The Rebel Angels

The Rebel Angels, set at the fictional College of St. John and Holy Ghost, centers on a group of scholars and academics handling the estate of Francis Cornish, a wealthy art collector. The narrative alternates between two perspectives: Maria Theotoky, a graduate student studying Rabelais, and Simon Darcourt, an Anglican priest and professor. The novel's core cast includes Clement Hollier, an absent-minded professor, John Parlabane, a defrocked monk with a commanding presence, and Urquhart McVarish, a calculating academic. The execution of Cornish's complex will sets events in motion, drawing these characters into a web of academic and personal intrigue. The story explores the intersection of intellectual pursuit and human desire within the sheltered world of academia. Through its rich examination of art, scholarship, and human nature, the novel contemplates the relationship between knowledge and wisdom, and the tension between spiritual and secular life.

Readers find the novel intellectually stimulating but occasionally dense with academic references and philosophical tangents. The character development and interweaving narratives earn frequent mentions in reviews. Readers appreciate: - The rich portrayal of university life and academic politics - Complex, flawed characters, especially Maria and Parlabane - The blend of high culture with base human nature - Dry humor and wit throughout - Integration of medieval philosophy and Gypsy lore Common criticisms: - Too many scholarly digressions - Plot moves slowly in the middle sections - Some find the academic discussions pretentious - References can be obscure without footnotes Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (5,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (120+ ratings) Notable reader comments: "Like eavesdropping on the most interesting dinner party conversations" - Goodreads reviewer "Required patience but rewarded close reading" - Amazon reviewer "The academic satire cuts close to home" - LibraryThing reviewer

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🎓 The College of St. John and Holy Ghost ("Spook") was inspired by Trinity College at the University of Toronto, where Robertson Davies served as Master from 1961 to 1981. 📚 The character of Maria Theotoky's research subject, François Rabelais, was a real 16th-century French Renaissance writer known for his bawdy humor and satirical works. 🖼️ Davies drew from his experience as a member of the Massey Foundation, which managed significant art collections, to create the plotline involving Francis Cornish's will and art collection. ✒️ The novel is part of The Cornish Trilogy, followed by "What's Bred in the Bone" (1985) and "The Lyre of Orpheus" (1988), which further explore the mysterious Francis Cornish. 🎭 Davies incorporated elements from his background in theater and journalism, having founded the Stratford Shakespearean Festival of Canada and worked as editor of the Peterborough Examiner.