''The Soldier's Art'' is the eighth novel in
Anthony Powell
Anthony Dymoke Powell ( ; 21 December 1905 – 28 March 2000) was an English novelist best known for his 12-volume work '' A Dance to the Music of Time'', published between 1951 and 1975. It is on the list of longest novels in English.
Powell ...
's twelve-volume masterpiece ''
A Dance to the Music of Time
''A Dance to the Music of Time'' is a 12-volume ''Book series#History, roman-fleuve'' by English writer Anthony Powell, published between 1951 and 1975 to critical acclaim. The story is an often comic examination of movements and manners, power ...
'', and the second in the war trilogy. The title is from the poem by
Robert Browning
Robert Browning (7 May 1812 – 12 December 1889) was an English poet and playwright whose dramatic monologues put him high among the Victorian literature, Victorian poets. He was noted for irony, characterization, dark humour, social commentar ...
,
Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came, fifth line, “think first, fight afterwards – the soldier’s art.”
''The Soldier's Art'' has been described as among the best novels about the British experience in the Second World War.
''The Soldier’s Art'' opens in 1941. Nick Jenkins’ Division is still in Northern Ireland. General Liddament takes an interest in Jenkins and arranges for him to see a Major Finn in London for a new post with the Free French, but Jenkins' French is not good enough. Jenkins returns to Divisional Headquarters.
In F Mess Charles Stringham is now a waiter. He and Jenkins speak in private about Robert Tolland’s death.
At the Divisional Headquarters Widmerpool, a major and the DAAG, learns he will be leaving the Division but will do nothing to help Jenkins find a post, Jenkins receives orders to London.
It was published in 1966, and touches on themes of separation and unanticipated loss. It is dedicated to Powell's friend, the writer,
Roy Fuller.
[Jay, Mike. (2013) "Who Were the Dedicatees of Powell’s Works?" ''The Anthony Powell Society Newsletter.''50 (spring): 9-10. ]
References
External links
*
1966 British novels
Novels by Anthony Powell
A Dance to the Music of Time
Fiction set in 1941
Heinemann (publisher) books
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