The Valley of Bones

This is the 7th novel in Anthony Powell’s brilliant 12-novel sequence, A Dance to the Music of Time which chronicles the lives of over 300 characters, and is a unique evocation of life in 20th century England. It is unrivalled for its scope, its humour and the enormous pleasure it has given to generations. The Valley of Bones follows Nicholas Jenkins and a host of familiar and newer characters through the strain, absurdities and preoccupations of England at war. ‘I think it is now becoming clear that A Dance to the Music of Time is going to become the greatest modern novel since Ulysses’ - Clive James. ‘I would rather read Mr Powell than any English novelist now writing’ - Kingsley Amis. ‘ The Valley of Bones is sheer delight. It is immaculate in period and military detail; it praises duty, while at the same time making educated play of its absurdities; it recognises heroism, but is swift to prick pretension; it evokes a wry poetry from drabness and boredom; and it is exceedingly funny throughout’ - Observer . I find Powell the sort of writer who exerts such a strong pull that turning anyone else’s books, after his, calls for an effort of will - one of the most individual tones of voice in contemporary novel-writing and one of the most artful’ - Norman Shrapnel, Guardian . The author was born in 1905. After working in publishing and as a scriptwriter, he began to write for the Daily Telegraph in the mid-1930s. He served in the army during WW II and subsequently became the fiction reviewer on the TLS. Next came five years as literary editor of Punch . He was appointed a Companion of Honour in 1988. In addition to the 12-novel sequence, A Dance to the Music of Time , Anthony Powell is the author of seven other novels, and four volumes of memoirs, To Keep the Ball Rolling .