James Lawrence Cabell

James Lawrence Cabell

James Lawrence Cabell (1879–1958) was an American author of fantasy fiction and belles-lettres. Cabell's work is notable for its unique blend of satire, romance, and fantasy, with a liberal dose of ironic humor. He is best remembered for his series of novels and stories that make up the Biography of the Life of Manuel, which purport to trace the history and genealogy of the imaginary realm of Poictesme (pronounced "pwa-tem"). His most famous work, Jurgen, A Comedy of Justice, is a part of this series.

Biography

James Branch Cabell was born in Richmond, Virginia, to a well-established Southern family. His upbringing in the post-Civil War South, along with his education at the College of William & Mary, significantly influenced his writing and worldview. After a brief attempt at a career in journalism, Cabell dedicated himself to writing fiction. His early work received little attention, but the publication of Jurgen in 1919 brought him notoriety, partly because of its erotic content, which led to a celebrated obscenity trial. Cabell's victory in court was a landmark case for the freedom of expression in literature.

Work

Cabell's oeuvre is extensive, comprising more than fifty published works, including novels, short stories, and essays. His fiction often explores themes of heroism, romantic love, and the artistic pursuit, all conveyed with a pervasive sense of irony and skepticism towards conventional morality and societal norms. The Biography of the Life of Manuel series, which includes works such as Figures of Earth, The Silver Stallion, and The High Place, is characterized by its elaborate mythopoeia, drawing heavily on medieval and Renaissance literature and philosophy to construct the fantastical world of Poictesme.

Legacy

James Branch Cabell's influence on the fantasy genre is significant, with his work predating and arguably paving the way for later writers such as J.R.R. Tolkien and Robert E. Howard. Despite this, his literary reputation has fluctuated over the years, and he is not as widely read today as some of his contemporaries. However, his contribution to American literature and the fantasy genre is recognized by scholars and a dedicated base of fans who appreciate his wit, stylistic elegance, and thematic complexity.

Selected Bibliography

• Jurgen, A Comedy of Justice (1919)
• Figures of Earth (1921)
• The Silver Stallion (1926)
• The High Place (1923)

See Also

• Fantasy literature
• American literature
• Satire