The Soldier's Art was dark, powerful and yet somehow enjoyable too. This is a very Powellian war, as I think Will commented, with the random coincidences even creeping into the harrowing death scenes. I did, incidentally, enjoy Powell's acknowledgement of the Powellian coincidences, or what he calls "those Nietzschean reoccurances". Completely unsurprised that Pennistone (chap from the train in VB) turned out to be significant, although he doesn't seem to have fulfilled his full Powellian potential as yet.
Great to see Moreland back - I agree with Anna, he is a sweetie, and as for Stringham's benign resignation... just you wait.
The literary references are simply great - Trollope and Balzac, though just one Proust reference so far - to Robert de Saint-Loup's hat of all things... Will assures me that the Balbec scene is coming up soon with Jenkins' deployment to France. I love the idea that someone could be considered for a job on the grounds that they have read some of Balzac in the French, but also enjoyed the fact that, against all expectations, Jenkins didn't get it.
Speaking of Welsh troops, and deployments to France, of sorts, am getting nervous about tonight's encounter in Paris. Hope to be landed safe on Canaan's side by 10 pm.
Am going to hit the Military Philosophers next week, but slightly concerned that Widmerpool's turn will be a diminished one in this next book. Goodness, that man's turned into a monster, but a rather fun one at that.
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Good work. I think Elliot may have fallen behind - no sign from him for while. Anna may even catch him up.
Incidentally, the line that forms the title of your entry was left from the version of the hymn that we sang in church on Sunday. Someone had replaced it with a more anodyne verse for no reason. Abomination. I complained
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