1926. Today, Cabell is recognized by some as one of the first contemporary writers from the South. He is also noted for his unique ability to blend classic myths and legends with his own imagination; and is considered a pioneer of fantasy writing. The book begins: They relate how Dom Manuel that was the high Count of Poictesme, and was everywhere esteemed the most lucky and the least scrupulous rogue of his times, had disappeared out of his castle at Storisende, without any reason or forewarning, upon the feast day of St. Michael and All the Angels. They tell of the confusion and dismay which arose in Dom Manuel's lands when it was known that Manuel the Redeemer-thus named because he had redeemed Poictesme from the Northmen, through the aid of Miramon Lluagor, with a great and sanguinary magic,- was now gone, quite inexplicably out of these lands. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.
--This text refers to the
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Legends and heroes are made, not born,
By
This review is from: The Silver Stallion (Mass Market Paperback)
Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) wrote "All social realities--values and processes--are created by humans. The social and ideational world represents no entity without humans. Such a world is the reflection of the socialization experienced by each individual in his/her cognitive development. This novel is an inadvertent fictional demonstration of the validity of Durkheim's statement.This book provides a major key for getting perspective on Poictesme and its varied inhabitants. In 1239, Dom Manuel, Count of Poictesme disappeared. At Storisende, his young daughter Melicent said that she had seen her father on a black horse riding to the west in company with Grandfather Death on a white one. Young Jurgen, another child who was the son of Coth, reported that at dusk,in Upper Morven, he had seen Dom Manuel partake of a fearful eucharist, who was then transfigured into the glowing clouds of the sunset. Dom Manuel had founded the Fellowship of the Silver Stallion, and since it had lost its leader, Niafer, his wife, summoned the nine remaining members of the group to come to Storisende for its final meeting. After they all had arrived, Horvendile addressed them as follows, "The master who held Poictesme, under my whims, has passed. A woman sits in his place, his little son inherits after him. So begins a new romance; and a new order is afoot." Next, he assigned each of the nine a fate and ordered that a fire be kindled. The banner of the fellowship was burned and each lord of the Black Stallion broke his sword into fragments and threw them into the flames, so that their swords could never defend any other standard. The nine, Gonfal of Naimes, Donander of Evre, Kerin of Nointel, Ninzian of Yair, Holden of Nerac, Anavalt of Fomor, Coth of the Rocks, Guivric of Perdigon and Miramon of Ranec, returned home and made ready for the new order. In this book, the fates of Gonfal, Miramon, Coth, Guivric, Kerin, Ninzian and Donander are told. Alongside their stories, a parallel history is given of the birth and triumph of the great legend about Manuel the Redeemer as it developed in Poictesme.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Innuendo Plus,
By James Windle "jimbo" (Canberra Australia) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Silver Stallion (Mass Market Paperback)
James Branch Cabell was much admired by H.L. Menken as one of the few southern writers of merit, and i can see why. He is quietly and persistently subversive - the innunedo in the book is quite wicked.Murder, adultery, treachery etc are dealt with in such a civilised and matter of fact and even tounge in cheek way. The book can be seen as a satire of southern american society. Its rather reminicent of Lord Dunsany. Cabell repays close reading and much meaning has to be teased out of the text. Im sure it did appear shocking in the 1920's when written - but now days would appear rather tame and stale to most. It provides a wealth of insite into the human psyche.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Chivalry, wit, and satiric romance,
This review is from: The Silver Stallion: a Comedy of Redemption (Mass Market Paperback)
When the Ballantine Adult Fantasy Series began, editor Lin Carter saw to it that the works of many classic authors in the field were reprinted, thus introducing them to a whole new generation. And one of the best of these was the erudite, ever so civilized James Branch Cabell."The Silver Stallion" was the first Cabell volume reprinted, inviting readers into the bewilderingly complex but always entertaining world of "The Biography of Manuel," which sprawled across more than 20 volumes, across centuries, across worlds upon worlds of mythology -- and always in the most lapidary, exquisite prose, as exotic & sometimes as astringent as absinthe. As a teenager only just discovering the then-sparse field of fantasy, primarily due to reading Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and Robert E. Howard, writing of this caliber took me by surprise, to say the least. It wasn't like anything I'd experienced up 'til then! But I soon plunged into the baroque, often humorous & grotesque tales of the Companions of Manuel, the dispersed Round Table to the legendary Manuel's King Arthur. The sensuous & comical illustrations of Frank Papè only added to the pleasure of this new realm -- although I really wasn't old enough, and certainly not experienced enough, to appreciate all that I was reading at the time! Still, I was intrigued enough to look forward to the subsequent volumes that followed over the next few years, which I enjoyed just as much. The flavor of fin-de-siècle decadence, the subtle eroticism, the satiric commentary of the chivalrous ideal, all captured my imagination & provided my first taste of a compelling strain of literature & art. Cabell's fantasies have remained in print since then, thankfully. They won't be for every taste, especially those who prefer straightforward heroism without any hint of irony or world-weary amusement. But for those who enjoy the likes of Jack Vance (who happily acknowledges Cabell's influence), for example, Cabell will be a delight. As always, while there are current editions of his work, if you can find the old Ballantine editions, get them for their distinctively gorgeous cover art & the introductions by Lin Carter. Definitely recommended!
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