A Mixture of Frailties

The Salterton Trilogy, Book 3

By: Robertson Davies

Narrated by: Frederick Davidson

Length: 12 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

"It's a muddle, thought Monica. A muddle and I can't get it straight. I wish I knew what I should do. I wish I even knew what I want to do...I want to go on in the life that has somehow or other found me and claimed me. And I want so terribly to be happy. Oh god, don't let me slip under the surface of all the heavy-hearted dullness that seems to claim so many people...."

A Mixture of Frailties is so much more than the story of Monica Gall's life in London and her education as a singer. It is an account of her education as a human being, and the result is an absorbing novel, comic in the true sense, vivid and frequently moving.

©1958 Robertson Davies (P)1996 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Third in a trilogy, yet independently satisfying, this presentation encourages listeners to seek more of Davies's beguiling prose." ( AudioFile)
"It is impudent, amused and amusing, and sterling entertainment." ( New York Times)
"Davies is equally familiar with the world of the Canadian provinces and with that of musical London, and portrays both with rich humor and sympathetic understanding." ( Chicago Tribune)

even better than on paper, and that's saying a lot

I love Robertson Davies' books and have read them all. This is the second audiobook I've gotten. The first was Leaven of Malice. Because it is so comic and comparatively simpler, I had expected that to be more suitable for an audio version, and it was excellent. But this is even better.

As with all Davies, many of the characters are extremes, but all are vibrantly human, even the nastiest. The deep humanity of the author who was an actor, editor, professor, dean AND writer shines through.

The plot starts with a nasty joke of a will that leaves the son and daughter-in-law of a formidable and brilliantly vindictive woman with a hundred dollars, a huge house to maintain, and nothing else. However, they will inherit everything when, and only when, they produce a male heir. Meanwhile, the income from her (for the time) huge estate is to help a Canadian woman study "the arts" abroad.

We are shown both the hardships imposed on the young couple left in Salterton and the unexpected good fortune of the young woman chosen to benefit from the legacy. The characters include an "old puss", a churchman, the young couple, the young female singer being trained, a famous conductor, a gifted composer, and numerous others.

The main emphasis is on watching the development of the young singer. We also watch the son develop some backbone and a sense of humor. The incidents combine warm sympathy for the characters, a great sense of the absurd, and a mixture of joy and loss. Since this is not a tragedy, it ends well for the main characters.

The reader is excellent. The writing is excellent. The characters and incidents are enjoyable. Who could ask for anything more?

You Just Never Know

As usual, Robertson Davies begins with a bang—a will is read and shocking revelations for the dead woman’s son is revealed. From this beginning the story moves into the musical world of a singer, composer and other lives devoted to the art. It is about the greening of a young woman, including taming and training her voice, and the maturation of her understanding of love and of her spirit. It’s a wonderful tale and full of the usual Davies talent for conversation and interesting, real characters. It didn’t live up to the Deptford Trilogy, thus I didn’t give the “story” or “overall” five stars. But it’s definitely worth a listen and will keep you entertained with its wit and spirit.

Terrific book about becoming an artist

Author Robertson Davies is largely overlooked today, especially in the US (Davies was Canadian). His carefully observed characters, their very human relationships, and his insight into the need for some kind of art or magic in our lives makes his work unique and relevant. Highly recommended.

Robertson Davies is a treasure!

Concerning the whole Salterton Trilogy-
The incredible wit, the conversations, dialog and use of vocabulary, all while conveying a riveting story!

Wonderful writing with not so wonderful characters

I absolutely loved the first two books of the series. The characters are complex and frustrating, but still sympathetic.

This one was just as well written, but the selfishness of the truly insipid Monica is difficult to tolerate. I much prefer the original Canada characters. I of course know that the artistic selfishness is the point of this book, but hmmmm… it’s not as fun.

Davies at his best

Davies wrote several trilogies and the Salterton Trilogy shows the real strength of his writing. If you want to delve into Davies psychological fiction, this is an excellent starting point.