Since the first edition, an additional eight books by the English novelist and critic have appeared, including his four-volume complete memoirs. In this revision, Brennan casts light on Powell's fiction by drawing from the author's memory of his own life and times in his memoirs. Born just after the turn of the 20th century into the insular world of England's upper class, Powell has portrayed its inner workings in his fiction. From his first novel, Afternoon Men, a study of London's Bohemian art scene, through his 12 volume work, The Music of Time, to his last novel, The Fisher King, a study of an ageing artist, Powell has managed to combine ironic wit with a sympathetic awareness of human fallibility to create a body of work.