it was @tomewing.bsky.social i think who said On Here or Over There how much they liked The Deptford Trilogy by Robertson Davies. caused me to pick it up and i haven’t enjoyed a set of novels as much in a long while. the writing is excellent - it has strength, like strong drink…

.. and he balances magic, psychology, and a sort of political and social documentary… realism would be going too far.. *detail* maybe, that creates something powerful but yes also enjoyable. i read The Rebel Angels as well, which is fun, but strains a bit and is facetious. Deptford is perfect tho.