About this title: Two angels tell the story of the life of Francis Cornish, an art collector and philanthropist, explaining how he moved from art forger to respectable and admired citizen. This witty novel is the second volume in Davies' "Cornish Trilogy".
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Edition: American ed.
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Viking Books
Date Published: 1985
ISBN-13:9780670809165ISBN:0670809160
Description: Good in good dust jacket. Good, In good dust jacket. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. With dust jacket. Ex-Library expected imperfections. read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Penguin Books
Date Published: 1986
ISBN-13:9780140097115ISBN:0140097112
Description: Fair. No dust jacket as issued. Nice soft cover, lightly read, shelf wear to cover, bend on bottom corner of front cover, aging, light marks on edges, stk #1133k6. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 448 p. Audience: General/trade. read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Penguin Books
Date Published: 1986
ISBN-13:9780140097115ISBN:0140097112
Description: Good. No dust jacket as issued. Nice soft cover, lightly read, some shelf wear to cover & corners of front cover, light yellowing to pages, stk #2200s8. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 448 p. Audience: General/trade. read more
"I saw this book reviewed in the year of its publication and asked the local library (what wonderful things those are/used to be in the UK) to get it. The librarian bought it within the week and I read it immediately.
It is simply a stunning book with the conceit that the hero's Daemon (who inspires but can remember nothing) and his Angel (who records everything but does not interfere in life) discuss between sections, why the hero did what he did. In between these entertaining interludes, we have a magnificent tale of the art market and fraud. I don't know if it will have dated over time but I suspect not and would recommend it to all who read this review!"
"My first impression of this book was, "Ugh"! ..."Another Fusty Book with Victorian Overtones"....then, as I pursued with reading I became engrossed in the tales surrounding the elite Francis Cornish...Who can resist reading the lessons given by Zaddok, on "The Art of Funeral Work"???...as young Francis records in his sketch book, the embalmed and not-so embalmed figures ..."Most people don't see what's in front of their nose. They just see what they ought to see."...and... "Cleanliness Is Essential,"..."Respect for the dead, and precaution for the living. You never really know what these people died of. So I'll just throw around some carbolic, and you keep well in your corner, me dear.".......
One of the techniques,I found intriguing was the use of Robertson Davies Commentary at the end of each Chapter, supplied in Italics, by the Recording Angels, Angel of Biography, the Lesser Zadkiel and the Daimon Maimas. Kind of Like Zeus and Athena playing chess above the fluffy clouds, whilst looking down at humananity and lack thereof.
What did I learn from this book? You can Never Judge a Book by its Cover...."It Grew On Me"...and now I am reading the others of the Cornish Triology written by the same author...."
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