Robertson Davies Livres

Qui se cache derrière la fondation Cornish ? Une secte d'adorateurs du Graal ? Ou, tout simplement, un groupe de mécènes fidèles à l'esprit de leur bienfaiteur ? Mystères. Une chose est sûre : lorsqu'ils décident de monter un opéra d'Hoffmann, dont le livret inachevé vient d'être retrouvé, ils ignorent que cette initiative va provoquer une réaction en chaîne incontrôlable. Ainsi s'achève la " trilogie de Cornish ", fresque littéraire dont chaque volet est indépendant des autres, mais dont l'ensemble forme une saga unique en son genre.

Qui a tué Boy Staunton? Pourquoi avait-il dans la bouche un morceau de granit rose de la taille d'un oeuf, lorsqu'on l'a retrouvé au volant de sa Cadillac décapotable?. Ce roman apporte la clé de l'énigme et achève la trilogie de Deptford. Il s'agit de la confession de Paul Dempster, alias Magnus Eisengrim, prestidigitateur engagé pour tenir le rôle de Robert-Houdin dans un film consacré au célèbre illusionniste. Paul, le fils prématuré, qui disparut avec la troupe d'un cirque minable, fut violé par le magicien Willard et réduit en esclavage. Paul se libérera pour devenir magicien à son tour, et le plus grand de son temps

In the small university town of Salterton, Ontario, dreams are quietly taking shape, or falling apart. There's the Salterton Little Theatre Company, in which professional director Valentine Rich is tormented by the amateurish efforts of his actors.

Fifth Business: "Ramsay is a man twice born, a man who has returned from the hell of the battle-grave at Passchendaele in World War I decorated with the Victoria Cross and destined to be caught in a no man's land where memory, history, and myth collide. As Ramsay tells his story, it begins to seem that from boyhood, he has exerted a perhaps mystical, perhaps pernicious, influence on those around him"--Publisher website (May 2007)

Francis Cornish was always good at keeping secrets. From the well-hidden family secret of his childhood to his mysterious encounters with a small -town embalmer, an expert art restorer, a Bavarian countess, and various masters of espionage, the events in Francis's life were not always what they seemed. In this wonderfully ingenious portrait of an art expert and collector of international renown, Robertson Davies has created a spellbinding tale of artistic triumph and heroic deceit. It is a tale told in stylish, elegant prose, endowed with lavish portions of Davies's wit and wisdom.

The University of St John and the Holy Ghost (known affectionately as Spook) has a problem - and an opportunity. Strange, eccentric art patron and collector Francis Cornish has died and faculty members have been made executors of his complicated will. But in the realization of their duties, they find themselves drawn into Cornish's bizarre, secretive and mystical world. In this spellbinding trilogy a host of memorable characters - defrocked, mischief-making monks, half-mad professors, gypsies and musical geniuses - become entangled in a story that involves theft, perjury, scholarship, murder, love, and the squandering of plenty of cash.

Fifth business: A retiring Canadian history professor reveals the true nature of his eerie, mystical influence on those around him

Ramsay, a decorated World War I veteran, navigates the complex interplay of memory, history, and myth as he recounts his life. His seemingly innocent actions, like throwing a snowball and teaching card tricks, reveal a deeper, possibly mystical influence on others. The narrative explores how these seemingly trivial moments are intertwined with significant consequences, illustrating that the extraordinary can emerge from the mundane. The story challenges perceptions of reality, blending the rational with the marvelous in a unique and thought-provoking manner.

Exploring the complexities of familial relationships, the narrative centers on David Staunton, a successful man grappling with the shadow of his imposing father. As he navigates therapy, he meets a diverse array of characters who aid him in confronting his past and unraveling the mystery surrounding his father's death. The Manticore blends psychological depth with fantastical elements, contributing to the rich tapestry of the Deptford Trilogy.