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The Cunning Man
by Robertson Davies
by Robertson Davies
Mary Ronan Drew's review
bookshelves: library-book
Dec 29, 11
bookshelves: library-book
Read from November 12 to December 25, 2011
"Should I have taken the false teeth?"
Not a bad opening sentence for a novel in which all the action is precipitated by the death at the altar on Good Friday of a beloved priest in Toronto's high church Anglican parish of St Aidan's. The narrator, the cunning man of the title, Dr Hullah, has been a police surgeon and he has his suspicions about the sudden death of the old man. But his friend from childhood, Father Charlie Iredale, won't let him beyond the communion rail and the doctor does nothing about it.
The book is a sort of diary, which Dr Hullah calls a case book, in which he reminisces about his youth at school with Father Iredale and Brocky Gilmartin, the man who married the woman Hullah loved. Many other characters weave in and out of the story, including Darcy Dwyer and DeCourcey Parry, the musical director and organist who provide the excuisite music for St Aidan's services, "the ladies," an etcher and a sculptor in whose yard next to the church the doctor has his clinic, and a hypochondriacal patient whose miraculous cure at the grave of Father Hobbes puts in motion unstoppable eddies that affect all of the church and art community.
2011 No 171
Not a bad opening sentence for a novel in which all the action is precipitated by the death at the altar on Good Friday of a beloved priest in Toronto's high church Anglican parish of St Aidan's. The narrator, the cunning man of the title, Dr Hullah, has been a police surgeon and he has his suspicions about the sudden death of the old man. But his friend from childhood, Father Charlie Iredale, won't let him beyond the communion rail and the doctor does nothing about it.
The book is a sort of diary, which Dr Hullah calls a case book, in which he reminisces about his youth at school with Father Iredale and Brocky Gilmartin, the man who married the woman Hullah loved. Many other characters weave in and out of the story, including Darcy Dwyer and DeCourcey Parry, the musical director and organist who provide the excuisite music for St Aidan's services, "the ladies," an etcher and a sculptor in whose yard next to the church the doctor has his clinic, and a hypochondriacal patient whose miraculous cure at the grave of Father Hobbes puts in motion unstoppable eddies that affect all of the church and art community.
2011 No 171
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How much of an art angle is in this book Mary? I'm always on the look out for books with an art theme or sub theme.
Cynthia, There is quite a bit of discussion of art in the book, including letters from the aforementioned etcher to a sculptor in England, the local sculpor, what paintings the narrator has on his walls. There's also a good deal about music, there being many musicians at the salon the neighbors hold for artists. Some church art and church music as well. I would have a hard time saying just what this book was "about." So many things!
I've always loved this title and have a copy on my bookshelf.