James Branch Cabell

American writer James Branch Cabell (1879-1958) is renowned for his original works of satire and fantasy fiction from the early 20th century. Cabell, who was born in Richmond, Virginia on April 14, 1879, was raised in the South and went to the College of William & Mary. Southern literary heritage affected his early efforts. Cabell's ambitious effort, "The Biography of Manuel," a sequence of connected novels that delve into the fictional mediaeval land of Poictesme, brought him literary renown. ...See more

American writer James Branch Cabell (1879-1958) is renowned for his original works of satire and fantasy fiction from the early 20th century. Cabell, who was born in Richmond, Virginia on April 14, 1879, was raised in the South and went to the College of William & Mary. Southern literary heritage affected his early efforts. Cabell's ambitious effort, "The Biography of Manuel," a sequence of connected novels that delve into the fictional mediaeval land of Poictesme, brought him literary renown. "Figures of Earth" (1921) is one of the series' noteworthy pieces. Combining fantasy, romance, and philosophical aspects, Cabell's writing frequently questions social standards and delves into the intricacies of human nature. Although Cabell's writings were praised by critics for their humour and inventiveness, some of them were suppressed because of their allegedly divisive themes. In spite of this, he kept up his prolific writing and rose to prominence in early 20th-century American literary circles. "Jurgen, A Comedy of Justice" (1919), one of Cabell's latter works, garnered him not only notoriety but also controversy. His popularity as a writer declined with time, but due to his distinctive satirical and fantastical fusion, readers are becoming more interested in his writing. See less