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The Lyre of Orpheus: The Cornish Trilogy, Book 3 Audiobook
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(4.01) - 1,330 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
The Cornish Foundation is thriving under the directorship of Arthur Cornish when he and his beguiling wife, Maria Theotoky, decide to undertake a project worthy of the late art expert, collector, and notable eccentric Francis Cornish, whose vast fortune endows the Foundation. It is decided that the Foundation will fund the doctoral work of one Hulda Schnakenburg, a grumpy, remarkably unattractive, and extraordinarily talented music student. Her task is to complete the score of an unfinished opera by the Romantic composer E. T. A. Hoffmann. Additionally, and against all common sense, the Foundation will endeavor to stage the opera, entitledArthur of Britain, or The Magnanimous Cuckold. The scholarly priest Simon Darcourt finds himself charged with writing the libretto.
As the production takes shape, complications both practical and emotional arise: the gypsy in Maria's blood rises with a vengeance; Darcourt stoops to petty crime; and various others indulge in perjury, blackmail, and other unsavory pursuits. Hoffman's dictum, "The lyre of Orpheus opens the door of the underworld," proves all too true—especially when the long-hidden secrets of Francis Cornish himself are finally revealed.
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"I first read Davies' Cornish series (What's Bred in the Bone, The Rebel Angels, and Lyre of Orpheus) a few years ago and loved it. They are all excellent, but this is my favorite of the trio. These books are complex and meaty enough to stand up to repeated readings. Each time I read them I feel that I am becoming reacquainted with old friends that I haven't seen for a while and have forgotten some of their quirks and foibles."
— Ann (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Robertson Davies is the sort of novelist readers can hardly wait to tell their friends about.”
— Washington Post Book World -
“Packed with interesting details of opera history and production, boasting some new, eccentric characters, and pulling together Davies’s various themes in a harmonic resolution…[with] intelligent observations and playful allusions.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“[Davies’] characters fascinate, and his gentle, graceful style makes no demands on the reader. His civilized prose should read well aloud—indeed, Davidson helps one hear its strengths. He provides an intelligent, expressive, well-paced rendering of the narrative…as well as vivid impersonations of the characters.”
— AudioFile -
“Old fans will be delighted, and new readers intrigued…With his wonderfully complex yet controlled plot, deft portrayal of eccentric characters, and great wit, Davies effectively satirizes the world of universities and foundations.”
— Library Journal -
“Hilariously effective.”
— Booklist (starred review) -
“Davis once again delivers the goods…A spry jaunt from an old master—once again in full command of the form.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
The Lyre of Orpheus Listener Reviews
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" Wonderful finish to a humourous and very interesting trilogy. "
— Booklovinglady, 2/12/2014 -
" A disappointing end to the trilogy. The epic sensibility - and seemingly more careful craftsmanship - of the second novel, What's Bred in the Bone, sparked high expectations for the final book that were let down. The plot structure seemed haphazard, with some subplots introduced that seemed to fizzle out; characters' voices were erratic, inconsistent; there seemed to be only a loose correlation between the first book and this third one, so the coherence of the trilogy broke down. Davies seemed to have changed his mind about the book several times without revising it for continuity, and the effect made the book uninteresting, interminable, unsatisfying. "
— Mike, 2/10/2014 -
" Fascinating assortment of characters who interact while producing an opera. "
— Ms., 2/7/2014 -
" I like writers who pull in references and inspiration from diverse resources, and I see nothing wrong with living characters relating to other characters of a non-corporeal nature. In the case of this book, though, Davies went too far for me. It may be that I was exhausted by the time I got to the end of this book, having read all three installments of the trilogy in sequence over a period of two or three weeks. I may need to give it another try. "
— Maureen, 1/25/2014 -
" The Cornish Foundation awards a grant to a doctoral student "Schnak" to complete the score of an unfinished opera. "
— Catherine, 1/24/2014 -
" One of my favorite books of all time. The Cornish Trilogy is wonderful. "
— Lorien, 1/19/2014 -
" I'm a long-time admirer of the work of Robertson Davies, and this was a satisfying conclusion to the Cornish Trilogy. "
— Reese, 1/14/2014 -
" Otimistic, intelligent, and one of the best uses of Tarot symbolgy I've found. I really wat to read the other two parts of the trilogy. "
— Rozonda, 1/10/2014 -
" hard to get into but I absolutely love Robertson Davies... Deptford Trilogy is still my fav. "
— Kathy, 12/31/2013 -
" I <3 Robertson Davies. "
— Karyn, 11/26/2013 -
" pretty sure I read this before. It was great anyway. Opera rules! "
— Gwen, 11/25/2013 -
" This is the last book in my favorite trilogy by one of my very favorite authors. Rebel Angels introduces us to the characters, and I don't know that this book answers all the questions raised during the reading of the first two books, but darn, it's fun! "
— Jen, 10/5/2013 -
" Another fantastic book about the world of art and academia. "
— Sandy, 4/12/2013 -
" I <3 Robertson Davies. "
— Karyn, 9/30/2012 -
" hard to get into but I absolutely love Robertson Davies... Deptford Trilogy is still my fav. "
— Kathy, 8/30/2012 -
" This is the last book in my favorite trilogy by one of my very favorite authors. Rebel Angels introduces us to the characters, and I don't know that this book answers all the questions raised during the reading of the first two books, but darn, it's fun! "
— Jen, 8/29/2012 -
" One of my favorite books of all time. The Cornish Trilogy is wonderful. "
— Lorien, 8/6/2012 -
" Otimistic, intelligent, and one of the best uses of Tarot symbolgy I've found. I really wat to read the other two parts of the trilogy. "
— Rozonda, 4/29/2012 -
" The Cornish Foundation awards a grant to a doctoral student "Schnak" to complete the score of an unfinished opera. "
— Catherine, 4/19/2012 -
" Not my favorite Davies but still a pleasure. The books are about a world of academia, arts and ideals that seems in decline, if not dead. I would have enjoyed living that life and settle for visiting it. "
— Lara, 10/22/2011 -
" Fascinating assortment of characters who interact while producing an opera. "
— Ms., 7/9/2011 -
" pretty sure I read this before. It was great anyway. Opera rules! "
— Gwen, 5/23/2011 -
" Another fantastic book about the world of art and academia. "
— Sandy, 3/18/2011 -
" Not my favorite Davies but still a pleasure. The books are about a world of academia, arts and ideals that seems in decline, if not dead. I would have enjoyed living that life and settle for visiting it. "
— Lara, 3/7/2011 -
" Not my favorite Davies but still a pleasure. The books are about a world of academia, arts and ideals that seems in decline, if not dead. I would have enjoyed living that life and settle for visiting it. "
— Lara, 2/4/2011 -
" Not my favorite Davies but still a pleasure. The books are about a world of academia, arts and ideals that seems in decline, if not dead. I would have enjoyed living that life and settle for visiting it. "
— Lara, 2/4/2011 -
" I'm a long-time admirer of the work of Robertson Davies, and this was a satisfying conclusion to the Cornish Trilogy. "
— Reese, 1/27/2011 -
" I'm a long-time admirer of the work of Robertson Davies, and this was a satisfying conclusion to the Cornish Trilogy. "
— Reese, 1/27/2011 -
" One of my favorites, which I somehow forget until I find it on the shelf and read it again, falling in love with it again. <br/> <br/>But then I'm a huge Arthurian fan and love new twists to old plots. "
— Moon, 8/19/2009 -
" One of my favorites, which I somehow forget until I find it on the shelf and read it again, falling in love with it again. <br/> <br/>But then I'm a huge Arthurian fan and love new twists to old plots. "
— Moon, 8/19/2009 -
" The Cornish Foundation awards a grant to a doctoral student "Schnak" to complete the score of an unfinished opera. "
— Catherine, 6/29/2009 -
" The Cornish Foundation awards a grant to a doctoral student "Schnak" to complete the score of an unfinished opera. "
— Catherine, 6/29/2009 -
" The first R. Davies I read...I was hooked! This is an especially fun read for musicians. "
— Peggy, 6/27/2009 -
" The first R. Davies I read...I was hooked! This is an especially fun read for musicians. "
— Peggy, 6/27/2009 -
" This is the last book in my favorite trilogy by one of my very favorite authors. <em>Rebel Angels</em> introduces us to the characters, and I don't know that this book answers all the questions raised during the reading of the first two books, but darn, it's fun! "
— Jen, 9/14/2008 -
" This is the last book in my favorite trilogy by one of my very favorite authors. <em>Rebel Angels</em> introduces us to the characters, and I don't know that this book answers all the questions raised during the reading of the first two books, but darn, it's fun! "
— Jen, 9/14/2008 -
" Robertson Davies has a droll sense of humor which I love. I had to read something light after NADA. <br/> <br/>It was a delight, as expected. Kind of like a funny A.S. Byatt, intellectual but readable. "
— Leslie, 5/28/2008 -
" Robertson Davies has a droll sense of humor which I love. I had to read something light after NADA. <br/> <br/>It was a delight, as expected. Kind of like a funny A.S. Byatt, intellectual but readable. "
— Leslie, 5/28/2008 -
" Fascinating assortment of characters who interact while producing an opera. "
— Ms., 8/4/2007 -
" Fascinating assortment of characters who interact while producing an opera. "
— Ms., 8/4/2007
About Robertson Davies
Robertson Davies (1913–1995) was an internationally acclaimed author, actor, publisher, and, finally, professor at the University of Toronto. The author of twelve novels and several volumes of essays and plays, he was the first Canadian to be inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
About Frederick Davidson
Frederick Davidson (1932–2005), also known as David Case, was one of the most prolific readers in the audiobook industry, recording more than eight hundred audiobooks in his lifetime, including over two hundred for Blackstone Audio. Born in London, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and performed for many years in radio plays for the British Broadcasting Company before coming to America in 1976. He received AudioFile’s Golden Voice Award and numerous Earphones Awards and was nominated for a Grammy for his readings.