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.

When Father Hobbes mysteriously dies at the high altar on Good Friday, Dr Jonathan Hullah - whose holistic ideas have earned him the soubriquet 'cunning man' - wants to know why. But it is only through looking back at his own long life that answers are forthcoming. He recalls the dazzling intellectual high jinks of his circle of friends, from the High Church homosexual Darcy Dwyer (an expert on the theory of sin) to the curious occurrence of the Coburg Social Parlour's Seventh Annual Bad Breath Contest. Compelling and hilarious, The Cunning Man is a profound exploration of what it means to be an actor in the divine comedy of life.

Robertson Davies has been called the most important Canadian playwright of the postwar period. These two plays from the 1940s prove that great writing and important themes never go out of style.

At two minutes to six on December 27th 1908 the lives of three people become inextricably bound together by the trajectory of a snowball. There is ten-year old Dunstable Ramsay, intended victim of the snowball, who, fatefully, ducks; his 'lifelong friend and enemy' Percy Boyd Staunton, angered by their recent quarrel, who hurls the snowball; and Paul Dempster, prematurely born when his pregnant mother is struck by Percy's icy missile. Tracing the rich and varied lives of these three individuals, The Deptford Trilogy lures the reader down labyrinthine tunnels of myth, history and magic in one of the most beguiling, clever and cunning trilogies ever written.

Hailed by the "Washington Post Book World" as ?a modern classic, ? Robertson Davies's acclaimed Deptford Trilogy is a glittering, fantastical, cunningly contrived series of novels, around which a mysterious death is woven. "World of Wonders"?the third book in the series after "The Manticore"?follows the story of Magnus Eisengrim?the most illustrious magician of his age?who is spirited away from his home by a member of a traveling sideshow, the Wanless World of Wonders. After honing his skills and becoming better known, Magnus unfurls his life's courageous and adventurous tale in this third and final volume of a spectacular, soaring work.
?Robertson Davies is one of the great modern novelists.?
?Malcolm Bradbury, "The Sunday Times" (London)
?Robertson Davies is a novelist whose books are thick and rich with humor, character and incident. They are plotted with skill and much flamboyance.? ?"The Observer" (London)

Hailed by the Washington Post Book World as "a modern classic," Robertson Davies's acclaimed Deptford Trilogy is a glittering, fantastical, cunningly contrived series of novels, around which a mysterious death is woven. The Manticore--the second book in the series after Fifth Business--follows David Staunton, a man pleased with his success but haunted by his relationship with his larger-than-life father. As he seeks help through therapy, he encounters a wonderful cast of characters who help connect him to his past and the death of his father.

A fake announcement in the local newspaper regarding an engagement between a young man and woman from Salterton's high society revolutionizes life in the city. The alleged bride's father, Professor Vambrace, is not willing to forgive an offense he considers insulting, and his planned lawsuit against the paper could have unpredictable consequences. Meanwhile, a storm is brewing in the editorial department at the "Evening Bellman," in which its affable director, the owner's intriguing daughter-in-law, and a veteran editor find themselves immersed. The rest of the city buzzes with rumors as the residents ponder what role the crazy organ player and the new choir teacher have in the scandal.""This second installation in the Salterton Trilogy and the sequel to "Tempest-Tost" portrays peaceful provincial life in a Canadian city with masterful irony. "Un anuncio falso en un periodico local de un compromiso matrimonial entre dos jovenes de la alta sociedad de Salterton revoluciona la vida en la ciudad. El padre de la supuesta novia, el profesor Vambrace, no esta dispuesto a olvidar una ofensa que el considera injuriosa y su anunciada demanda podria tener consecuencias impredecibles. Mientras tanto, en la redaccion del "Evening Bellman" se desata una tormenta en la que se ven inmersos su afable director, la intrigante nuera del dueno del periodico y uno de los redactores mas veteranos. El resto de la ciudad se convierte en un hervidero de rumores mientras los residentes se preguntan que tienen que ver en el escandalo el alocado organista de la catedral y un advenedizo profesor de canto." "Esta segunda instalacion en la Trilogia de Salterton y la continuacion de la novela "A merced de la tempestad" retrata con magistral ironia la tranquila vida provinciana de una ciudad canadiense."

The foundation funded by Francis Cornish's inheritance has decided to pursue one of its first projects: the staging of E.T.A. Hoffman's unfinished opera, "The Court of Arthur. "The person in charge of carrying out the task is Hulda Schnakenburg, a brilliant and peculiar graduate student, who will be assisted by Simon Darcourt in writing the libretto. Unfortunately, complications arise in such a way that those involved in the project seem to be acting out the plot of the opera themselves, thus proving Hoffman's utterance that "the lyre of Orpheus opens the door of the underworld." Davies's extraordinary knowledge of theater is clear as he showcases the behind-the-scenes drama of theatrical and musical productions, while also reflecting upon how oftentimes our basest instincts impose themselves and force us to act in unexpected ways. Although it can be read independently, this novel is the third installment of The Cornish Trilogy. "La fundacion constituida con el legado del mecenas Francis Cornish ha decidido acometer uno de sus primeros proyectos: la representacion de "Arturo de Britania," una opera inconclusa de E.T.A. Hoffmann. La encargada de realizar la tarea sera Hulda Schnakenburg, una brillante y peculiar estudiante de doctorado, que contara con la ayuda de Simon Darcourt en la redaccion del libreto. Desgraciadamente los trabajos se complican de tal manera que los involucrados en el proyecto parecen estar representando el argumento de la opera y hacen buena la cita de Hoffmann que dice La lira de Orfeo abre las puertas del otro mundo. En esta novela Davies muestra su extraordinario conocimiento de las artes escenicas plasmando los enredos de las producciones teatrales y musicales, a la vez que reflexiona sobre como a menudo nuestros mas bajos instintos se imponen y nos conducen a actuar insospechadamente. "Aunque puede ser leida independientemente, esta novela es el tercer libro de la Trilogia de Cornish.""""

Robertson Davies engages us in the fascinating history of Francis Cornish, a wealthy and mysterious Canadian collector and patron of the arts who has just died. Beginning with the chance circumstances that lead to his parents' marriage, and including his unorthodox artistic formation and his sexual initiation, the novel narrates the various stages of his life and recounts the development of his character. This is how we discover the source of his fortune as well as his past as a painting restorer and falsifier, talents which led him to become a part of British espionage during World War II and to participate in a plot to sell falsified artwork to Nazis. With this novel, Davies weaves an ingenious tale about the reasons, passions, and intrigue that drive the art world. Although it can be read independently, this novel is the second installment of The Cornish Trilogy. "Robertson Davies nos sumerge en la fascinante historia de Francis Cornish, un acaudalado y misterioso mecenas y coleccionista de arte canadiense que acaba de morir. Comenzando con las azarosas circunstancias que propician el matrimonio de sus padres, y pasando por su heterodoxa formacion artistica y su iniciacion amorosa, la novela va recorriendo las distintas etapas de su vida y dando cuenta del desarrollo de su caracter. Es asi como se descubre el origen de su fabulosa fortuna y se desvela su pasado como restaurador de pintura y falsificador, habilidades que durante la segunda guerra mundial le llevarian a formar parte del espionaje britanico y a participar en una trama de venta de obras de arte falsas a los nazis. Davies crea en esta novela un ingenioso relato sobre las razones, pasiones e intrigas que mueven el mundo del arte. Aunque puede ser leida independientemente, esta novela es el segundo libro de la Trilogia de Cornish."

The mysterious circumstances surrounding the magnate Boy Staunton's death are solved after an exploration of seemingly innocent actions that will reveal themselves as defining moments in the life of Paul Dempster, a child from Deptford whom Stauntaon had known during his childhood and who would eventually become Magnus Eisengrim, the most famous illusionist of his time. Eisengrim will narrate his life, offering his own particular vision of Staunton's death, and explaining how he learned his trade and became a world-famous illusionist. His tale will reveal how the path to success can often be more difficult and tragic than it appears, and how a brilliant figure can also have a dark part. Although it can be read independently, this novel is the third installment of The Deptford Trilogy. "Eel misterio que rodea la muerte del magnate Boy Staunton es resuelto luego de la exploracion de acciones en apariencia inocentes que se revelaran como acontecimientos decisivos en la vida de Paul Dempster, un nino de Deptford al que Staunton habia conocido en su infancia y que se convertiria en Magnus Eisengrim, el prestidigitador mas famoso de su epoca. Eisengrim narrara su vida, ofreciendo su particular vision de la muerte de Staunton, y explicando como aprendio su oficio y llego a convertirse en un ilusionista de fama mundial. Su relato revelara hasta que punto el camino hacia el exito es mas arduo y tragico de lo que parece a simple vista, y como una figura brillante puede contar tambien con un pasado oscuro. Aunque puede ser leida independientemente, esta novela es el tercer libro de la Trilogia de Deptford."

Alrededor de la misteriosa muerte del magnate canadiense Boy Staunton se teje la trama de esta novela. La narracion corre a cargo de Dunstan Ramsay, amigo desde la infancia de Staunton, quien al intentar aclarar las circunstancias de su muerte no tendra mas remedio que enfrentarse al relato de su propia vida. Desde el principio de la historia, Ramsay ejerce una influencia mistica y no del todo inocua en cuantos le rodean: acciones en apariencia inocentes una pelea con bolas de nieve o el aprendizaje de trucos de cartas se revelaran como acontecimientos decisivos en las vidas de otros. El quinto en discordia es una muestra de la maestria de Davies para la novela: su erudicion le permite tratar los temas mas diversos el circo, el santoral, la primera guerra mundial, o la vida en un internado con una naturalidad asombrosa; y su imaginacion teatral logra cautivar al lector desde el inicio. La primera novela de la Trilogia Deptford, la mas aclamada de Davies, se alza como la historia de un hombre racional que descubre en lo magico un aspecto mas de lo real.