Michael Bedford’s Reviews > A Celtic Temperament: Robertson Davies as Diarist > Status Update

I'm surprised at how quickly I was able to remember the struggles and victories Davies continues to describe here. After opening ceremonies for Massey College were complete, Davies finally started to feel like the school's master, not its administrator, and looks forward to what will come. Davies and others keep trying to get an endowment for the college but no joy yet. And, Davies doubts his literary talents.

Massey College is nearly finished. The Davieses have sold their house and plan on moving into the Master's Residence in a couple months. It's amazing that the whole time that Rob was overseeing basically every detail of Massey College's construction he wasn't drawing any salary. Rob and Brenda again visit to their astrologer Hugh MacCraig who gives a relatively accurate forecast of Rob's success in his later years.

1961 is over. Robertson Davies is planning construction of Massey College. Rob has been working on Fifth Business & is looking forward to moving away from Peterborough & quitting the Examiner. Rob worries he's not much of a scholar or a writer. The Davieses h.t.d.'d 74 times. Rob remarks that they enjoy it more than ever. They study the Alexander technique, & Rob, as a result, notices an improvement in his health.

I'm nearing the end of 1961 now: Robertson Davies oversees the construction of Massey College, of which he will be the first Master. The Davieses are becoming friends with Vincent Massey and Bill Broughall (the Masseys' lawyer). Production of Rob's Leaven of Malice play runs out of money, maybe due to poor management but notices aren't great. Rob deals with this failure as Massey College appointment presents itself.

1959 was a busy year for the Davieses. Robertson Davies finished drafting his book for Alfred Knopf, continued work on his Leaven of Malice play, & wrote for the Toronto Star. Brenda Davies has become a professional director, & the Davies girls took singing lessons.

Brenda and Rob benefit from their instruction in the Alexander technique, and the frisky couple "h.t.d.'d" 79 times. Oh, and Rob made the Queen laugh.