"A splendid gallimaufry of the eminent Canadian's talks and essays,
mostly about literature and the creative life . . . a thought-filled and
amusing book."--The Washington Post
For devotees of Davies and all lovers of literature and language, here
is the "urbanity, wit, and high seriousness mixed by a master chef,"
vintage delights from an exquisite literary menu (Cleveland Plain
Dealer).
Robertson Davies's rich and varied collection of writings on the world
of books and the miracle of language captures his inimitable voice and
sustains his presence among us. Coming almost entirely from Davies's own
files of unpublished material, these twenty-four essays and lectures
range over themes from "The Novelist and Magic" to "Literature and
Technology," from "Painting, Fiction, and Faking," to "Can a Doctor Be a
Humanist?" and "Creativity in Old Age." Davies himself says merely:
"Lucky writers . . . like wine, die rich in fruitiness and delicious
aftertaste, so that their works survive them."
"Splendid--wise, witty, wide-ranging."--The New York Times Book Review
"Some of Davies's ideas are iconoclastic, and will delight those who
share them while stimulating those who do not. All his judgments are
interesting, steeped in humanism, and most elegantly put."--The
Atlantic Monthly
"The inimitable novelist gives an exuberant posthumous performance in
this eclectic collection of (mostly) previously unpublished addresses,
talks, and incidental pieces . . . Davies diffuses his opinions
entertainingly, if occasionally superficially, but never loses his
audience."--Kirkus Reviews
