Books by James Branch Cabell

Jurgen, A Comedy of Justice (1919) is a comic fantasy novel by James Branch Cabell. Set in a world where history and fantasy collide, where a lowly pawnbroker can encounter monsters, gods, and devils, Jurgen, A Comedy of Justice is one of Cabell's best-known works of fiction. For several years after its initial publication, the novel was the subject of an obscenity trial pursued by the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice. In 1923, after winning his case, Cabell made sure to immortalize the event with a revised edition featuring a "lost" chapter where Jurgen is persecuted for his writing by grotesque Philistines. Jurgen, A Comedy of Justice is one work in a series of novels, essays, and poems known as the Biography of the Life of Manuel. "For now had come to Jurgen and the Centaur a gold-haired woman, clothed all in white, and walking alone. She was tall, and lovely and tender to regard: and hers was not the red and white comeliness of many ladies that were famed for beauty, but rather it had the even glow of ivory [...] to Jurgen this woman's countenance was in all things perfect. Perhaps this was because he never saw her as she was." Unsatisfied with life as a lowly pawnbroker, Jurgen follows his heart in pursuit of ideal love. A proponent of medieval chivalry, he encounters gods, goddesses, kings, and queens as he passes from one otherworldly realm to the next. On his wondrous journey, he meets some of the most celebrated women in history and literature, including Guinevere, Anaitis, and Helen of Troy. Jurgen, a wily poet and legendary lover with a head full of dreams and desires, is an allegorical figure for modern humanity, a flawed hero whose kaleidoscopic world is not entirely different from our own. Cabell's work has long been described as escapist, his novels and stories derided as fantastic and obsessive recreations of a world lost long ago. To read Jurgen, A Comedy of Justice, however, is to understand that the issues therein-the struggle for power, the unspoken distance between men and women-were vastly important not only at the time of its publication, but in our own, divisive world. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of James Branch Cabell's Jurgen, A Comedy of Justice is a classic of fantasy and romance reimagined for modern readers.

Chivalry (1909) is a fascinating collection of tales that draw inspiration from the popular chronicles of medieval Europe. Author James Branch Cabell immerses his reader into this distant world , masking his authorship in order to ensure a fluidity of form and content that injects his work of high fantasy with a sense of truth.Intentionally layered in mystery and claims of authenticity, Chivalry purports to be a copy made by royal scribe Colard Mansion of the Dizain of Queens, a collection of chronicles, tales, and histories written by Messire Nicolas de Caen for the Princess Isabella of Portugal. In "The Story of the Sestina," a traveling singer has a chance encounter with the Queen of England, who recognizes him as the esteemed Osmund Heleigh and requests of him a song. As he joins her on her journey through war-torn countryside, two things become clear-the pair have a secret history, and, as battle nears, Osmund will soon have to offer more than his songs in her service. As the collection's title suggests, many of Cabell's stories follow a similar theme: the relationship between men and women within a system regulated by honor, responsibility, and often blind loyalty. "The Story of the Tenson," set in Spain in 1265, follows Ellinor of Castile's efforts to escape her marriage in the pursuit of love. In "The Story of the Choices," Queen Ysabeau of England eases her boredom by devising a series of trials for the knight Sir Gregory Darrell. Over the course of ten tales, tales of danger, romance, intrigue, and courage, James Branch Cabell's Chivalry broadens the mystery of the medieval world while illuminating, and critiquing, our own.Cabell's work has long been described as escapist, his novels and stories derided as fantastic and obsessive recreations of a world lost long ago. To read Chivalry, however, is to understand that the issues therein-the struggle for power, the unspoken distance between men and women-were vastly important not only at the time of its publication, but in our own, divisive world.With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of James Branch Cabell's Chivalry is a classic of fantasy and romance reimagined for modern readers.

Taboo (1921) is a comic fantasy novel by James Branch Cabell. Set in a world where history and fantasy collide, where a lowly pawnbroker can encounter monsters, gods, and devils, Taboo is a follow up to Jurgen, A Comedy of Justice, which was the subject of an obscenity trial pursued by the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice. In 1923, after winning his case, Cabell made sure to immortalize the event with a revised edition featuring a ¿lost¿ chapter where Jurgen is persecuted for his writing by grotesque Philistines. In Taboo, one work in a series of novels, essays, and poems known as the Biography of the Life of Manuel, Cabell explores the cultural environment that led to his work¿s persecution, inventing a whole world in which to air his grievances. ¿Since time's beginning, every age has had its literary taboos, selecting certain things¿more or less arbitrarily, but usually some natural function¿as the things which must not be written about. To violate any such taboo so long as it stays prevalent is to be ¿indecent¿: and that seems absolutely all there is to say concerning this topic, apart from furnishing some impressive historical illustration...¿ While most authors in the midst of an obscenity trial would be content to let their lawyer do the talking, James Branch Cabell took the opportunity to reflect on the matter in the only way he knew how. In this work, written in the style of medieval history, Cabell tells the story of Philistia, a country dedicated to the persecution of all manner of ill-defined vice and taboo. Bold and satirical, this thinly veiled critique of his own, high-minded critics is essential to understanding Cabell¿s vision of art. Cabell¿s work has long been described as escapist, his novels and stories derided as fantastic and obsessive recreations of a world lost long ago. To read Taboo, however, is to understand that the issues therein¿the struggle for power, the unspoken distance between men and women¿were vastly important not only at the time of its publication, but in our own, divisive world. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of James Branch Cabell¿s Taboo is a classic of fantasy and romance reimagined for modern readers.

Chivalry (1909) is a fascinating collection of tales that draw inspiration from the popular chronicles of medieval Europe. Author James Branch Cabell immerses his reader into this distant world , masking his authorship in order to ensure a fluidity of form and content that injects his work of high fantasy with a sense of truth.Intentionally layered in mystery and claims of authenticity, Chivalry purports to be a copy made by royal scribe Colard Mansion of the Dizain of Queens, a collection of chronicles, tales, and histories written by Messire Nicolas de Caen for the Princess Isabella of Portugal. In ¿The Story of the Sestina,¿ a traveling singer has a chance encounter with the Queen of England, who recognizes him as the esteemed Osmund Heleigh and requests of him a song. As he joins her on her journey through war-torn countryside, two things become clear¿the pair have a secret history, and, as battle nears, Osmund will soon have to offer more than his songs in her service. As the collection¿s title suggests, many of Cabell¿s stories follow a similar theme: the relationship between men and women within a system regulated by honor, responsibility, and often blind loyalty. ¿The Story of the Tenson,¿ set in Spain in 1265, follows Ellinor of Castile¿s efforts to escape her marriage in the pursuit of love. In ¿The Story of the Choices,¿ Queen Ysabeau of England eases her boredom by devising a series of trials for the knight Sir Gregory Darrell. Over the course of ten tales, tales of danger, romance, intrigue, and courage, James Branch Cabell¿s Chivalry broadens the mystery of the medieval world while illuminating, and critiquing, our own.Cabell¿s work has long been described as escapist, his novels and stories derided as fantastic and obsessive recreations of a world lost long ago. To read Chivalry, however, is to understand that the issues therein¿the struggle for power, the unspoken distance between men and women¿were vastly important not only at the time of its publication, but in our own, divisive world.With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of James Branch Cabell¿s Chivalry is a classic of fantasy and romance reimagined for modern readers.

A collection of letters from James Branch Cabell, covering a period of years and spanning a wide variety of subjects. A fascinating look at the man behind the work, and a glimpse at the personal thoughts of one of the 20th Century's greatest fantasists.

A landmark of classic fantasy from the author of DOMNEI, THE CREAM OF THE JEST, and JURGEN.