Dance to the Music of Time

4 books in series
4.5 out of 5 stars 1,079 ratings

A Dance to the Music of Time: First Movement Summary

Anthony Powell's universally acclaimed epic encompasses a four-volume panorama of twentieth century London. Hailed by Time as "brilliant literary comedy as well as a brilliant sketch of the times," A Dance to the Music of Time opens just after World War I. Amid the fever of the 1920s and the first chill of the 1930s, Nick Jenkins and his friends confront sex, society, business, and art.

In the second volume they move to London in a whirl of marriage and adulteries, fashions and frivolities, personal triumphs and failures. These books "provide an unsurpassed picture, at once gay and melancholy, of social and artistic life in Britain between the wars" (Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.).

The third volume follows Nick into army life and evokes London during the blitz. In the climactic final volume, England has won the war and must now count the losses. Four very different young men on the threshold of manhood dominate this opening volume of A Dance to the Music of Time. The narrator, Jenkinsa budding writer shares a room with Templer, already a passionate womanizer, and Stringham, aristocratic and reckless. Widermerpool, as hopelessly awkward as he is intensely ambitious, lurks on the periphery of their world. Amid the fever of the 1920s and the first chill of the 1930s, these four gain their initiations into sex, society, business, and art. Considered a masterpiece of modern fiction, Powell's epic creates a rich panorama of life in England between the wars. Includes these novels: A Question of Upbringing, A Buyer's Market, The Acceptance World.

As an added bonus, when you purchase our Audible Modern Vanguard production of Anthony Powell's book, you'll also receive an exclusive Jim Atlas interview. This interview – where James Atlas interviews Charles McGrath about the life and work of Anthony Powell – begins as soon as the audiobook ends.

©1951 Anthony Powell (P)2010 Audible, inc.
Show More Show Less
Not an Audible member?
From £7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Start your free 30-day trial
Product list

  • Book 1

    A Dance to the Music of Time: First Movement cover art

    Regular price: £25.99 or 1 Credit

    Sale price: £25.99 or 1 Credit

    Try for £0.00

  • Book 2

    A Dance to the Music of Time: Second Movement cover art

    Regular price: £25.99 or 1 Credit

    Sale price: £25.99 or 1 Credit

    Try for £0.00

  • Book 3

    A Dance to the Music of Time: Third Movement cover art

    Regular price: £25.99 or 1 Credit

    Sale price: £25.99 or 1 Credit

    Try for £0.00

  • Book 4

    A Dance to the Music of Time: Fourth Movement cover art

    Regular price: £25.99 or 1 Credit

    Sale price: £25.99 or 1 Credit

    Try for £0.00