and the composer promptly as we are constrained by The there is awareness of the centenary, and Constant Lambert, upon whom Moreland Centenary Conference Wallace Collection’s opening hours. We coverage at other events. We will publish is said to have been modelled. A lengthy We are delighted to announce the four are also planning slightly extended lunch a timetable of events starting in the next and many-sided discussion followed, invited keynote speakers for the breaks so that there is time for delegates Newsletter. touching upon (among other things) conference. They are: to view the Wallace’s Powell Centenary Lambert’s relationships with his son Kit · Hilary Spurling, author of the Exhibition. In consequence we will have (former manager of the rock group The Handbook to Dance to be much stricter in keeping speakers to London Group Meetings Who) and the dancer Margot Fonteyn; · Crime writer, Ian Rankin their allotted time. English/British composers from Ludford Two for the Price of One? and Carver to Purcell and Maxwell · Novelist Alan Judd, fresh from his Further details will, of course, be Davies (and his recent appointment as triumph at the Oxford Conference, By Noreen Marshall announced in the fullness of time. Master of the Queen’s Music); and who will consider how Powell might Meanwhile we are also working on the British abstract art, notably sculpture. approach writing Dance were he The London and SE England group held Once more, Anthony Powell: a Life came starting today, and traditional pre-conference dinner and a its summer meeting on 3 July at the up for discussion, again to general · John Saumarez-Smith of booksellers G number of other possible events. Anchor pub on London’s Bankside. That acclaim. Other biographers also figured Hayward Hill who will talk about week had seen the publication of Anthony Our wish is to keep the cost of the in the discussion, notably Fiona “Anthony Powell as Bibliophile” Powell: a Life, Michael Barber’s long- Centenary Conference comparable with McCarthy for her fearless work on Eric awaited (unauthorised) biography of AP, Gill, when we reached the fact that with In addition we expect to timetable around the cost of the Oxford Conference – shortly followed by our President Hugh AP there had by contrast been nothing a dozen delegate papers over the two although with 15 months to go there are Massingberd’s review of the book in The still a large number of imponderables to startling to unearth. Heaven knows what days. As always, though, this will Spectator. Larger news retailers having take into account. those at the neighbouring tables made of depend on both the quantity and quality failed miserably in their duty to provide half of this … that month’s Spectator, two copies were

15 16 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #16 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #16 Oxford Conference Proceedings Copies of the Oxford Proceedings were mailed to all delegates in mid-August, so Society News & Notices by Keith Marshall if you were at the conference in Balliol College and have not received your copy We are delighted to announce that the please contact the Hon. Secretary. Automatic Subscription Payments Membership Renewal Proceedings of the Second Biennial Additional copies are now available to Anthony Powell Conference 2003, held both members and non-members at a cost We are pleased to announce that the At the time of writing, around 30 at Balliol College, Oxford in April 2003 of £7.50 each (post free to members). Society can now accept recurring credit members whose subscriptions are now available. See page 27 for ordering details. card transactions. This means that we expired in March still have not can, for those who give their written renewed their membership. The editorial team – Dr George Lilley, Looking at the papers again, in the cold authorisation, automatically debit their Although many have renewed after Stephen Holden and the Hon Secretary – light after a break from them, I am subscription from their credit card each receiving a second reminder, this apologise for the time it has taken to greatly impressed by both their quality year, thus relieving members of the need remains a much higher proportion of produce the proceedings. At 250 pages and their interest – and I know that both to send us an annual payment. the Society’s membership than is the proceedings are some 50% larger than George and Stephen feel the same. sustainable – both in terms of lost the Eton Conference Proceedings. Rereading them I think I found every In order to be able to process a recurring revenue and the cost of reminders. Additionally many of the papers are of a paper interesting and thought-provoking. transaction we do have to have a specific more academic nature. Both these have I believe this is a publication of which the authorisation from you, the member. The Final reminders are being mailed to naturally added to the amount of editorial Society should be truly proud. wording appears on the membership form those who have not yet renewed their work to be done. on the back page of this Newsletter, and subscriptions. Please send your we will be updating the Membership payment to the Hon. Secretary (at the The “academic editing” – the work on the Leaflet and website as soon as possible. address on page 2) urgently. New Editions of Powell Works content – and some especially diligent In October proofreading was undertaken by George We are still required to write to those Anyone who has not renewed by 30 with recurring transactions each year to and Stephen, and I must thank them for There are two new, American, editions of September will be removed from the leaving me with just the relatively easy ensure you are informed of the amount Society’s membership list – which Powell’s works on the horizon. you will be debited (currently £20). This job, as publisher, of organising the text means you will not be able to vote at for the printer. I would also like to thank will be done in March each year. the AGM and this will be the last Firstly, the University of Chicago’s the Hon. Archivist for proofreading “Phoenix” series is republishing The Newsletter you receive. several of the drafts. Members wishing to take advantage of Fisher King on 1 October. this facility may do so now by returning Remember that you can pay by credit the membership form on the back page card as well as sterling cheque or And a couple of weeks later, on 15 (photocopies of the form are fine). October, Green Integer (who have cash. Members who wish to may Alternatively you may wait until you now give the Society authorisation to previously published pocket-sized receive your next subscription reminder. versions of Venusberg and Oh how the debit their subscription from their wheel becomes it!) are republishing credit card each year automatically What’s Become of Waring. (see opposite).

Both editions may be pre-ordered And if you are a UK member, don’t through www. amazon.com and forget you can Gift Aid your www.amazon.co.uk. And remember that subscription thus increasing its value if you have internet access by using the to the Society by 28%. Please links to Amazon from the AP website contact the Hon. Secretary if you homepage you will be benefiting the need a Gift Aid declaration form (or use the form on the back page). The New Cavendish Club, venue for the AGM Society.

17 18 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #16 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #16 Newsletter Copy Deadlines Dates for Your Diary Saturday 4 December 2004 Why Not Advertise Here? AP Birthday Lunch Venue: Zia Teresa The deadlines for receipt of articles and *** Friday 24 September 2004 advertisements for the Newsletter are: Great Lakes Group Meeting 6 Hans Road, London, SW3 1RX Display Advert Rates Venue: Chicago Time: 1200 hrs Issue 17, Winter 2004 Full Page: £30 Time: Afternoon Join the London Group to celebrate th Copy Deadline: 12 November 2004 ½ page or full column: £20 Topic: The Parties in Dance Powell’s 99 birthday Publication Date: 3 December 2004 1/3 page (horizontal): £15 Venue and time to be confirmed Details on page 14

¼ page (½ column): £10 Details from Stephen Pyskoty-Olle Issue 18, Spring 2005 ([email protected]) ** NEW VENUE ** 1/6 page (1/3 column): £8 Copy Deadline: 11 February 2005 Saturday 5 March 2005 Publication Date: 4 March 2005 Flyer inserts: £10 per A5 sheet Saturday 9 or Saturday 30 October London Group Pub Meet B&W artwork only East Coast USA Group Meeting Venue: The Audley *** Venue: Silvermine Tavern, Norwalk, CT 41-43 Mount Street, London, W1K 2RX Time: 1230 to 1530 hrs Small Ads Time: 1230 hrs Date to be confirmed Regular 4-monthly informal meet for Free to Society members Details from Leatrice Fountain drinks, food and AP discussions Others 10p/word, minimum £3 ([email protected]) Friday 2 & Saturday 3 December 2005 Saturday 23 October 2004 Anthony Powell Centenary Conference Local Groups Society AGM Venue: The Wallace Collection Time: 1400 hrs Manchester Square, London, W1 East Coast USA Group Venue: New Cavendish Club Details to follow Area: NY & CT area, USA 44 Great Cumberland Place, London W1 Contact: Leatrice Fountain to be followed at 1500 hrs by ** NEW VENUE ** Email: [email protected] Writing about Anthony Powell for London Group The Audley (41-43 Mount Street, London, W1), Speakers: Michael Barber, Dr George the new venue for London Local Group Great Lakes Group Lilley and Dr Nicholas Birns The London Group organisers have meetings. Area: Chicago area, USA decided to move group meetings from Contact: Stephen Pyskoty-Olle ** NEW VENUE ** the Anchor Bankside to the Audley, 41- Email: [email protected] Saturday 6 November 2004 43 Mount Street, London, W1. London Group Pub Meet Swedish Group Venue: The Audley While it is regretted that the Audley will Area: Sweden 41-43 Mount Street, London, W1K 2RX be less convenient for some, it promises Contributions to the Newsletter Contact: Regina Rehbinder Time: 1230 to 1530 hrs better beer, easier access to food and a are always welcome and should Email: [email protected] Regular 4-monthly informal meet for less noisy environment. In addition the be sent to: drinks, food and AP discussions pub is in a more AP-ish area: very close London Group to Shepherd Market, Hill Street and the Newsletter Editor, Stephen Holden, Area: London & SE England Grosvenor Chapel where AP’s memorial The Anthony Powell Society Contact: Keith Marshall service was held. 76 Ennismore Avenue Email: [email protected] Greenford, Middlesex, UB6 0JW, UK The Audley is on the corner of Mount Please contact the Hon. Secretary if you Street and South Audley Street just a Fax: +44 (0)20 8864 6109 wish to make contact with a group and short walk from both Marble Arch and Email: [email protected] don’t have email. Hyde Park Corner underground stations.

19 20 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #16 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #16

recognize, although I don’t doubt their with famous people. Jenkins resists even From the APLIST validity at the time in the least. hinting (I think) at anything more than a Recent Discussions on the Society’s Email Discussion Group vague acquaintance with Jean. This From Nick Hay makes him quite a bit more discreet than Jenkins comments, “Moreland possessed a good many people I know. that quality, rather rare among men, of From Adam Bohnet discouraged confession. Even so, few not divulging names”. It is made in the Also, while it is unwise, no doubt, to talk A long time ago, Malin Siddiqi men, I expect, would resist boasting context of Moreland’s question to Jenkins at length about past lovers with one’s mentioned earlier her objection to the about such a conquest. as to which women he would choose if he wife, with most married couples I know movie version of the Dance. Her were legally allowed three wives: Jenkins the subject does occasionally come up in objection was that Jenkins should never From David Christie who is at the time in his relationship with conversation. have declared his love for Isobel openly You know, Nick is no more a “private Jean instead of revealing this ‘’offered as he was such a private person. person” than dear old Samuel Pepys. He three names from the group of female As for Jenkins telling us all about his has spent some 3000 pages telling the acquaintances we enjoyed in common”. love-affairs in detail in twelve volumes I have not seen the movie, but I agree world and his wife all about himself – In itself I find this a little strange in that and therefore showing himself to be a with Malin. I don’t remember the rather like one Anthony Powell, now I my guess is many men would choose very un-private person indeed, I don’t location of the passage, but at one point come to think about it! notable public beauties? – however think it is ever made very clear what sort Jean Flores (perhaps still Duport) comes Jenkins is very clearly himself not of a work Jenkins is writing or who he is up in conversation and Isobel says, “You From Malin Siddiqi “divulging names”. writing for. He never tells us what he is used to know her, I think?” or words to Oh, but I don’t think that he is “telling doing. It certainly does not seem like a that effect. At the time I thought that the world and his wife all about himself” Again, not divulging names is different memoir, as many have pointed out. there were hints of wifely intuition – far from it! He tells us a lot about the from not boasting of sexual conquests – Frankly, it doesn’t usually seem much guessing at the truth, although this is, no people surrounding him and a lot about Byron (one of the characters mentioned like an oral narrative either. doubt, my imagination taking over. I certain aspects of his life but next to along with Casanova and Don Juan in the think it is significant that after many nothing about some areas of his life. discussion at Casanova’s a little later) By the way, to my knowledge Pepys’ years of marriage Jenkins still did not Therefore I stick to my opinion that may be accused of boasting of his sexual diary was not published until quite a mention his earlier affair with Jean, even Jenkins is indeed a “private person”! conquests but rarely mentions names while after his death. Didn’t it have to be to his wife, despite the fact that he was no unless they were of special importance to decoded? I don’t think that it was written longer in love and so mentioning it would Although I have not been married more him. for the public so Powell and Jenkins may probably not cause discord. Isobel hardly than two years (soon), I venture to say have been indiscreet, but it is probably seems likely to have been a prude on the that I don’t see why Jenkins couldn’t From Adam Bohnet unfair to accuse Pepys of the same sin. subject either. have told his wife about his affair with “Conquest” was probably the wrong Jean. Unless there’s some unknown word. I suppose I wasn’t really thinking From Peter Kislinger It is very rare (as I think Jenkins says at “time factor” involved here (meaning that in terms of locker-room boasting, (or of Let me put it that way: Jenkins does not some point, perhaps in Cassanova’s a marriage entered into in the thirties the rambling tale of seduction described tell that he didn’t tell anybody. Lots of Chinese Restaurant about Moreland) for wasn’t the same as a marriage entered in The Fisher King) although I can see other events are not narrated. A sojourn men not to boast about their sexual into in 2002), I don’t see why a wife why the phrasing of my posting gave that in New York, for example, is hinted at conquests. This is especially amazing would mind knowing about her impression. etc. And what about Jenkins playing with considering that Jean’s daughter became husband’s past love affairs, provided, of his children? “It would be a different a movie star and Jean herself the wife of course, that she doesn’t suspect that I think it does suggest something about novel”, was Powell´s reaction to a a president – by the end of the series Jean there’s something still going on! Come Jenkins that he did not hint to anybody at psychoanalytical reading of Proust´s has become quite the notch on the bed- to think of it now, after having recently some sort of a romantic connection with Recherche – it made much of the point post. Of course, Jenkins’ affair with Jean read Casanova’s Chinese Restaurant, I Jean. Sexual conquests of famous that the narrator of the Recherche has no was not an entirely happy memory for very strongly believe in the “time factor”, women aside, people often like to remind brother while its author did have one. him, and hardly placed him in since the depictions of marriage there the rest of the world of their connections Jealousy, Oedipus, Cain and Abel, the distinguished company; this may have presented don’t resemble anything I

21 22 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #16 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #16 whole lot. one of her husband’s former loves? So, Nick was fairly sure she [Lady Isobel] either Nick has shared the story, or (as had deduced it. From The Kindly Ones: Jenkins is not at all telling us “all” about seems more likely) Lady Isobel has “’Wasn’t he [Templer] the brother of that his love affairs, let alone in detail. There deduced it from his demure comments. girl you used to know?’ said Isobel. She certainly aren’t any details about “this Less candour expected at that period spoke as if finally confirming a fact of charming love affair” with Jean Templer. because less candour was needed? which she had always been a little What is provoking interpretation, though, Anyway, when dealing with Lady Isobel. uncertain, at the same time smiling as if is why Jenkins does decide to include the Rather a nice Powellian moment. she hardly thought the pretence worth exchange between Isobel and himself. Without saying so, he somehow conveys keeping up.” The couple may, or may not, some time that Nick is somewhat shocked to learn after have talked about their pre-marital, of the invitation; relieved to learn that Hunt the papers? or even ex-marital, affairs. In the first Jean has declined it. Powell Typescripts go to the BL four volumes Jenkins often uses the phrases that seem to foreground the From Nick Hay By Our Arts Correspondent In the end Tessa Jowell, the UK’s process of writing (such as “I write” or But keeping to the point what seems to be Secretary of State for Culture, Media and “what I have written so far” etc.), I suggested is that Jenkins’ remark that Members may recall that in the aftermath Sport, considered the matter important cannot remember any such phrase in a “Moreland possessed that quality, rather of the Society’s first Conference at Eton enough to take a hand in the decision- volume later than 5 or 6. It may be one rare among men, of not divulging names” College in 2001, the Powell family making, ’s Westminster of the few inconsistencies due to the does not in fact apply to list members’ deposited AP’s papers with the College, Correspondent, David Hencke, reports manner of roman-fleuve kind of empirical experience? This would where they formed part of a collection of (26/08/2004). The official advisers publication. suggest that far from ‘candour in general’ work by old Etonian writers. The papers recommended that the Library at Eton becoming more widespread it would included the typescripts of most of the should acquire the papers, but Ms Jowell I think Jenkins is indeed indiscreet. But seem to have retreated? Were in fact novels, and A Dance to the Music of Time has ruled that the British Library should who’s “reading” or “listening”? As in male friends more open, less private in in its entirety, from which Eton College have custody of them, citing government many other instances, Jenkins (both the the inter-war years than they are now? Librarian Michael Meredith, with his policy on access. experiencing self and the narrating self) Who in Dance displays the opposite colleague Nick Baker, gave a fascinating parallels Widmerpool. He too is giving characteristic to Moreland? Duport and presentation on AP’s methods of working Whether the papers will be more away secrets (see Temporary Kings for Brent spring to mind probably merely and revision to those who were lucky accessible this way will remain to be spying and novel writing and betraying). because of the connection to Jean. They enough to be at Eton for the AGM in seen. The British Library is a public also broaden the social spectrum from the September 2002. institution dependant upon government From James Doyle artistic/musical world which forms the funding; it has extensive opening hours, There’s a post-war party at the Flores back-drop to the conversation in When the Powell family became liable but access on a long term basis will home, where Lady Isobel, after what Casanova’s Chinese Restaurant. for a substantial sum in death duties they depend on the researcher having a must have been a very brief conversation offered the papers to the nation as part of reader’s ticket, which is difficult to come with Jean, invites Jean and the Colonel to From Steve Pyskoty-Olle the payment. Acceptance and eventual by, and has to be justified for renewal dinner. Let’s not forget that Jean was *married* custody of such material in the UK can every few years. Eton College is a at the time of their romance. That, be a lengthy process, and involve a good private institution, free to raise and spend It seems to me that nothing we’ve learned certainly, would be a major factor for me many consultations of a rather baroque money as it chooses; public access by about Jean to that point suggests that she in deciding whether to tell my spouse nature between government and various appointment is generous but could in is much interested in other women in (and others) about a past love. If Jenkins cultural institutions. So it wasn’t a huge theory be withdrawn. general, or has any interests that would displayed so little regard for Jean’s surprise that nothing more was heard for recommend her to Lady Isobel as a marriage, that could indicate a about a year, beyond the fact that the Fortunately for all of us, the papers are dinner companion. Doesn’t it seem that willingness to be cavalier about his own papers were said to have moved to the apparently still available for inclusion in Lady Isobel issued the invitation just marriage vows. British Library pending a decision about the Anthony Powell centenary exhibition because she would like a further look at their future. at the Wallace Collection next year.

23 24 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #16 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #16

Letters to the Editor in Cheshire and Surrey and one in East him multidimensional in comparison to Sussex (none of them, alas, called van Helsing, the Exorcist, and the other From Julian Allason architect wants to build the shelves in ...” Charles). By comparison, there were 164 “stock gothic characters” to whom “It seems to me that would be the best Templers and 137 individuals named Society members have alluded. No sooner had Stephen Holden warned of way. They’ll look like part of the room Sillery. the curse of Powell than the haunting then. You can make them low, and hang I used to know a Benedictine who was a began. Carey’s evaluation [his review of your pictures above them.” It is therefore extremely unlikely that diocesan exorcist. His demeanour was Michael Barber’s biography in the “Yes, that’s what he said ... I presume Powell would have encountered the name entirely pragmatic, and generally Sunday Times] was the subject of a with nice bindings it will look very well.” in real life. On the other hand, he must skeptical of most disturbances forwarded comprehensive demolition job – and a “Oh, nothing furnishes a room like surely have read Saki’s wonderful short for his attention. In a recent book the magisterial rebuke for a review that books.” stories (late in life he reviewed a Exorcist of the city of Rome recalled that “oozes malevolence” – by the editor of biography of the writer) – Michael he could count upon his hand the number Burke’s Landed Gentry in the Sunday Of course that hit me like a ton of bricks! Barber, in his of possessions he had encountered in his Times. But I wonder if it is at all relevant? The new book, exorcising career. The malign influence book was published in 1885; before then Michael Barber suggests that of evil spirits he had found very much I lunched today with a publisher who told it was a serial in Century Magazine. suggests that echoes of Saki more common, frequently associated me that the reviews of Barber’s echoes of Saki can can be heard in with narcotic addiction (less commonly biography and Anthony Blond’s recent asides by Dicky alcoholism). Both had responded to autobiography From Patric Dickinson be heard in asides Umfraville and exorcism. were widely by Dicky Peter Templer. a magisterial Back in July 2002, on the APLIST [email A Writer’s While I cannot recall a single patient who considered to Umfraville and rebuke for a have crossed discussion list], Seamus Sweeney raised Notebook could remotely have been thought to be the frontier the interesting question of whether Peter Templer indicates that possessed, review that “oozes between Powell’s use of the name Stringham Stringham was psychiatric malevolence” academic point owed anything to Saki’s short story The one of the colleagues Powell was using scoring into Jesting of Arlington Stringham. This names that Powell jotted down for working with Fenneau to pull personal score aroused no further comment at the time possible use, but no indication is given of the insane have settling. Many in the literary world felt but it seems to me that some credence is where he came across it. occasionally the rug out from that the viciousness of these reviews lent to the suggestion by the fact that experienced under some of diminished their authors, and would be Stringham is a remarkably uncommon Incidentally, The Jesting of Arlington episodes close regretted by them. name. Stringham is only four pages long but it to Biblical, and Waugh's infallible also includes references to an offstage even gothic, priests Dr Carey may think it is safe to come out In the 1881 census for England and character named Lady Isobel. accounts of from beneath the high table but I doubt Wales there were a mere eighteen persons possession, the shades of Scorp, Trelawney and Mrs named Stringham – eleven in Surrey, four complete with multiple voices and Erdleigh have finished with him yet. Or in Durham and one each in From Julian Allason apparent special knowledge. One would the others. Herefordshire, Middlesex and Yorkshire. have thought that many mature clergy According to the 1997 edition of UK- While I share certain readers’ affection would have experienced similar INFO DISK (a CD that pools information for Canon Fenneau, the character does encounters and been more alarmed than From Jeanne V Reed from telephone directories and electoral ring slightly false, although I quite like enticed registers and therefore contains almost him anyway. It is largely because he From WD Howells’s The Rise of Silas everyone aged eighteen and upwards), does seem slightly bogus, dropping titbits The unworthy thought had occurred to Lapham, chapter 9: there were at that time twelve adult of bats-tongue to intrigue Nick in a man- me that Powell was using Fenneau to pull Stringhams living in the United to-man sort of way, whilst metaphorically the rug out from under some of Waugh’s “We expect to have bookcases, but the Kingdom, seven in Lancashire, two each tightening his Roman collar. This makes infallible priests.

25 26 Anthony Powell Society Newsletter #16 Society Merchandise The Anthony Powell Society ** NEW ** NEW ** NEW ** NEW ** Wallace Collection Postcard Registered Charity No. 1096873 Oxford Conference Proceedings The Wallace Collection’s luxurious The collected papers from the 2003 postcard of Poussin’s A Dance to the Membership Form conference at Balliol College, Oxford. Music of Time. Picture on page 18. Price: £7.50 (post free to all members) Price: £2 for 5 (postage rate B) Member Information Payment Information

Eton Conference Proceedings Wallace Collection Poster Type of membership (please tick): Total amount payable: £ ______¨ Ordinary Member – £20 a year. (No. of years x membership rate) Limited edition of 250 numbered copies The Wallace Collection’s 48.5 x 67.5 cm ¨ Joint Membership – £30 a year. Any two each signed by the Society’s Patron. (half life-size) poster of Poussin’s A persons at the same address. ¨ I enclose a sterling cheque drawn on a UK Price: £15 (post free to all members) Dance to the Music of Time. Mailed in a ¨ Gold Member – £30 minimum a year. bank. Please make cheques payable to The poster tube. Picture on page 18. ¨ Student Member – £12 a year. Please send Anthony Powell Society. Oxford Conference Delegates Book Price: £5.75 (postage rate D) a copy of your student card. As given to delegates at the conference. ¨ Organisation – £100 minimum a year. ¨ Please debit my Visa / MasterCard

Price: £1.50 (postage rate C) Society Bookmarks Subscriptions are due on 1 April annually. If I authorize you, until further notice, to Price: £1 for 5 (postage rate A) joining on or after 1 January, membership charge my Visa / MasterCard account for The Master and The Congressman includes following full subscription year. the sum of £ ______on, or immediately A 40 page monograph by John Monagan Newsletter Back Issues after 1 April each year. I will advise you in describing his meetings with Anthony Back numbers of Newsletter issues 1, 6 Full Name: writing immediately the card becomes lost Powell. A small treasure for all collectors and 8 to 15 are still available. or stolen, if I close the account or I wish to Address: cancel this authority. ** of Powelliana. Price: 50p per copy (postage rate B) Price: £5 (post free to all members) Card No.: Postage. All Society merchandise is post free to BBC Dramatisation of Dance members in the UK. Regrettably we have to ask Postcode/Zip: Valid from: Expires: Details on page 10. Members only. overseas members to contribute to airmail postage using the following rates: Single CD. Price: £2.50 + Donation: Country: Name & address of cardholder (if different Non-members will be charged postage & from above): £7.50 minimum (Total £10; post free) packing at cost. Email: 28 CDs. Price: £20 + Donation: £40 Rate UK Europe World minimum (Total £60; post free) Number of years membership being paid: A free 25p 60p I am a UK taxpayer and I want all donations Audio Tapes of Dance B free 40p £1 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / more (please state): I’ve made since 6 April 2000 and all donations Copies of the following audio tapes of in the future to be Gift Aid until I notify you C free 60p £1.50 otherwise. ** Simon Callow reading (abridged) Gift Membership D free 80p £1.75 volumes of Dance: I agree to the Society holding my information on · A Question of Upbringing If this is a gift membership please attach the computer. Gold and Founder members of the Society name & address of the recipient plus any special · The Kindly Ones message on a separate sheet of paper. · The Valley of Bones receive a 10% discount on the cost of all Signed: merchandise (but not on postage charges). · The Soldier’s Art Where shall we send the membership? Date: Price: £2.50 each (postage rate C) Ordering. Post, phone or fax your order to the ¨ Direct to the recipient Hon. Secretary at the address on page 2. ¨ To you to give to the recipient personally ** Delete if not applicable. Society Postcard Payment by cheque (UK funds drawn on a UK B&W postcard of Powell with his cat bank), credit card (Visa or Mastercard) or cash. Please send the completed form and payment to: Hon. Secretary, The Anthony Powell Society Phone: +44 (0)20 8864 4095 Trelawney. Picture on page 10. 76 Ennismore Avenue, Greenford, Middlesex, UB6 0JW, UK Fax: +44 (0)20 8864 6109 Price: £1.75 for 5 (postage rate B)

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