A Time to be Born, by Dawn Powell

A Time to be Born is Dawn Powell’s biting satire on American culture and capitalism during the Second World War. While it has plenty of sharp observations and wit, its contrived plot and shallow characters make the novel a missed opportunity.

American writer Dawn Powell (1896-1965) had a very limited success during her lifetime as a novelist, playwright and short story writer. In recent years her work is coming back into vogue and many of her novels are finding their way into print. A Time to be Born, published in 1942, is written in the style of a fast paced, acerbic comedy. While there is much excellent writing and sharp observation, the novel’s plot is contrived and its characters lack depth and diversity. Despite the brilliance and perspicacity of Dawn Powell’s prose, the weaknesses in story and thinness of the characters sink what could have been a brilliant and biting satire A Time to be Born into a frustrating failure.

The plot revolves around small town girl, Vicki Haven, who comes to the big city and must fend for herself amongst the sharks of the city’s aggressive capitalist culture, most notably, the crassly ambitious yet empty Amanda Keeler. Amanda Keeler trades sex to advance in this ruthless culture, and marries wealthy media magnate Julian Evans. Despite her successful marriage, she feels dissatisfied with her lot and senses she’s a bit of a loser. Her appalling treatment of her husband eventually comes back to bite her, and she comes to a very bad end.

A Long Polemic on American Culture and Society

There’s an unconvincing morality at the centre of A Time to be Born, as the bad end very unhappily and the good sort of happily (Vicky Haven gets one over Amanda Keeler, but the longevity of this victory has question marks that hover ominously over it). The moralising reads like wish fulfilment on Powell’s part, rather than a philosophical investigation into selfish behaviour and its consequences. There’s also a tinge of female misogyny, as Powell gives the impression of sneering at women who decide to marry rich men. It would be fine if Powell were making pithy observations about women and marriage, but the tone is a snickering one.

If anything, the awkwardly titled A Time to be Born reads more like a long polemic on American culture and society during the Second World War, with the device of a novel as the vehicle to drive it. As noted above, there is some very good writing in this novel, plenty of smart observations and funny one-liners. Powell has a healthy degree of anger about American society as she saw it and lived through it, and most of the novel’s energy comes from her wanting to tell it like she sees it.

Yet the plot and characters read like manufactured set pieces for Powell’s scathing wit. It’s hard to feel any sympathy or real feeling for her characters, and the story ticks along in a contrived fashion.

It pains me to write this, as the other Powell novel I have read, Come Back to Sorrento, was so brilliant. A Time to be Born has its interest, and there are plenty of enjoyable passages, but as a whole it disappoints. It promises a grand satire, thronged with a cast of self-deluded egomaniacs, but in the end fails to successfully weave plot, character and biting social commentary into a seamless whole.

A Time to be Born, by Dawn Powell. Published by Zoland Books / Steerforth Press. ISBN: 1-883642-41-8