''Happy Alchemy'', first published by

McClelland and Stewart McClelland & Stewart Limited is a Canadian publishing company. It is owned by Random House of Canada, Penguin Random House of Canada, a branch of Penguin Random House, the international book publishing division of German media giant Bertelsmann. ...

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, is a collection of writings by Canadian novelist

Robertson Davies 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" ...

. The collection was edited after Davies' death in

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by his literary executors: his wife

Brenda Brenda is a feminine given name in the English language. Origin The overall accepted origin for the female name Brenda is the Old Nordic male name ''Brandr'' meaning both ''torch'' and ''sword'': evidently the male name Brandr took root in areas ...

and daughter

Jennifer Jennifer or Jenifer may refer to: People *Jennifer (given name) * Jenifer (singer), French pop singer * Jennifer Warnes, American singer who formerly used the stage name Jennifer * Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer * Daniel Jenifer Film and tele ...

. ''Happy Alchemy'' consists of various of Davies' unpublished speeches, book reviews and essays. It touches on themes, subjects and interests that were near to Davies' heart: in particular, theatre, opera and music.

The book

The book opens with a quotation from the English poet Matthew Green:
"By happy alchemy of mind
They turn to pleasure all they find."

Companion Volume

''Happy Alchemy'' was preceded in

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by a companion volume, ''

The Merry Heart 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" ...

''.

The book

Companion Volume

References

See also