Leaven of Malice (Robertson Davies)

Leaven of Malice is the second book in Robertson Davies' Salterton Trilogy. It was first published in 1954, and it won the Leacock Award for Humour. Although I enjoyed it, I didn't enjoy it quite as much as Tempest Tost, the first novel in the trilogy.

The events of this novel are spurred by the appearance of a false engagement notice in the local paper, the Evening Bellman. Pearl Veronica Vambrace and Solomon Bridgetower, two minor characters we meet in Tempest Tost  are according to the notice, engaged to be married on November 31st, a date that does not even exist.

Pearl's father threatens legal action against the newspaper and the newspaper tries to find the culprit who placed the false ad. Pearl and Solomon--who barely know each other--try to decide what they will do.

This book had me smiling from start to finish, and I LOVED the ending. Although it's part of a trilogy, it can easily stand alone.