In this perceptive and entertaining memoir of a doctor's life, we encounter at least one miraculous cure, a bad breath contest of Olympian standards, tales of cannibals and Tsarist bordellos, medical solutions to literary mysteries - and startling insights into the secrets of a doctor's consulting room.

There's just so little wrong with Robertson Davies' writing that it's difficult to know what to say about it. He crafts perfect stories and characters and draws you effortlessly into his world. This one is particularly interesting, a great story with that touch of something metaphysical which seems to pervade most of his writing. Has a sort-of "sequel" in Murther and Walking Spirits which is also a terrific book.

Mailed to heartsong2 today...enjoy!

Arrived today! Thank you for agreeing to trade with me :)! I sent yours to you air mail this morning, so should be arriving soon--

I haven't ever read anything by Davies, but this title is on my reading list because I like to read about medical stuff. Looks like it will be a fun one!

Thanks again!

This book was on my "literature, arts and medicine" reading list. I haven't read Davies before, but wasn't into it long when I noticed it reminded me of John Irving's style. I did an internet search and found there is indeed a connection which I found intriguing.

I enjoyed the last section of the book most, when he was talking about Anatomy of Fiction, and analyzing the disease and death processes of fictional characters. That was pretty fun.

Posting to Michigan as a PaperBackSwap.com trade. Enjoy!