BOOK BRIEF

The Kindly Ones

Anthony Powell
Guide cover placeholder

The Kindly Ones

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1983

Book Brief

Sparkles iconBeta
Anthony Powell

The Kindly Ones

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1983
Book Details
Pages

256

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

England • 1930s

Publication Year

1983

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

In The Kindly Ones, the sixth volume of Anthony Powell's series A Dance to the Music of Time, individuals navigate the societal and personal upheavals preceding World War II. The narrative explores themes of memory, relationships, and fate as the characters confront the complexities of their lives during this tumultuous period.

Contemplative

Melancholic

Nostalgic

Bittersweet

Mysterious

Reviews & Readership

4.3

1,095 ratings

85%

Loved it

13%

Mixed feelings

2%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Reviews of The Kindly Ones by Anthony Powell highlight its intricate narrative and keen observations on human behavior as positives. Some readers find the prose complex and dense, which might deter casual readers. Overall, Powell’s depiction of societal shifts during wartime is praised for its depth and wit, though its leisurely pace may not suit everyone’s taste.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Kindly Ones?

A reader who enjoys the intricate social dynamics and wry humor of Anthony Powell’s The Kindly Ones would likely appreciate works such as Proust’s In Search of Lost Time or Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited. Ideal for those drawn to richly detailed narratives about upper-class British society.

4.3

1,095 ratings

85%

Loved it

13%

Mixed feelings

2%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

256

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

England • 1930s

Publication Year

1983

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Buy This Book

We’re just getting started

Add this title to our list of requested Study Guides!