The Cunning Man - Classic Text | Alexandria
The Cunning Man, by Robertson Davies, is a late 20th-century novel masquerading as a character study, a philosophical treatise disguised as a mystery. Published in 1994, it centers on Dr. Jonathan Hullah, a physician renowned not so much for medical prowess but for an inexplicable gift: an ability to intuit and diagnose ailments far beyond the scope of conventional medicine, earning him the titular epithet, "cunning man." Many dismiss it as a quaint relic of folklore, a synonym for charlatanry, yet Davies' narrative compels us to reconsider this hasty judgment.
Davies draws on the historical tapestry of cunning-folk traditions woven through centuries of European history. While precise origins are shrouded in the mists of time, records suggest individuals providing similar services flourished from the medieval period onwards. Fragments appear in pamphlets and court records—snippets from witch trials hinting at figures consulted for healing and divination, often blurring the lines between herbal remedy, folk magic, and theological orthodoxy. The era, rife with religious fervor and burgeoning scientific inquiry, saw these practitioners walking a tightrope between respected wisdom and accusations of heresy.
As societal structures shifted and scientific rationalism gained dominance, the cunning man metamorphosed—transformed from respected community figure to marginalized eccentric or purveyor of superstition. The 19th and 20th centuries saw their practices documented in anthropological studies—cataloged, analyzed, often losing the intrinsic mystery that fueled their allure. Davies reclaims this mystery, presenting Hullah as a conduit for something beyond scientific comprehension, a living embodiment of the enduring human need for meaning and healing that transcends empirical validation. The novel subtly questions whether our reliance on quantifiable data has blinded us to other valid forms of knowledge.
The Cunning Man, therefore, is more than just a title; it represents an ongoing dialogue between faith and reason, tradition and modernity, the seen and the unseen. Its impact lies not only in reviving interest in forgotten folklore, but in prompting us to reflect on the limitations of our own perspectives. Does something essential remain hidden, just beyond the reach of modern science?