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Fifth Business (The Deptford Trilogy, #1)

Robertson Davies

Discussion: CanLit Challenge 1968-2000

Discussion leader: Ibis3

Why we're reading this: Book #17. Universally lauded as one of Davies' best, I couldn't wait to dive in. You won't be disappointe…more
[close] Book #17. Universally lauded as one of Davies' best, I couldn't wait to dive in. You won't be disappointed!

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CanLit Challenge 1968-2000

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What Members Thought

May 31, 2011 Danielle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: canadian-author, world-wars-1-2, historical-fiction

Robertson Davies's novel Fifth Business owes its name to a supportive role found in theatre. The role of the Fifth Business character(s) is defined as such:

Those roles which, being neither those of
Hero nor Heroine, Confidante nor Villain,
but which were none the less essential to
bring about the Recognition or the denouement
were called the Fifth Business in drama
and opera companies organized according
to the old style; the player who acted these
parts was often referred to as Fifth Business.

- Tho, O ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Oct 16, 2012 Tania Gee rated it it was amazing

Having re-read this book for the 4th time, you'd think I'd be sick of it by now, but that is not the case. Especially since the last time I re-read it was 17 years ago.
This remains a great read, exploring guilt, faith, ego, performance, and perception amongst many other things, while also being an extremely entertaining story. The Rebel Angels remains my favourite of the Davies books, but Fifth Business is a must read for, well, pretty much everyone on the planet. ...more

1 like · Like · see review