Happy Alchemy

First edition

Happy Alchemy, first published by McClelland and Stewart in 1997, is a collection of writings by Canadian novelist Robertson Davies.

The collection was edited after Davies' death in 1995 by his literary executors: his wife Brenda and daughter Jennifer.

Happy Alchemy consists of various of Davies' unpublished speeches, book reviews and essays.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 1996 by a companion volume, The Merry Heart.

Works by Robertson Davies

Novels	The Salterton Trilogy Tempest-Tost Leaven of Malice A Mixture of Frailties The Deptford Trilogy Fifth Business The Manticore World of Wonders The Cornish Trilogy The Rebel Angels What's Bred in the Bone The Lyre of Orpheus The "Toronto Trilogy" Murther and Walking Spirits The Cunning Man

Fictional essays	The Diary of Samuel Marchbanks The Table Talk of Samuel Marchbanks Samuel Marchbanks' Almanack The Papers of Samuel Marchbanks

Critical essays	A Voice from the Attic The Well-Tempered Critic Happy Alchemy The Enthusiasms of Robertson Davies

Miscellaneous	Samuel Marchbanks High Spirits For Your Eye Alone

Happy Alchemy

The book

Companion Volume

See also