What's Bred in the Bone (Magill’s Survey of American Literature, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Robertson Davies
- First Published: 1985
- Type of Work: Novel
- Genres: Long fiction, Psychological fiction
- Subjects: Self-discovery, Love or romance, Twentieth century, Nineteenth century, Art or artists, England or English people, Canada or Canadians, Espionage or spies, Germany or German people, Biography, Forgery or forging, Collecting or collectors
- Locales: London, England, Germany, Toronto, Canada, Bavaria, Oxford, England
One of the distinguishing characteristics of What's Bred in the Bone is the use of a double frame. The novel tells the story of Francis Cornish but opens with Arthur Cornish, Francis's nephew, arguing with his own wife, Maria, and Francis's erstwhile friend Simon Darcourt over whether Darcourt should complete the biography of Francis Cornish he has begun. Arthur has turned up evidence that Francis “faked” paintings, producing a masterpiece that has passed for a previously unknown Renaissance painting. The second, more playful framing device is an ongoing conversation...
[The entire page is 733 words long]
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