Enemies Of Promise - Cyril Connolly

The book, first published in 1938, is a critical examination of the state of contemporary literature and the cultural landscape of the time.

The title of the book comes from a quote by Oscar Wilde, who said that "to expect the unexpected shows a thoroughly modern intellect," and Connolly uses this as a framework for his analysis of literature and culture. He argues that the promises of modernism and the potential for literary innovation are often undermined by the forces of tradition, commercialism, and the "establishment."

The book is divided into two parts. The first part is a personal memoir of Connolly's experiences as a young writer and his struggles to find his voice in the literary world. The second part is a more analytical critique of contemporary literature, in which Connolly examines the works of various writers, including T.S. Eliot, Virginia Woolf, and James Joyce.

Overall, "Enemies of Promise" is a thought-provoking and insightful work that continues to be influential in the field of literary criticism. Connolly's observations on the tensions between tradition and innovation, commercialism and art, and the role of the writer in society are still relevant today.