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';With a sure comic touch, Davies assembles his cast of characters and lets them make fools of themselves . . . in the best Shakespearean tradition.'The Emerald City Book Review Weaving a tapestry of wonderfully developed characters, smoldering rivalries, and witty satire, Robertson Davies introduces the first book inthe Salterton Trilogy. An amateur production ofThe Tempestprovides a colorful backdrop for a hilarious look at unrequited love. Mathematics teacher Hector Mackilwraith, stirred and troubled by Shakespeare's play, falls in love with the beautiful heiress Griselda Webster. When Griselda shows she has plans of her own, Hector despairs on the play's opening night. ';High comedy with a spice of satire to give it savor.'Montreal Gazette ';An exercise in puckish persiflage.'Toronto Star ';Hilarious, satirical, witty and clever.'Edmonton Journal ';By turns humorous and sympathetic, Davies shows us that he knows his stuff, even in this, his first book.'AllReaders.com ';It would not be a bad thing for more writers to read and be inspired by Davies's example of intelligent, emotionally resonant fiction, or for more readers to discover its pleasures.'The Emerald City Book Review
The first book in the acclaimed Cornish Trilogy. ';[A] darkly funny scuttle through academe's more covert passageway . . . saucy stuff indeed.'Kirkus Reviews Davies weaves together the destinies of this remarkable cast of characters, creating a wise and witty portrait of love, murder, and scholarship at a modern university in this first book ofThe Cornish Trilogy. A goodhearted priest and scholar, a professor with a passion for the darker side of medieval psychology, a defrocked monk, and a rich young businessman who inherits some troublesome paintings are all helplessly beguiled by the same coed. The story is set in motion by the death of eccentric art patron and collector Francis Cornish. Hollier, McVarish, and Darcourt are the executors of Cornish's complicated will, which includes material that Hollier wants for his studies. The deceased's nephew, Arthur Cornish, stands to inherit the fortune. Rebel Angels ';is an enlarging and engaging marvel . . . one does not read this book to be surprised but rather to ponder the ideas its characters encounter in their lives and their readings. It ends like all good comedies end; it proceeds in a manner both picaresque and poignant' (AllReaders.com). ';A compelling performance.'Library Journal
“The elder statesman of Canadian letters continues to explore the themes of sin, guilt, and self-discovery . . . A masterful effort.”—Library Journal Connor Gilmartin’s inauspicious, but much beloved, mortal life comes to an untimely end when he discovers his wife in bed with one of his more ludicrous associates, theater critic Randall Allard Going. Death becomes a bit complicated when Gilmartin’s out-of-body experience stays an out-of-body experience. Enraged at being so unceremoniously cut down by his wife’s lover, Gil vows revenge against the now panic-stricken Going. But first, Gil must spend his afterlife seated next to his killer at a film festival, where he views the exploits of his ancestors from the Revolutionary era to his parents’ time, an experience that changes the way he views his life—and death. “Mr. Davies is a tremendously enticing storyteller, whether his characters are cajoling in Welsh brogue or portaging a canoe through the northern wilderness, but it’s possible to ask now and then just how such and such an incident fits in the master plan of the book. On most occasions, however, the author, as if sensing our restiveness, provides an answer.”—The New York Times “Davies’s depiction of how the descendants of Samuel Gilmartin came to emigrate to British North America convincingly blends gritty humor—including a hilarious Welsh cursing contest—with sympathetic portrayals of his characters.”—Kirkus Reviews “The unexpected conceit devised by the author of the Deptford trilogy will surprise but likely not disappoint his fans.”—Publishers Weekly
The Salterton Trilogy continues with a novel ';full of zest, wit and urbanity' from the celebrated Canadian author of Tempest-Tost and the Cornish novels (The New York Times). Returning to the town he first visited inTempest-Tost, Davies continues to explore the lives of its inhabitants in this winner of the Leacock Medal, awarded for the best in Canadian literary humor. The following announcement appeared in the Salterton Evening Bellman: ';Professor and Mrs. Walter Vambrace are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Pearl Veronica, to Solomon Bridgetower Esq, son of . . .' Although the malice that prompted this false engagement notice was aimed at three people onlySolly Bridgetower, Pearl Vambrace, and Gloster Ridley, the anxiety-ridden local newspaper editorbefore the leaven of malice had ceased to work it had changed permanently, for good or ill, the lives of many citizens of Salterton. Praise for Robertson Davies ';Invention has always been Robertson Davies's strength. He tells terrific stories that twist around and double back on themselves in surprising ways and, characteristically, combines them with intriguing, arcane information.'The New York Times ';Davies' fiction is animated by his scorn for the ironclad systems that claim to explain the whole of life. Messy, magical, high-spirited life bubbles up between the cracks.'South Florida Sun-Sentinel
A collection of hauntingand hilariousghost stories by the beloved Booker Prize finalist and New York Times-bestselling author. Robertson Davies first hit upon the notion of writing ghost stories when he joined the University of Toronto as the first Master of Massey College. Wishing to provide entertainment at the College's Gaudy Night, the annual Christmas party, Professor Davies created a ';spooky story,' which he read aloud to the gathering. That story, ';Revelation from a Smoky Fire,' is the first in this wonderful, haunting collection. A tradition quickly became established and, for eighteen years, Davies delighted and amused the Gaudy Night guests with his tales of the supernatural. Here, gathered together in one volume, are those eighteen stories, just as Davies first read them.
The acclaimed playwright, novelist, and author ofFifth Businessexplores the performing arts in this witty and insightful essay collection. Though best known for his award-winning fiction, Robertson Davies enjoyed a long and varied career as an actor, playwright, journalist and critic.Happy Alchemycollects an equally diverse range of Davies' writingsincluding speeches, articles, prologues to plays, a ghost story set to music, and even a scenario for a film. In this eclectic volume, Davies shares his many musings on music, theatre, opera, and more. These pieces, many of them published here for the first time, touch on topics from Greek tragedy to Scottish Folklore and from Lewis Carroll to Carl Jung.
A collection of essays ';filled with pleasantly rambling opinions about everything from self-help books to erotica' from the celebrated Canadian author (The Chronicle Journal). An urbane, robust, and wonderfully opinionated voice from Canada, sometimes called ';America's attic,' speaks here of the delights of reading, and of what mass education has done to readers today, to taste, to books, to culture. With his usual wit and breadth of vision, Robertson Davies ranges through the world of lettersbooks renowned and obscure, old and recent; English, Irish, Canadian, and American writers both forgotten and fondly remembered. ';Sweet reason in the raiment of well-woven prose? Most assuredly. Good humor agraze over broad literary demesnes? No doubt of it. Forgotten popular favorites rescued and rehabilitated? Certainly. A parade of agreeable prejudices? He would not be a true Canadian if he did not have them. Lightheartedness where needed? Yes. Seriousness where it counts? Yes. Wit, satirical touches, firm indignations, sound sense, good taste, judiciousness, cosmopolitan breadth of view, urbanity, sanity, unexpected eccentricities, educated humanism? By all means. It is indeed by all these means and more that this book of essays and observations bestows its multiple benefactions, and anyone picking it up is bound north to pleasure and profit.'The New York Times
The ';first-rate . . . abundantly funny' conclusion to the Salterton Trilogy, following Leaven of Malice and Tempest-Tost (The New York Times). Louisa Bridgetower, the imposing Salterton matron, has died. The substantial income from her estate is to be used to send an unmarried young woman to Europe to pursue an education in the arts. Mrs. Bridgetower's executors end up selecting Monica Gall, an almost entirely unschooled singer whose sole experience comes from performing with the Heart and Hope Gospel Quartet, a rough outfit sponsored by a small fundamentalist group. Monica soon finds herself in England, a pupil of some of Britain's most remarkable teachers and composers, and she gradually blossoms from a Canadian rube to a cosmopolitan soprano with a uniqueand tragicomiccareer. ';Davies is equally familiar with the world of the Canadian provinces and with that of musical London, and portrays both with rich humor and sympathetic understanding.'Chicago Tribune ';Something of a virtuoso performance, this relies more on its wit than its warmth, but the musicianship is very knowledgeable and the fingerwork light.'Kirkus Reviews
The respectedTimes of Indiajournalist reveals the truths and consequences of the country's unprecedented COVID-19 lockdown. On March 24, 2020, with approximately five hundred reported COVID-19 cases reported and only hours notice, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered the most stringent national lockdown the world has ever seen. Two months later, Modi announced the fourth phase of national lockdown with some relaxations. Now in phase five of lockdownand as restrictions are loosened even moreall everyone knows for sure is what is unknown: What happens to the virus as India reopens? What happens to the Indian economy? And what happens to Modi? Lockdownbrings you inside an event that will affect the world around us perhaps for decades to come.
In the great tradition of David Sedaris, David Rakoff, and Augusten Burroughs, memoirist Eric Poole recounts his quirky childhood years in utterly hilarious and painful detail. In 1977, Eric Poole is a talented high school trumpet player with one working ear, the height-to-weight ratio of a hat rack, a series of annoyingly handsome bullies, and a mother irrationally devoted to Lemon Pledge. But who he wants to be is a starANY star. With equal parts imagination, flair, and delusion, Eric proceeds to emulate a series of his favorite celebrities, like Barry Manilow, Halston, Tommy Tune, and Shirley MacLaine, in an effort to become the man he's meant to bethat is, anyone but himself. As he moves through his late teens and early twenties in suburban St. Louis, he casts about for an appropriate outlet for his talents. Will he be a trumpet soloist? A triple-threat actor/singer/dancer? A fashion designer in gritty New York City? Striving to become the son who can finally make his parents proud, Eric begins to suspect that discovering his personal and creative identities can only be accomplished by admitting who he really is. Picking up at the end of his first acclaimed memoir, Where's My Wand?, Poole's journey from self-delusion to acceptance is simultaneously hysterical, heartfelt, and inspiring. ';A touching and RIOTOUSLY funny story about one boy's search for his personal and creative identities in the 1980's Midwest. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll keep your jazz hands to yourself, Mister.' Judith Newman, author of To Siri, With Love Oh, my... Eric Pooles journey of self-delusion and self-discovery had me laughing one minute, crying the next, and rooting for him every second. This charming book is a TV series waiting to happen! George Takei, author, actor, and activist
A young Quaker finds material successand moral challengeafter marrying into a wealthy Philadelphia family, in a novel by the author of Sister Carrie. Rufus and Hannah Barnes are good Quakers, highly respected in their new community of Dukla, Pennsylvania and strictly loyal to their faith. They pass this loyalty on to their children, including Solon Barnes, who must hold on to his Quaker convictions while living in an increasingly materialistic modern society. After falling for the lovely Beneciaa daughter of the wealthy Wallin familySolon is given a position at her father's bank in Philadelphia, poised to work his way up from the bottom. But Solon's faith is challenged by his position at the bank, as his moral values cause him to butt heads with corrupt executives driven by financial gain. Meanwhile, as his own children grow up, they start rebelling against the strict principles they were raised with. As the weight of the world bears down on the noble foundations at the core of his principles, Solon must struggle to remain a bulwark for his faith. ';The great American novelist.'Publishers Weekly
A ruthlessly ambitious mogul finds his life derailed by the financial panic of 1873 in this classic novel by the author of An American Tragedy. Frank Cowperwood's story begins at an auction sale in Philadelphia, where an unassuming bid for seven cases of soap quickly makes him a large personal gain in just one day. Having grown up among the ruthlessness and glamour of the Gilded Age, Frank finds he has a taste for turning a profit, no matter who gets in his way. Embarking on a life of callous stock brokering, shady political intrigue, sordid crimes, and passionate affairs, Cowperwood walks on the edgeuntil the Great Chicago Fire and the financial panic that follows send him down a perilous path. The Financier, the first in a trilogy, is based on the life of tycoon Charles Tyson Yerkes and provides both a glimpse into a fascinating period in American history and a timeless portrait of the dark side of human nature.
A businessman leaves prison and heads to Chicago to regain his fortunebut his past follows close behind himin this absorbing historical epic. Newly released from prison, Frank Cowperwood immediately dives back into the stock market after the Panic of 1873, aiming to recover his lost fortune and become a millionaire once more. This time, he has a new plan and sets out for Chicago with his mistress, Aileen. Using his brutal business sense to snuff out his opponents, Frank has his eyes on the city's street-railway system as his ticket back to the top. But as Frank knows, the past cannot remain buried forever, and it's only a matter of time before his previous misdeeds come back to find him in his new home, threatening his stabilityand more importantly, his money. ';The great American novelist.'Publishers Weekly
The conclusion to the trilogy based on a real railway tycoon's life, with ';an amazingly intricate description of high-rolling 19th-century finance' (The Wall Street Journal). Based on the life of railway tycoon Charles Tyson Yerkes, the epic Trilogy of Desire weaves a tale of American capitalism through the rise and fall of Frank Cowperwood. Following The Financier and The Titan, the third novel follows Cowperwood as he heads across the sea to London for a chance to develop a new underground railway system. Though still married to his estranged wife, Aileen, he has found a new paramour in Bereniceamong others. Doing what he does best, Frank puts his plans in motion to conquer London's transportation market, guaranteeing the bulk of the profits for himself. However, as his age begins to catch up with him, an illness makes it clear these are the last years of his life, and he must negotiate personal and financial challenges to make his lasting mark on the worlda quest that will ultimately be completed by one of the women in his life.
The author ofMidnight Cowboydelivers a short story collection about the yearnings of those who live on the margins: ';Herlihy writes with an edge of iron' (Nelson Algren). In his second collection of short stories, James Leo Herlihy explores a landscape at the fringes of society. Drawn with his signature humor and deft dialogue, Herlihy's characters search for the fragments of meaning that have gone missing from their lives. In the titular story, Mary Ellen McClure's unfulfilled, trailer park life is driven to the breaking point when she suspects her husband of having an affair. But when a Ouija board gives her the message that she will have an affair of her own, Mary Ellen becomes enamored with the fantasyand resolves to go looking for her mysterious lover. Other stories tell of Consilada Rector, who can't get people to believe in the leprechaun that presides over her husband's bar; Mrs. Dorothy Fitzpatrick, who records the existence of a ghostly mail delivery truck; and a dying man who comes to stay with a mother and her blessed son William.
A teenage boy's image of his older brother is shattered by tragedy in this ';remarkable first novel' by the author of Midnight Cowboy (New York Herald Tribune Book Review). Some families get a reputation for being strange, and so it is with the Williamses of Seminary Street. The father, once an outspoken socialist, now keeps to his rocks glass. The mother has a reputation for scaring children. But the older son, named Berry-berry, is the most whispered-about of them all. A traveling vagabond, he's known for his cleft chin, loose morals, and streaks of violence. Then there's sixteen-year-old Clinton, who spends his time filling notebooks with every conversation he can overhear, word for word. When Clinton escapes the confines of home to find his big brother, he hopes to make a connection more real than anything he's put down on paper. But finding Berry-berry in coastal Florida will set off a tragic series of events that will stay with Clinton, and his family, forever. ';There is something very wonderful about this book; it has a luminous thing that is the best thing in writing or any kind of art.' Tennessee Williams ';Herlihy writes with an edge of iron.' Nelson Algren, National Book Awardwinning author of The Man with the Golden Arm
47 leaders from across the biotechnology industry tell their stories of battling the global scourge of COVID-19. Pandemics have killed at least a half billion people over the past two millennia. But in the age of biotechnology, humanity is no longer defenseless. The biotechnology industry is a diverse community of scientists, doctors, patients, entrepreneurs, investors, bankers, analysts and reporters, all committed to treating and curing disease. Over the past forty years, it has produced medical advances at an electrifying rate. As the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, hundreds of companies quickly pivoted to combating the virus. The contributors to this book offer inside views of this seminal industry, with historical and personal perspectives, lessons learned, and looks into the future. Diverse as these leaders are, they are united by their conviction that science and medicine will light humanity’s way to greater health and longevity.
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