firstcontact21's Full Review: Robertson Davies - Fifth Business
Robertson Davies's Fifth Business is the first of three novels in what is known as The Deptford Trilogy (the other two novels that form the trilogy include The Manticore, for which Davies received Canada's top literary honor - the Governor General's Award, and World of Wonders). And it is also my first foray into the award winning / best selling writing of Canadian author Robertson Davies.
The nice thing about this trilogy is that each novel in the trilogy can be read independently on its own and still be thoroughly enjoyed. In fact, you don't even have to read all of the trilogy if you don't want to, but after reading Fifth Business, I'm sure you'll want to.
From what I've read, let me go out on a limb and say that I'd like to consider Robertson Davies as a sort of Canadian Charles Dickens for the 20th Century. His work is engrossing and captivating and highly readable.
A definition of Fifth Business is given on the opening page, and reads: "Those roles which, being neither those of Hero nor Heroine, Confidante nor Villain, but which were nonetheless essential to bring about the Recognition or the denouement, were called the Fifth Business in drama and opera companies organized according to the old style; the player who acted these parts was often referred to as Fifth Business." And I found that Davies's novel is structured very much in response to this opening definition.
The main character, Dunstan Ramsay is basically telling the story of his life in a letter that is responding to an article Dunstan has read. And as we read we discover things that very much suit him to the definition given, and as you read, you can't help but ask, is Dunstan Ramsay Fifth Business? But in short, his story is funny, interesting, sad and hopeful all at the same time, touching upon many thoughts and ideas about myth, history and religion. In short, it's great. It's also fascinating to see characters and events weave there way throughout the story, bringing Dunstan back to his hometown in some very strange and wondrous, and even deeply moving ways.
Fifth Business is wonderfully written and captivating, the story and really held my interest, to use that old cliche - I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend Fifth Business to anyone interested in Canadian Literature, or to anyone interested in Literature. It really is a great read - so go and read Fifth Business - you won't regret it!
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