A Dance to the Music of Time 3rd Movement by Anthony Powell

Novels 7, 8, and 9 from Powell's 12-novel opus about the British upper class. I read and reviewed the first parts of this series in November.

These three books cover the years of World War II, as narrator Jenkins serves his country in the military.

Novel #7, The Valley of Bones, follows Jenkins as he goes through training exercises while stationed mainly in Ireland. It is the most overtly humorous of this set, as it gently lampoons various military "types." Nick Jenkins's brief leave-visit to his wife and family allows him to catch up with gossip about his numerous pre-war acquaintances. And guess who shows up at the end--Widmerpool, the odd guy who was the butt of schoolboy ridicule in novel #1, and who is always showing up. It is apparent now that he is going to show up somewhere in every novel, always in more (surprise, surprise)influential positions.

In novel #8, The Soldier's Art, Jenkins has been assigned to Divisional Headquarters and works under the ubiquitous Widmerpool. Another old school friend also shows up--Stringham, recovered from alcoholism and serving as a lowly waiter in the Officers' Mess. At the forefront here is the conflict between officers, as they plot for advancement (especially Widmerpool), often at the expense of others. Nick Jenkins's brief leave in London portrays the consequences of the war to civilians, as his sister-in-law (who is having an adulterous affair with an army acquaintance of Jenkins) and her husband are both killed in separate blitz bombings.

Novel #9, The Military Philosophers, finds Jenkins toiling at the War Office, dealing diplomatically with Allies. Jenkins's old acquaintances keep turning up, including Templer, the womanizing student first encountered in novel #1. A new character, Pamela Flitton (the niece of Stringham), is introduced, who seems to be the ultimate femme fatale. She has romantic flings with Odo Stevens (the army acquaintance of Jenkins who had an affair with his sister-in-law), Templer (Jenkins's friend from school days), and Widmerpool (appearing again), among others. At the end, the war is over and Jenkins is immobilized.

Coincidentally, another novel I just read (Flaubert's Parrot) included this quote: "In the more bookish of English middle-class society, whenever a coincidence occurs there is someone usually at hand to comment, 'It's just like Anthony Powell.'" Of course, it is pretty unbelievable that every stray acquaintance of Jenkins would turn up again in his life, but that is actually not a criticism. Powell is really revealing the times and social situations, subtly satirizing character types and social conventions. I believe the constant coincidences and reappearances of characters are meant to be part of the fun.

Again, recommended for those who appreciate all things British.