World of Wonders (Penguin Classics)

by Robertson Davies
World of Wonders (Penguin Classics)  
published 2006 by Penguin Classics
first published 1975
binding Paperback
isbn 0143039148   (isbn13: 9780143039143)
pages 352
description Hailed by the Washington Post Book World as “a modern classic,” Robertson Davies's acclaimed Deptford Trilogy is a glittering, fantas...more
date added
01-23-07



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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 297)



Dale
Dale rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
06/09/08

Read in June, 2008
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Brina
Brina rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
10/22/07

bookshelves: recently-read
Read in October, 2007
recommends it for: Everyone
World of Wonders is the least captivating of the Deptford Trilogy, but the work as a whole -- starting with Fifth Business -- is certainly one of the best I've ever read. The books examine the lives and thoughts of three men who are all linked to one another; Davies' structure and storytelling are extraordinarily polished and fine.

I can't recommend anything more heartily than the Deptford Trilogy, but if you have any doubts about committing to the entire trilogy, I can say this...more
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Elizabeth
Elizabeth rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
11/08/07

Read in November, 2007
Much as it pains me to say it about one of my favorite writers, this is not my favorite Davies book. Lots of people love this trilogy, but I prefer his later Cornish trilogy.

To be fair: it's still a Robertson Davies book, so it's still beautifully written, and full of oddments of history and philosophy that can leave you breathless. I'm giving it three stars as judged against the very high standards of the Davies oeuvre, not against fiction in general.
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Justin
Justin rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
08/05/07

Read in August, 2007
Who killed Boy Staunton? That's the question finally answered in this final installment of Davies' Deptford Trilogy. The first book "Fifth Business" is the best of the bunch and worth reading on its own. The second ,"The MAnticore" is a bit dull and this one is somewhat better. It's certainly an interesting bunch of characters but I am not sure it was worth reading the entire trilogy just to tie up the loose ends from the first book.
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Zigra
Zigra rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
07/06/07

Read in May, 2007
This book was recommended in liew of The Illusionist by Steven Millhauser. It is the last in the Deptford Trilogy, written in the 1970s by Canadian author Robertson Davies. I enjoyed the first book in the trilogy - Fifth Business - very much, but the last two are too embroiled in 1970s psychology b.s. for my taste.
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Cari
Cari rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
02/18/08

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in February, 2008
Third in the Deptford Trilogy - I loved all three, though I think the first one (fifth Business) is the best. This one rounds them out nicely though - without it, you don't get the FULL story.
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Kathy
Kathy rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
06/29/07

bookshelves: read-recently
When Davies is telling the story, it is fascinating. However, the framework he places the story in (a series of conversations), does not really work for me. I find these portions tedious.
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jen8998
jen8998 rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
04/20/08

This was my least favorite of the Deptford Trilogy but it still addressed unanswered questions from Fifth Business so ultimately was worth reading.
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sarah t
sarah t rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
06/02/08

Read in April, 2008
I think maybe I liked this book best of the Robertson Davies trilogy - I have a soft spot for magic.
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cheeseblab
cheeseblab rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
07/08/07

Read in April, 2007
the last (and my least favorite) of the fine Deptford Trilogy, my introduction to Davies
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Coyle
Coyle rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
11/07/07

Read in November, 2007
A good book to have under your belt, but not particularly exciting putting it there.
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  6 comments

Jackie
Jackie rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
10/21/07

bookshelves: adultfiction, gothic, mysteries
Read in January, 1984
recommends it for: if you like weird characters
The weirdest and most fantastic of the Deptford Trilogy.
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Kim
Kim rated it: 1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars
12/30/07

bookshelves: did-not-finish
Read in January, 1995
symbolic fiction:?-----------got to pg 148
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Angela
Angela rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
04/05/08

bookshelves: series
"Of course he was a charming man."
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Lee
Lee rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
07/24/07

bookshelves: enduringfavorites
Final in Deptford trilogy.
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Cap'n
Cap'n rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
08/10/07

Read in May, 2007
recommends it for: brazen heads
ahh!
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jSarie
jSarie rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
08/03/07

 

April
April rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
06/27/07

 

Erin
Erin is currently reading it
03/07/07

bookshelves: currently-reading
 

Aheibel
Aheibel rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
10/31/07

 


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book data (includes all editions)

avg rating (all editions): 4.06 (249 ratings)
avg rating (this edition): 4.04 (218 ratings)
number of reviews: 16






other editions

World of Wonders (Paperback)
World of Wonders (Deptford Trilogy)
World of Wonders (Broché)