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Robertson Davies

3 series 8 books in order

William Robertson Davies (28 August 1913 – 2 December 1995) was a Canadian novelist, playwright, critic, journalist, and professor. He was one of Canada's best known and most popular authors and one of its most distinguished "men of letters," a term Davies gladly accepted for himself. Davies was the founding Master of Massey College, a graduate residential college associated with the University of Toronto. He was a prominent figure in Canadian literature and intellectual life.

Born
1913
Known for
The Deptford Trilogy, The Cornish Trilogy, The Salterton Trilogy

Series by Robertson Davies

The Deptford Trilogy

3 books in order · 1970–1975

  1. Cover of Fifth Business

    Fifth Business

    1970 · Robertson Davies

    Ramsay is a man twice born, having survived the horrors of Passchendaele in World War I and received the Victoria Cross. He returns to a world where…

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  2. Cover of The Manticore

    The Manticore

    1972 · Robertson Davies

    The Manticore is a 1972 novel by Robertson Davies. Readers of Fifth Business will encounter here characters they already know. The hero is a lawyer…

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  3. Cover of World of Wonders

    World of Wonders

    1975 · Robertson Davies

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The Cornish Trilogy

2 books in order · 1981–1985

  1. Cover of The rebel angels

    The rebel angels

    1981 · Robertson Davies

    A 1981 novel by Robertson Davies. Murder, theft, perjury, love, and scholarship at a modern university trouble the life of a beautiful, part-gypsy…

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  2. Cover of What's bred in the bone

    What's bred in the bone

    1985 · Robertson Davies

    Francis Cornish was always good at keeping secrets in this 1985 novel by Robertson Davies, from the well-hidden family secret of his childhood to…

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The Salterton Trilogy

3 books in order · 1951–1958

  1. Tempest-Tost

    1951 · Robertson Davies

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  2. Leaven of Malice

    1954 · Robertson Davies

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Frequently asked questions

How many books has Robertson Davies written?

We list 8 books by Robertson Davies across 3 series, published between 1951–1985 — each shown in full reading order.

What order should I read Robertson Davies's books?

Read each series in publication order. A good place to start is “Fifth Business.” Open any series above for its complete numbered reading order.

Where can I buy Robertson Davies's books?

Every title links to Amazon from its series page — see our affiliate disclosure in the footer for how that supports the site.

Bibliography and reading orders compiled from verified bibliographic data. Spotted an error? We continuously correct the catalog.