“Fifth Business” is the first book in The Deptford Trilogy. It is a story of the life of the narrator, Dunstan Ramsay, and those with whom his life becomes entangled. Set in the village of Deptford in Canada, it opens in 1908 with the throwing of a snowball. This single act has far-reaching consequences, spreading over time and continents as the narrator attempts to deal with his issues of guilt.
The entire story is told in the form of a letter written on the occasion of Dunstan’s retirement at Colborne College and addressed to the school Headmaster. The topics of materialism and spirituality are ably discussed and his portrayal of small-town culture is beautifully written.
“Fifth Business” is considered by many to be Davies' finest work. The story is semi-autobiographical and cemented his reputation as one of the great storytellers of our time.
First published in 1970, it was ranked fortieth on the American Modern Library’s "reader's list" of the one hundred best novels of the twentieth century.
Fifth Business by Robertson Davies - May 2009
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