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Anthony Powell

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Author

The Resume

    (December 21, 1905-March 28, 2000)
    Born in Westminster, England, United Kingdom
    Best known for the twelve-volume ‘A Dance to the Music of Time’ (1951-75)
    Also wrote the novels ‘Afternoon Men’ (1931), ‘From a View to a Death’ (1933), ‘Agents and Patients’ (1936) and ‘What’s Become of Waring’ (1939)
    Fiction reviewer for the Times Literary Supplement
    Literary Editor of ‘Punch’ (1953-59)
    Named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (1956) and a Companion of Honour (1988)

Why he might be annoying:

    He visited California for six months in an unsuccessful attempt to make it as a Hollywood screenwriter.
    He hated when readers speculated about the real-world inspirations for his characters.
    He disliked being called ‘the English Proust,' noting ‘For one thing, I am not homosexual.’
    One of his hobbies was covering every surface of the men’s bathroom at his country house with faces cut out from magazines.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He served with military intelligence during World War II.
    He was married to Lady Violet Pakenham for 65 years until his death.
    He said he was ‘in principal firmly against censorship’ and offered to testify for the defense in the ‘Lady Chatterly’s Lover’ obscenity trial.
    ’A Dance to the Music of Time’ was acclaimed by Evelyn Waugh and Kingsley Amis as one of the greatest British novels of the 20th century.
    He said, ‘Growing old is like being increasingly penalized for a crime that one didn’t commit.’

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 13 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 29 Votes: 20.69% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying