Trying to remember a book (series?).

February 25, 2022 9:41 PM

I'm trying to remember a book, or maybe it's even a series of books, that I saw on here a long time ago and even read some of. I wanna say the book(s) is from the 60s-70s? It follows a boy as he grows up in British society and I remember he had this acquaintance that was kind of odious but kept succeeding despite it. I can't remember much more, and it's killing me. Thoughts?
posted by Fister Roboto to Media & Arts (11 answers total)

Paradise Postponed, by John Mortimer?
posted by librosegretti at 10:18 PM on February 25, 2022

Maybe the 12-volume A Dance to the Music of Time? Widmerpool being the ultimate odious, successful acquaintance. Published between 1951 and 1975.
posted by Threeve at 10:26 PM on February 25, 2022 [11 favorites]

I also think A Dance to the music of Time by Anthony Powell. It covers the 1920s through the late 60s or early 70s. It was released both as 12 pretty short books or 4 collections (Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter), both in paperback and hardcover. Widmerpool gets involved with a commune at one point, there is a lengthy sequence about a nightclub being hit by a bomb, and a number of the characters are in the Army during WWII, although almost all the entire story is set in the UK.
posted by GenjiandProust at 2:42 AM on February 26, 2022

Could it be the Adrian Mole series? I had the first one or two read to us by an eccentric British literature teacher in the late 90s and it sounds like the opposing character might be Barry?
posted by cobaltnine at 4:51 AM on February 26, 2022 [4 favorites]

I'm thinking Adrian Mole as well. Was there also a girl he perpetually had an on-again-off-again relationship with?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:00 AM on February 26, 2022

I immediately thought of A Dance to the Music of Time when I read the question.
posted by ALeaflikeStructure at 6:01 AM on February 26, 2022 [1 favorite]

If not A Dance To The Music Of Time it could be CP Snow’s Strangers and Brothers series, which has many similarities. But, yes, Dance’s Widmerpool sounds like the description of that particular character.
posted by fabius at 6:16 AM on February 26, 2022 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: It's A Dance to the Music of Time! Thanks! Now to find time to read the books...
posted by Fister Roboto at 6:26 AM on February 26, 2022 [4 favorites]

The channel 4 adaptation was pretty good - rewatched it recently
posted by crocomancer at 7:30 AM on February 26, 2022 [1 favorite]

They are pretty easy to read in the 12-pack version, short and snappy. It’s a good exercise for getting ready for Proust!
posted by GenjiandProust at 8:31 AM on February 26, 2022 [2 favorites]

the 1st adrian mole book is set in the early 80s
posted by brujita at 11:56 AM on February 26, 2022