Polished off The Military Philosophers last night, and as we prepare to move into the winter section I felt it was appropriate to name this post after the supremely rubbish John Lennon Christmas song. It was, at least, better than Paul McCartney's effort, but that isn't saying much.
Goodness, Widmerpool is a complete shit isn't he?
I'd always retained some vestige of sympathy for him - it wasn't his fault he had the wrong coat at school after all - but after the revelations of this volume, the hand he may or may not have had in certain unfortunate deaths and his hideous confession to Jenkins re: the power he so obviously craves, all sympathy is gone. It's fairly clear that Powell believes that Widmerpool and the Labour Party deserve each other, but that seems very harsh on the Atlee government.
Hooray for the long and ridiculous Proust sequence though. A whole page of a quotation and a little trip to C-A-B-O-U-R-G. As silly as it is, I know that I too would be examining the esplanade for Albertine and her companions in polo caps, and hunting out the railway to take a trip to the Verdurins' villa. I very much enjoyed Jenkins' moment of excitement, which he relates this to his French companion only to be met with disappointment as he finds out that the chap hasn't even heard of Proust, let alone read him... I know that feeling well.
Overall, quite a tragic book this one, and the routine way in which death is dealt with is profoundly disturbing, particularly since some much-loved and key characters are struck down. Very much a pared-down cast in the final three volumes I expect - I'm resisting plot spoilers, so Anna you'll have to wait to see if your beloved Moreland survives. Nice to have a cameo appearance from the former Mrs Dupont, nee Jean Templer at the close. Also, does Powell think that Pamela Flitton counts as a believable female character? Rather speaks volumes about his attitude towards the fairer sex, doesn't it?
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