Around a mysterious death is woven a glittering, fantastical, cunningly contrived trilogy of novels: "Fifth Business", often described as Robertson Davies' finest novel; "The Manticore", and "World of Wonders". Luring the reader down labyrinthine tunnels of myth, history and magic, "The Deptford Trilogy" provides an exhilarating antidote to a world from where 'the fear and dread and splendour of wonder have been banished. 'His books will be recognized with the very best works of this century' - "The New York Times" Book Review.

2002-09-03 A highly enjoyable series of books.

The three interconnecting life stories span some seventy years from the early twentieth century; yet the book has considerable lightness of touch compared to most historical sagas. It is immensely rich in its characters and descriptions, which cover the First World War, life on the road with a travelling freakshow and a spell of Jungian analysis and a wealth of human experience from childhood to old age. Disappointingly, the narrative does tail off slightly in the latter chapters of the "World of Wonders", the third of the trilogy, namely because the characters involved seem like historical relics, making it frustratingly difficult to identify with their experiences, which is never the case during the first two books. The combination of history, mythology and differing viewpoints makes these books appealing on a variety of levels from rattling good read to thoroughly intellectually stimulating.