The Cunning Man
Encyclopedia
The Cunning Man, published by McClelland and Stewart
in 1994
, is the last novel written by Canadian
novelist Robertson Davies
.
The Cunning Man is the memoir of the life of a doctor
, Dr. Jonathan Hullah, living in Toronto
. Hullah is a holistic physician — a cunning diagnostician who can often get to the root of problems that have baffled others. A young journalist
's query about the circumstances surrounding an Anglican
priest's death at the high altar on Good Friday
leads Hullah to reflect on his own life and career.
As is typical in Davies' work, the novel's themes are wide-ranging: miraculous cures
, halitosis
, cannibalism
, medical solutions to literary mysteries, and more.
Dunstan Ramsay, the narrator of Fifth Business
and a major character in Davies' Deptford Trilogy
, makes a brief appearance here.
A fictionalised version of Toronto's Church of St. Mary Magdalene
features prominently.
Unlike most of Davies' previous novels, The Cunning Man was not part of a trilogy. There is some supposition, however, that had Davies lived long enough this novel and his previous novel, Murther and Walking Spirits
(1991
), might have constituted another trilogy. For example, "Gil" Gilmartin, the narrator of Murther and Walking Spirits, reappears in The Cunning Man as Hullah's godson. In fact, in his introduction to The Merry Heart
(1996
), a collection of Davies' writings published posthumously, Davies' publisher, Douglas M. Gibson, tells how Davies had been researching and preparing the novel which would have followed The Cunning Man and would have been the third in the series. Gibson speculates that this unfinished
trilogy might have been called the "Toronto Trilogy
".
McClelland and Stewart
McClelland & Stewart Limited is a Canadian publishing company. It is partially owned by Random House of Canada, now a subsidiary of Bertelsmann....
in 1994
1994 in literature
The year 1994 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-New books:*Kevin J. Anderson - Champions of the Force, Dark Apprentice and Jedi Search*Reed Arvin - The Wind in the Wheat*Greg Bear - Songs of Earth and Power...
, is the last novel written by Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
novelist Robertson Davies
Robertson Davies
William Robertson Davies, CC, OOnt, FRSC, FRSL was a Canadian novelist, playwright, critic, journalist, and professor. He was one of Canada's best-known and most popular authors, and one of its most distinguished "men of letters", a term Davies is variously said to have gladly accepted for himself...
.
The Cunning Man is the memoir of the life of a doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, Dr. Jonathan Hullah, living in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. Hullah is a holistic physician — a cunning diagnostician who can often get to the root of problems that have baffled others. A young journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
's query about the circumstances surrounding an Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
priest's death at the high altar on Good Friday
Good Friday
Good Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
leads Hullah to reflect on his own life and career.
As is typical in Davies' work, the novel's themes are wide-ranging: miraculous cures
Miracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
, halitosis
Halitosis
Halitosis is a term used to describe noticeably unpleasant odors exhaled in breathing. Halitosis is estimated to be the third most frequent reason for seeking dental aid, following tooth decay and periodontal disease.- General :...
, cannibalism
Cannibalism
Cannibalism is the act or practice of humans eating the flesh of other human beings. It is also called anthropophagy...
, medical solutions to literary mysteries, and more.
Dunstan Ramsay, the narrator of Fifth Business
Fifth Business
Fifth Business is a 1970 novel by Canadian novelist, playwright, critic, journalist, and professor Robertson Davies. It is the first installment of the Deptford Trilogy and is a story of the life of the narrator, Dunstan Ramsay...
and a major character in Davies' Deptford Trilogy
The Deptford Trilogy
The Deptford Trilogy is a novel trilogy by Canadian novelist Robertson Davies.-Overview:The trilogy consists of Fifth Business , The Manticore , and World of Wonders...
, makes a brief appearance here.
A fictionalised version of Toronto's Church of St. Mary Magdalene
Church of St. Mary Magdalene (Toronto)
The Church of St. Mary Magdalene is an Anglo-Catholic parish of the Anglican Church of Canada located in Toronto. It is famous for its association with composer Healey Willan and was part of the composite Robertson Davies used to form "St. Aidan's" in his novel The Cunning Man...
features prominently.
Unlike most of Davies' previous novels, The Cunning Man was not part of a trilogy. There is some supposition, however, that had Davies lived long enough this novel and his previous novel, Murther and Walking Spirits
Murther and Walking Spirits
Murther and Walking Spirits, first published by McClelland and Stewart in 1991, is a novel by Canadian novelist Robertson Davies.Murther and Walking Spirits is, in a way, another ghost story, a genre Davies visited in his short story collection High Spirits . In the very first sentence of the...
(1991
1991 in literature
The year 1991 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*Douglas Coupland publishes the novel Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture, popularizing the term Generation X as the name of the generation....
), might have constituted another trilogy. For example, "Gil" Gilmartin, the narrator of Murther and Walking Spirits, reappears in The Cunning Man as Hullah's godson. In fact, in his introduction to The Merry Heart
The Merry Heart
The Merry Heart, first published by McClelland and Stewart in 1996, is a collection of writings by Canadian novelist Robertson Davies. It consists of reminiscences, speeches, book reviews, parodies and essays written over a period from 1980 to 1995, the year of Davies' death...
(1996
1996 in literature
The year 1996 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, is removed from an advanced placement English reading list in Lindale, Texas because it "conflicted with the values of the community."* In the United Kingdom, the first...
), a collection of Davies' writings published posthumously, Davies' publisher, Douglas M. Gibson, tells how Davies had been researching and preparing the novel which would have followed The Cunning Man and would have been the third in the series. Gibson speculates that this unfinished
Unfinished work
An unfinished work is creative work that has not been finished. Its creator may have chosen never to finish it or may have been prevented from doing so by circumstances outside of their control such as death. Such pieces are often the subject of speculation as to what the finished piece would have...
trilogy might have been called the "Toronto Trilogy
Toronto Trilogy
"The Toronto Trilogy" refers to two separate series of Canadian novels by Robertson Davies and Austin Clarke.-Robertson Davies' "Toronto Trilogy":Whether it was planned or not, Davies' novels formed trilogies...
".