‘He is, as Proust was before him, the great chronicler of his culture in his time.’ Guardian‘A rich chronicle of 20th-century English social life.’ John Banville‘Incalculably brilliant.’ Time‘A Dance to the Music of Time’ is universally acknowledged as one of the great works of English literature. Now in the first volume’s 75th anniversary year, this twelve-volume series is ready to delight and entrance a new generation of readers.In this fourth volume, Nick Jenkins has settled comfortably into the world of art, culture and society as a London scriptwriter, only to be invited by a friend to spend the weekend in the country. There, he becomes acquainted with Isobel Tolland, the youngest daughter of a large aristocratic family, and immediately decides they are destined to marry.Meanwhile, rumours are circulating around Nick’s old friend Widmerpool’s engagement during a gathering at Lady Molly’s. As the roaring twenties give way to the austerity of the thirties, Nick and his friends are forced to grapple with the double-edged sword of love and heartbreak as life’s dance continues on.Praise for 'A Dance to the Music of Time’‘A world as rich as Joyce's on the one hand and P. G. Wodehouse’s on the other.’ Guardian‘One of the great novel-sequences in English Literature.’ William Boyd‘One of the greatest pleasures of my reading life.’ Michael Palin‘An epic, elegant masterpiece.’ Lauren Groff‘A joyous experience.’ Roddy Doyle‘An intricately wrought work of art.’ John Banville‘The finest long comic novel that England has produced.’ Anthony Burgess‘Mr Powell’s imagination is inexhaustible.’ Evelyn Waugh‘One of English fiction’s few twentieth-century masterpieces.’ London Review of Books‘There is no other novelist whose work gives so much or such consistent pleasure.’ Times Literary Supplement
