Product Description

No other Canadian novelist is lauded and read as widely outside his homeland as Robertson Davies. His characters fascinate, and his gentle, graceful style makes no demands on the reader. His civilized prose should read well aloud-indeed, Davidson helps one hear its strengths. He provides an intelligent, expressive, well-paced rendering of the narrative about a Canadian university professor, as well as vivid impersonations of the characters. However, he has trouble with the "authorial voice." In his mouth, the narrative has a sarcastic, even cynical, edge, whereas Davies's words, though not without humor and irony, are far more empathetic.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1230578 in Books
• Published on: 2006-12-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 784 pages

About the Author
Robertson Davies, novelist, playwright, literary critic and essayist, was born in 1913 in Thamesville, Ontario. The Manticore was published in 1973, followed by The Salterton Trilogy (Tempest-Tost, Leaven of Malice, winner of the Leacock Award for Humour, and A Mixture of Frailties); The Deptford Trilogy (Fifth Business, The Manticore and World of Wonders); The Cornish Trilogy (The Rebel Angels, What's Bred in the Bone, shortlisted for the 1986 Booker Prize, and The Lyre of Orpheus); Murther & Walking Spirits; and The Cunning Man. His other work includes One Half of Robertson Davies, The Enthusiasms of Robertson Davies, Robertson Davies: The Well-Tempered Critic, The Papers of Samuel Marchbanks, High Spirits, A Voice from the Attic and The Merry Heart, a posthumous collection of autobiography, lectures and essays. Many of his books are published by Penguin. Robertson Davies died in December 1995.

From AudioFile
No other Canadian novelist is lauded and read as widely outside his homeland as Robertson Davies. His characters fascinate, and his gentle, graceful style makes no demands on the reader. His civilized prose should read well aloud--indeed, Davidson helps one hear its strengths. He provides an intelligent, expressive, well-paced rendering of the narrative about a Canadian university professor, as well as vivid impersonations of the characters. However, he has trouble with the "authorial voice." In his mouth, the narrative has a sarcastic, even cynical, edge, whereas Davies's words, though not without humor and irony, are far more empathetic. Y.R. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Customer Reviews

Deep PG Wodehouse
An early novel (actually the first). Light touch with Davies's brand of situational and character-based humor. Comes off like deep PG Wodehouse, which is certainly no insult. I wish a few of the characters had been returned in following books - I like the precocious daughter especially, and her foil and co-hort, the grumpy gardener.

Yes, he was younger then.
I agree with the above reviews. This delightful book was written by a green Davies -- not yet in his prime. The thing for you prospective readers is to do as my Canadian literary guru had me do. Start with this book, this trilogy and read chronologically. Then you get the double pleasure of reading good literature and admiring the author's development. As for wanting to read more Davies after this -- it's a given.

An Astounding Feat
Far from fluffy. Tilting at "The Tempest" as Davies does in this early novel is brave, or foolhardy, beyond measure. Extremely acute human beings are only occasionally profoundly generous. Do NOT forego the pleasure, even if you imagine you might balk at play within play. Davies came to novels by way of his love for theatre. Everything begins here, most remarkably his unique ability to write charming lively characters of both sexes, all ages, many orientations. In "Tempest-Tost", five or six rise to the level of presiding spirits. Plus the gnarled final effort of Shakespeare is tweaked/tickled/refreshed to a very nice renewal. Grand. Sharp without ever descending to mean. You can't meet Valentine Rich or the sisters Freddy & [Im]Patient Griselda (Gristle to Freddy) anywhere else. First in the Salterton. Read it.