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The Rebel Angels by Robertson Davies - 3* - My Review

This novel is a satire of academia that centers on characters from a Canadian university. The story opens with the death of Francis Cornish, a wealthy art collector. He names three executors with conflicting interests. It is told through the alternating perspectives of two narrators. One is a student, Maria Theotoky, who is trying to escape the stereotypes of her Romany heritage and pursue a career in academia. The other is a priest who is also one of the executors. The primary storyline follows an investigation into the secrets of Francis Cornish’s past and a manuscript he has left behind.

It is a literary novel that explores a series of complex philosophical ideas. The male characters are snobbish, pompous, and extremely unlikeable, but I presume we are supposed to dislike them. It is a combination of scholarly and crude subject matter. Familiarity with François Rabelais is helpful. The story contains many (and I mean MANY) literary references, and I’m sure I only picked up on a small percentage. Themes include the clash between self-interest and higher ideals and the interplay of intellect and morality. It is a heavy, dense read and not one that particularly engaged me. It was probably not my best idea to read this while on vacation.