Witty, wry. Clever with the characters. Trilogy makes good escape, rich reading.

This is a trilogy of pleasant and amusing, sometimes interconnected stories of small-town Canada. The Salterton Trilogy does not seem to be as popular as the Deptford Trilogy, but the first book in the Salterton Trilogy - 'Temptest Tossed' is my favourite Robertson Davies novel. This trilogy is funny, witty and satirical - a really entertaining read! ( )

http://www.lonelymountain.net/books/a... ( )

Tempest-Tost (read September 2007)

A tale of unrequited love among the members of an amateur theatre group, as they prepare to put on "The Tempest". It started off well but I could have done with more about Freddie and Tom, who almost disappeared from the story after the first few chapters.

I thought as I began reading that I had read it before, but later I decided that I had heard the first part of it dramatised on the radio instead.

Leaven of Malice (read September 2007)

When a notice announcing the engagement of Solly Bridgetower and Pearl Vambrace appears in the Evening Bellman, most of the newspaper's readers don’t realise that anything is amiss. But it says that the wedding will take place on November 31st, and in actual fact Solly and Pearl aren’t engaged, and haven’t had much to do with each other since acting in an amateur performance of the Tempest together four years ago. The fall-out from this practical joke affects many of Salterton's residents is immense, with the flames being stoked by Pearl's father Professor Vambrace, who it sure that that it was expressly aimed at humiliating him, and is determined to sue the newspaper since the editor is unable to tell who it was that paid for the engagement notice.

A very funny tale, with a host of wonderful characters ranging from the deranged Professor Vambrace, the scheming Mrs Bridgetower, both of whom are opposed to a potential marriage between their children, the harried editor of the Evening Bellman Gloster Ridley and the eccentric musician and cathedral organist Humphrey Cobbler, who is known to be fond of playing jokes.

A Mixture of Frailties (read October 2007)

This book begins with the death of Mrs Bridgetower, a year after the marriage of her son Solly to Veronica (formerly known as Pearl) Vambrace. Mrs Bridgetower's will reflects her devious and controlling nature, and Solly finds himself running one of the trustees of a fund to pay for a young woman with artistic talents to further her education in Europe. After the rejection of many unsuitable candidates, Humphrey Cobbler suggests that they should look at young singer named Monica Gall, who sang at Mrs Bridgetower's funeral. Monica's family belong to an evangelical sect known as the Thirteeners, and as well as working in a factory office she also sings with a church group on the radio. The trustees are finally able to agree on a candidate, and Monica sets off for England just before Christmas. Most of the rest of the story follows Monica on her journey to becoming a professional singer, as Solly and Veronica struggle to fulfill the conditions that will allow them to get their hands on some of old Mrs Bridgetower's money.

The year after her arrival in England, Monica goes to a Welsh country house for Christmas, and an American student who is also staying there keeps comparing the Christmassy atmosphere to Washington Irving. I assume he is referring to "The Keeping of Christmas at Bracebridge Hall" which happens to be on my TBR shelf - I'll have to make sure that I read it in this December.

Another very enjoyable book. I much preferred the The Salterton Trilogy to the Cornish Trilogy, but The Deptford Trilogy is still my favourite. ( )

Absolutely wonderful. I've read all Davies' books, I wish there were more! ( )