The essays collected here have been written against the background of Davey's long and close intellectual engagement with the major critical issues of his day...(and) provide a clear sense of his very substantial contribution to contemporary criticism in Canada... To critical theory he has added his voice on behalf of post-modernist writing, and perhaps as clearly as any other writer has articulated the theory of post-moderism. He has given our criticism its contemporary voice, its sound and its rhythms, and to the mood of our most recent critical writing added his generous and welcoming spirit. A writer on the side of life, he has spoken for life and vitality as an active engaged spirit of our time.