The Soldier's Art

The Soldier's Art is the eighth novel in Anthony Powell's twelve-volume masterpiece A Dance to the Music of Time, and the second in the war trilogy.[1][2] The title is from the poem by Robert Browning, Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came, fifth line, “think first, fight afterwards – the soldier’s art.”

The Soldier's Art
AuthorAnthony Powell
Cover artistJames Broom-Lynne
CountryUnited Kingdom
SeriesA Dance to the Music of Time
PublisherHeinemann
Publication date
1966
Preceded byThe Valley of Bones 
Followed byThe Military Philosophers 

The Soldier's Art has been described as among the best novels about the British experience in the Second World War.[3]

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. [4]

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.[5]

References
  1. Mcleod, Dan (1971). "Anthony Powell: Some Notes on the Art of the Sequence Novel". Studies in the Novel. 3 (1): 44–63. ISSN 0039-3827.
  2. Stacey, Bernard. War Dance : A Glossary of the Military Terms and References in the War Trilogy Novels in Anthony Powell's "A Dance to the Music of Time." Greenford: Anthony Powell Society; 2017.
  3. Schwarz, Benjamin. (2004). “Black Saturday.” The Atlantic Monthly Vol. 294 (September): 143-148.
  4. The Soldier's Art Anthony Powell Society.
  5. Jay, Mike. (2013) "Who Were the Dedicatees of Powell’s Works?" The Anthony Powell Society Newsletter.50 (spring): 9-10.


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