Worth it's weight in gold! At last, a work we can count on to bring a much needed and missed perspective. The editors have done a tremendous job and deserve our thanks. A real treasure.

This was the original 1913 title of the book which in 1927, was changed by JBC to DOMNEI.

In "Le roman de lusignan" (1546), Nicolas de Caen illustrated the concept of DOMNEI in the tale of Perion and Melicent. Unfortunately, the original work only survived in fragments, so in the 20th century, James Branch Cabell conducted a search of the literature from the 15th century to the 19th, and found 20 sources which shed light on the events chronicled in the fragments.

Perion, the embodiement of Chivalry, took the blame for a crime and became a forest outlaw. Once, to avoid capture, he waylayed and assumed the identity of the Vicomte de Puysange and secured entrance to the palace of Count Emmerick of Poictesme where the betrothal of the count's sister Melicent to King Theodoret was being celebrated. Before the celebration had ended, Perion asked Melicent's help to flee the country. She was smitten by love for him and agreed to do it. She tried to flee with him, but her cousin, the warrior-bishop Ayrart de Montors, managed to prevent such an event and Perion boarded a ship to take command of a band of mercenaries. Before the ship reached its destination, it was attacked by three ships of the pro-consul Demetrios--an embodiement of Gallantry, and Perion became his prisoner and assigned to perform menial tasks for the pro-consul. Demetrios was the pro-consul of Naucaria in Anatolia--a surviving fragment of the Roman Empire in which the pagan religion still flourished. Melicent learned of Perion's capture, disguised herself as a young man and sought out Demetrios. She tried to ransom Perion with jewels, but Demetrios saw through her disguise and forced her to marry him to secure Perion's release. From that point on, Perion and Demetrios became two dogs fighting over a bone with dire consequences for many. The twists and turns of the story with its wealth of characters and events never falters.

The title of this book comes from a poem:"Behold the child, by Nature's kindly law, Pleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw. . . . Scarfs, garters, gold, amuse his riper age, And beads and prayer-books are the toys of age."

Before reading this book, look up the definitions of "arietin," "epigoni," "horary" and "thrasonical."

JBC stated that he wrote the Biography for his personal diversion, and maintained that that was the rationale for any literary work. Within such diversion, the writer plays with reason, common sense and piety which is explored in Chapter 1 thru 3. Chapter 4 returned to Poictesme to relate the fate of Sir Anavalt of Fomor who quested for and found Maid Vae, the Thin Queen of Elfhame. Chapter 5 discussed the change of a writer's viewpoint with age and the negative and positive aspects of the Puritan world-view on 20th century behavior. His analysis of LA ROTISSERIE DE LA REINE PEDAUQUE by Anatole France deserves careful study and his remarks about "celestial architecture" are insightful. Chapter 6 looked at the goals and idiosyncracies of established literary artists. Chapter 7 entitled "Diversions of the Anchorite," focused on Joseph Hergesheimer (1880-1954) as a shining example of that concept. Chapter 8 went back to Poictesme and followed the career of Sir Holden of Nerac who had become enamored with the delta-framed picture of the pagan Queen Radegonde who had died 1300 years before him. Sir Guivric of Perdigon enabled Sir Holden to love and later marry the queen with decidely mixed results. The final chapters focus on the work of George Moore (1852-1933) and hint that "the pen is a remedy against oblivion." An addendum to the book entitled "The Author of the Eagle's Shadow," has the young JBC asking the elder one if he should become a writer. The elder one discussed the positive and negative sides to becoming a writer, but left the query unanswered.

This could have been titled "The Cabells and Our Country". While history may be presented in a dull and uninteresting manner, this volume reads as if it were historical fiction of the John Jakes genre. If the author is offended by this comparison, he shouldn't be. From Vol. I, Dr. William Cabell, the Immigrant, who didn't charge patients if he didn't cure them, through the contemporaries of Washington and Jefferson who helped to launch the Revolutionary War and then fought in it, Cabells are there. Vol. I continues through the Civil War with the 6 Cabell brothers of Danville and their sacrifices, to the turn of the century. The 20th Century Volume covers the Spanish- American War, where a former Confederate cavalry general volunteers for active service, followed by WWI, WWII, the Berlin Airlift where a Cabell wife accompanies her husband on the flights and pushes cargo from the plane, the Korean War and Viet Nam. When the bugle sounded, the Cabells responded. If you want to know anything about the 20th Century Cabells, this is the book. If you just want to feel some of the many facets of 20th Century History and how it was flavored by real people such as the Cabells, you could do a lot worse than this book. Randolph Wall Cabell has done a historical tour de force for the Cabell family and for those interested in the human side of our country's history.

I am reviewing this book because no one else has, SO the book is packed full of facts. The style is dry, but he does strive to give an objective vision of Breckinridge, and accomplishes that by not slipping into purple prose. A good functional book.

William C. Davis has written the only full-length biography of John C. Breckinridge, who is one of the most fascinating and yet one of the least well known figures in all of American history.

Davis begins by charting Breckinridge's early years as a lawyer, his rise in Kentucky state politics and then national politics, his role as Vice-President and his reluctant campaign for the Presidency in 1860. Davis then provides an excellent overview of Breckinridge's career as a Confederate military leader, fighting on nearly every front of the war and ending the war as the Confederate Secretary of State. Davis also gives an outstanding account of Breckinridge's dramatic escape from the country following the Confederate defeat, which was an adventure so extraoridinary that it should be made into a movie. Davis concludes his work by describing Breckinridge's years as an exile before his final return to Kentucky and his tragic early death.

Davis is one of the country's best historians of the Civil War, and this book is an excellent manifestation of his scholarly and literary gifts. Not only is it full of information, allowing the reader to truly feel as though they have a solid understanding of Breckinridge's life, but it is written in such a fine style that it is always entertaining and never dull.

Tales of the "spiritual" descendants of Dom Manuel the Reedemer, carefully annotated by expert commentary. Figures of earth have feet of clay.

. . . "They of Poictesme narrate that Queene Freydis thereafter did giue Lyfe to these muddie Ymages, eche at a certayne Houre, and that her sotyll scyaunce of Ergomancy sett these x to liue among Mans Kind," . . .

Poets and bottles come in different shapes and sizes, but both should be judged by their contents not their labels. The poets in these ten stories range in time from the early 13th century to that of the 20th.

In 1210, the chivalrous Raimbault de Vaquieras, a 30 year veteran of the Crusades, returned to France and made peace with a long time enemy. When he was told by Dona Biatritz, his long time friend and lover, that his enemy was planning his murder, Raimbault refused to negate his oath and take action. However, Dona B.was not restrained by any such an oath. In 1533, the beautiful Graciosa Balthazar not yet 16, attracted the attention of Duke Alessandro de Medici and Count Eglamore,the duke's hatchet man, and found herself forced to make a choice between two evils. In 1609, William Shakespeare found his talents waning, but found new inspiration in the creed of Judith, his unlettered daughter. In 1674, Robert Herrick, the eccentric clergyman and poet, disappeared. His friends Sir Thomas Browne and Philip Borsdale learned that RH had dabbled in magic with tragic consequences. In May of 1680, Robert Wycherley, poet, fop and social gadfly, failed to make a remunerative marriage and was saved from drowning by an unexpected turn of events. In 1718, Alexander Pope, the small, disfigured poet and satirist, tried to bestow a generous gift on a young couple, but failed to do so. In 1681, Robert Calverley resigned an important state position to save the life of his wife Honoria who he had literally stolen from the Marquis of Umfraville before their expected marriage. He returned to England despite warnings from friends that his actions had outraged many in high places and now,they wanted revenge. He was saved from ruin by an unselfish act of a scheming relative. In 1795, Richard Sheridan, poet-politician, married Miss Esther Jane Ogle known as "the irresistible Ogle," after being rebuffed by her many, many times. On Sheridan's turf, Miss Ogle proved to be no match for the wily politician. In 1803, Crown Prince Hilary of Saxe-Kesselberg, staged his funeral, changed his name to Paul Vanderhoffen and fled to England to become a poet and writer. After a series of events, one of which almost ended in his death, he married Mildred Claridge and became a writer on Grub Street. John Charteris, a distinguised writer and lecturer, gave a Commencement Speech at his alma mater and thought he had a chance to rekindle a relationship with Pauline Romeyne, a former lover, until his friend Rudolph Musgrave ruined his plan with a dose of reality.

The 21 page "Auctorial Induction" should be read both before and after reading the ten tales. In it, JBC makes a number of penetrating observations about the 1916 literary scene in the USA. The ballad at the beginning of the book and the one at its end, both bear rereading.

A young Cabell weaves tales (annotated by authorities (?) of the era) spinning tales of some of the descendants (lineal and "spiritual")(and their consequences)that enrich the History of Dom Manuel of Poictesme. And outlines one of the characteristic approaches taken by the male in his inevitable pursuit of "Domnei".

These ten stories are attributed to Nicolas de Caen who wrote them in 1470 while serving as the priest and secretary to Philippe, Duke of Burgundy. The stories begin in the 13th century and end in the early years of the 15th. During this time the English Kings are struggling to retain their French possessions. In the "Sestina" chapter, Alianora of Provence, the wife of King Henry III, enlists the aid of Osmund Heleigh to help her secure the escape of her son Prince Edward whom the barons have imprisoned. The bookish Osmund helps her with disasterous consequences to himself. In the "Tenson" chapter, Prince Edward defeats the barons at the Battle of Evesham, after which he goes to Spain to get his wife Ellinor who he married ten years earlier. Several try to get him to set aside his claim to her with dire consequences for his opponents. In the "Rat-Trap" chapter, Prince Edward, now Edward I, arranged to marry Blanch, daughter of King Philippe of France. When he goes to France, King Philippe has second thoughts about the marriage and arranges to have Edward assassinated. Edward discovers the plot and humiliates the French king then departs France with a wife but her name is not Blanch. In "Choices," Queen Ysabeau spends a holiday toying with Sir Gregory Darrell and Rosamund Eastney. In "Housewife," Queen Phillipa, wife of Edward III thwarts a conspiracy against him and inspires the English army to defeat the Scottish forces invading England. In "Satraps," Dame Anne of Bohemia, wife to Richard II, prevents Richard's uncles from placing his brother Edward Maudlain on the throne by having Edward M. leave the court and go into hiding. In "Heritage," Edward Maudlain with the help of Richard II's 11 year old wife, Isobel Valois, takes his brother's place in prison and is slain, after which Henry of Derby becomes King Henry IV. In "Scabbard," the deposed Richard II changes his surname to Holland and makes a long tour of the continent. On his return to England, he has a chance to recover his usurped throne but opts to settle in Wales at Caer Idion, marry a peasant girl named Branwen and become a shepherd. In the "Navarrese," Antoine Riczi remains loyal to Princess Jehane de Navarre. In the "Fox-Brush," King Henry V traveling incognito in France as Alain Maquedonnieux the Irish harpist, kills a fox near the Convent of Chartres and has a chance meeting with Lady Katherine the Fair. He falls in love with her, and after an angst-filled courtship they become betrothed in the Cathedral of Troyes. In his "Epilogue," Nicolas de Caen gives the authorities for his tales and apologizes for being unable to confirm solidly the facts of the first three tales. As the events in the tales take place, the Hundred Years War blossoms and the seeds for the War of the Roses are sown.

This book was a work of written art with a unique atmosphere of the years covered. This was a great depiction of the non-fictional view of 1929-1939.

Cabell Phillips' From The Crash To The Blitz 1929-39 provides ahistorical review of the period from 1929-39 in America: a time whichencompassed both the Depression and war. From changes in popular society to political and economic transitions, this provides an all-encompassing history which focuses on what it was like to live during the changing times.

Cabell's mythology encompasses fantastic levels in language elegant and cunning. The History of Dom Manuel continues through his descendant who finds peculiar solutions to difficult situations.

One afternoon in 1698, Florian, the 10 year old son of the Duke de Puysange, decided to explore the Forest of Acaire which he had been emphatically forbidden to do. He entered the forest and was greeted by Melusine, the sorceress who took him to the enchanted Castle of Brunbelois and showed him Melior, her sister, who had been asleep for over 500 years. Upon seeing the sleeping beauty, Florian fell deeply in love with her. Next, he was aware of being in his bedroom and wondering if he had dreamed his adventure. His father assured him that he had.

At age 35, Florian exiled his mistress, poisoned his favorite male companion and set out on horseback on a four day journey to the home of Mlle. Louise de Nerac, his affianced and soon to be 5th wife. As he was passing the Forest of Acaire, Marie-Claire, his half sister, emerged from it and greeted him. He chided her for her lack of interest in following logic and precedent and her casual life-style, and she, in turn, sowed seeds of doubt concerning his upcoming 5th marriage. She mentioned the name of "Janicot" to him and made some cryptic references to him. Florian decided to amuse himself by finding Janicot in the forest and watch him work. After entering the forest, he soon came upon Janicot. He began talking with him and quickly realized that with Janicot's help he could have Melior for his bride instead of Louise. He made a Rumpelstiltskin-like deal with Janicot, and learned how to disenchant the Castle of Brunbelois, after which he married Melior. From that point on, Florian lost control of events, found his belief system under siege and saw his fantasies and crimes come to life and mock him. However, thanks to a deal between Janicot and the Archangel Michael, Florian was able to return to the path of logic and precedent and act upon his father's mandate: "Thou shalt not offend against thy neighbors notions."

In this work, satire, fantasy and social criticism run amuck in a uniquely fluent literary style. If the tale has a moral, it's: "You can't go home again!"

Before "The Fellowship of the Ring" there was "The Fellowship of the Silver Stallion"; the consequences for those who allied themselves in arms with Dom Manuel (The Reedemer), progenitor of generations (mortal and otherwise) and founder of myth.

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.