I was intrigued to read your analysis of this book. The significance of the occult didn’t hit me at all - but you’re right - it is important. Nick is still young, he and his cohort are still at the early stages of their lives. I think he’s learning the impact of fate - in this section possibly stronger than ambition - as a driver for the couplings and uncouplings that weave through this part of the story.
I’m fascinated that among the royals at the time divorce was obviously a very dirty word, but amongst Nick’s ‘Eton set’, it seems to have been positively de rigour! (I’ve been watching The Crown for the first time recently).
I’m also interested to read how casually lesbian relationships seem to have been accepted.
I think it was only in the 30s that newspapers stopped publishing reports of all divorce cases, saving their column inches for only the most high profile and lurid cases.
At one point Powell compares ‘the acceptance world’ of high finance (what we’d call factoring these days I think) with the world of courtship. He observes that every relationship possesses its transactional side. It’s a slightly jaundiced view of falling in love, but it is true that people couple up for all sorts of reasons - not simply for love. Powell is said to have been on the look- out for a wife with a title(!)
We tend to assume that the greatest social changes happened during WWI and II, but Dance to the Music of Time suggests that change really occurred because of these wars, as a reaction and after-not during them. Powells documentation of the mating game at that time is very interesting and makes for a good story and part of the social history record.
I think he approaches relationships with quite a bit of humour - he’s certainly pretty relaxed about it all. Was that an upper class thing? Or a bohemian thing? Or just an Anthony Powell thing?
I think there's a lot of upper class sang-froid in both Tony and his peers generally, and certainly a fascination with bohemianism. I'd really recommend his memoirs and journals which give an excellent picture of the man. Hilary Spurling's biography of him is decent too, though perhaps a bit hagiographic.
Thanks, Alex. Likewise, I thoroughly enjoyed The Acceptance World after finding A Buyer's Market a bit of a slog. This is my third reading of the whole series (each at 20-year intervals, it seems) and this third volume was an absolute joy from start to finish. Onwards!
Yes, ditto(ish). I'm trying to hold myself back from racing through them all in one greedy gulp now. I've started At Lady Molly's which is another favourite.
The acceptance world
I was intrigued to read your analysis of this book. The significance of the occult didn’t hit me at all - but you’re right - it is important. Nick is still young, he and his cohort are still at the early stages of their lives. I think he’s learning the impact of fate - in this section possibly stronger than ambition - as a driver for the couplings and uncouplings that weave through this part of the story.
I’m fascinated that among the royals at the time divorce was obviously a very dirty word, but amongst Nick’s ‘Eton set’, it seems to have been positively de rigour! (I’ve been watching The Crown for the first time recently).
I’m also interested to read how casually lesbian relationships seem to have been accepted.
I think it was only in the 30s that newspapers stopped publishing reports of all divorce cases, saving their column inches for only the most high profile and lurid cases.
At one point Powell compares ‘the acceptance world’ of high finance (what we’d call factoring these days I think) with the world of courtship. He observes that every relationship possesses its transactional side. It’s a slightly jaundiced view of falling in love, but it is true that people couple up for all sorts of reasons - not simply for love. Powell is said to have been on the look- out for a wife with a title(!)
We tend to assume that the greatest social changes happened during WWI and II, but Dance to the Music of Time suggests that change really occurred because of these wars, as a reaction and after-not during them. Powells documentation of the mating game at that time is very interesting and makes for a good story and part of the social history record.
Yes, it's interesting that in some ways the society's norms he documents feel very progressive.
I think he approaches relationships with quite a bit of humour - he’s certainly pretty relaxed about it all. Was that an upper class thing? Or a bohemian thing? Or just an Anthony Powell thing?
I think there's a lot of upper class sang-froid in both Tony and his peers generally, and certainly a fascination with bohemianism. I'd really recommend his memoirs and journals which give an excellent picture of the man. Hilary Spurling's biography of him is decent too, though perhaps a bit hagiographic.
Just a note to AP fans, The Wheatsheaf Pub just off Charlotte Street, is closing and there’s an event which those who are studying Fitzrovia Bohemia between the wars might be interested. Details here. 9th April. https://fitzrovianews.com/2025/04/01/simon-danczuk-talks-about-dolphin-square-with-marc-glendening-at-the-wheatsheaf/
X.Trapnell-tastic! Thank you.
Thanks, Alex. Likewise, I thoroughly enjoyed The Acceptance World after finding A Buyer's Market a bit of a slog. This is my third reading of the whole series (each at 20-year intervals, it seems) and this third volume was an absolute joy from start to finish. Onwards!
Yes, ditto(ish). I'm trying to hold myself back from racing through them all in one greedy gulp now. I've started At Lady Molly's which is another favourite.
Delicious dancing. His hands are so expressive. A wonderful interlude in my busy day. Alex, thanks for sharing the video.