Happy Alchemy

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Happy Alchemy consists of various of Davies' unpublished speeches, book reviews and essays.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 opens with a quotation from the English poet Matthew Green:
"By happy alchemy of mind
They turn to pleasure all they find."

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 Enthusiasms of Robertson Davies
  • The Well-Tempered Critic
  • The Merry Heart
  • Happy Alchemy
Miscellaneous
  • Samuel Marchbanks
  • High Spirits
  • For Your Eye Alone
  • Discoveries

Famous quotes containing the word happy:

    “The genius of American culture and its integrity comes from fidelity to the light. Plain as day, we say. Happy as the day is long. Early to bed, early to rise. American virtues are daylight virtues: honesty, integrity, plain speech. We say yes when we mean yes and no when we mean no, and all else comes from the evil one. America presumes innocence and even the right to happiness.”
    —Richard Rodriguez (b. 1944)