The Manticore (Deptford Trilogy) Paperback – February 28, 2006

This is a fascinating series that integrates concepts from Jungian psychology and a story about a handful of odd characters who all came from a small town in Canada. The three books focus on overlapping events told from the perspectives of three different characters and in theory it can be read out of order. This one was not my favorite book from the trilogy. The first time I read it and on reread I find it is much more interesting. In particular, some of the descriptions of archetypes and how they relate to the psychology of the main character did not particularly resonate with me. When, as a 30-year-old, I first read the book, but now in my '60s I see more clearly the significance and also frankly parallels in my own life of these concepts.

World of Wonders, the third book of The Deptford Trilogy is a wonderful completion to the series. Although the first of the trilogy (Fifth Business) is my favorite, the following two are certainly worth reading. So if you enjoy Robertson Davies, complete the entire trilogy.

"The Manticore" is the second novel in the Depthford trilogy by Robertson Davies and holds a pretty good candle to "Fifth Business," the novel preceding it. While the first novel was told from the point of view of Dunstan Ramsey, the second is told from that of David Staunton, alcoholic son of Boy Staunton. While David didn't get much airplay in the first novel, he gets his due in the second, which takes place not long after the end of the first. David has gone to Europe to seek the counseling of a psychologist/pyschiatrist after the death of his father. What ensues is a recount of his life and motivations, with some of "Fifth Business" being re-hashed from a different perspective. (Note: I don't intend "re-hash" to be a negative aspect at all, here.) While not exactly a zippy read, I did savor every word of it, sometime reading other books in their entirety before finishing this one. The end is especially great, because the reader (along with David) once again meets up with Dunstan, Liesl and Magnus at a European castle. Almost as splendid an effort as "Fifth Business."

So well written, insightful, humorous, and challenging. Feels a bit over reliant Fifth Business for 5 stars, but so good I’m doing it anyway!

Well written but loaded with misogyny. An evolution of character. Jungian psychology applied to the story. Manticore monster as metaphor

Both depth of idea and compelling storytelling WITH FINE WRITING. Davies' writing is the highest use of my time.Onward to book three.

Robertson Davies has quickly become one of my favorite writers. His wit is subtle, his characters real but intriguing. He is a novelist who takes life seriously and shares w/ his readers a quiet wisdom.

This trilogy is a must read! Fantastic story and well developed characters. It doesn't matter that it is set several decades in the past, anyone can relate to characters and their troubles.

Quel grand auteur! Si peu reconnu me semble-t-il. Une psychanalyse jungienne qui reprend les personnages du premier tome de trilogie

Muy buena novela de un excelente escritor muy poco conocido en España. Recomiendo la lectura de la trilogia completa. Es excelente.

In Fifth Business, the first volume of The Deptford Trilogy we learned the story of Boy Staunton, obnoxious youth who became the foremost tycoon in second world-war Canada before dying mysteriously in an apparent suicide.This second volume shifts attention to his son David Staunton. The story opens in Zurich where David Staunton is starting a course of psychotherapy following the death of his father. He believes he is going mad.As the therapy progresses we examine in detail Staunton's relationship with his mother and step-mother, his sister Caroline, nurse Netty, schoolmaster Dunstan Ramsay (the narrator of Fifth Business), David's first girlfriend Judy and centrally Boy Staunton himself. It rapidly becomes clear to the reader that David Staunton has been psychologically overwhelmed by his dominant father. In a classic love-hate relationship David has judged everyone else through the distorting lens of his own idolised view of his father while simultaneously trying to distance himself in his own life and career.As the narrative advances through a recapitulation of David Staunton's biography we see him gradually re-evaluating his relationships under the skilful hand of his therapist. In fact this book is a wonderful advertisement for the Jungian approach. In a final escapade in the Swiss mountains (in the reunited company of Dunstan Ramsay, Liesl Vitzliputzli and Magnus Eisengrim) David undergoes a symbolic "rebirthing": we leave confident that he can progress the rest of his life developing his new-found maturity.I am now looking forwards to the final volume, World of Wonders, where we learn more about the magician Magnus Eisengrim.A Manticore, by the way, is a mythical being with the face of a man, the body of a lion and a stinging tail. It is the image David Staunton's unconscious chooses for himself.

A gift

In the Manticore vermisse ich Davies unglaubliche Erzähltalent, teilweise liest es sich mE etwas anstrengend. Habe es aber insgesamt sehr gerne gelesen, weil sich einige Puzzleteile damit schließen.