The Cream of the Jest (1923) is a novel by James Branch Cabell. Set in a world where history and fantasy collide, where a lowly pawnbroker can encounter monsters, gods, and devils, The Cream of the Jest is one work in a series of novels, essays, and poems known as the Biography of the Life of Manuel. Partly inspired by the obscenity trial surrounding his novel Jurgen, a Comedy of Justice , The Cream of the Jest is a metafictional blend of literary criticism and fantasy fiction about an author whose sudden fame shocks ...
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The Cream of the Jest (1923) is a novel by James Branch Cabell. Set in a world where history and fantasy collide, where a lowly pawnbroker can encounter monsters, gods, and devils, The Cream of the Jest is one work in a series of novels, essays, and poems known as the Biography of the Life of Manuel. Partly inspired by the obscenity trial surrounding his novel Jurgen, a Comedy of Justice , The Cream of the Jest is a metafictional blend of literary criticism and fantasy fiction about an author whose sudden fame shocks his sleepy hometown. To the people of Lichfield, Felix Kennaston is an unremarkable neighbor whose literary ambitions are pursued in secrecy and obscurity. While completing a fantasy novel, he discovers a strange talisman not unlike the one his hero Horvendile presented to his beloved Ettare. That night, Felix meets Ettare in a dream, inspiring him to rewrite the story's ending. When it is published, charges of obscenity threaten to sink his dreams before they can be realized. But critical attention has the opposite effect, making Kennaston a bestselling author overnight. Told from the perspective of Richard Harrowby, a neighbor from Lichfield, The Cream of the Jest is a fascinating blend of literary criticism and fantasy that poses important questions about the divide between fiction and the world we live in. 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 The Cream of the Jest , 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. This edition of James Branch Cabell's The Cream of the Jest is a classic of fantasy and romance reimagined for modern readers. Since our inception in 2020, Mint Editions has kept sustainability and innovation at the forefront of our mission. Each and every Mint Edition title gets a fresh, professionally typeset manuscript and a dazzling new cover, all while maintaining the integrity of the original book. With thousands of titles in our collection, we aim to spotlight diverse public domain works to help them find modern audiences. Mint Editions celebrates a breadth of literary works, curated from both canonical and overlooked classics from writers around the globe.
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Seller's Description:
Good. Size: 112x64x16; Paperback. Pages are clean and unmarked. Covers show moderate edge wear, rubbed and creased corners, creased spine.; 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed! Ships same or next business day!
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Seller's Description:
Good. Good condition. (Fantasy, Fiction) A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains.
Edition:
First Ballantine Printing September, 1971
Publisher:
Ballantine Books Inc.
Published:
1971
Language:
English
Alibris ID:
18029482254
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Seller's Description:
Cover Art by Brian Froud. Good. No Dust Jacket As Issued. Introduction by Lin Carter. Signed by Cover Artist Brian Froud inside the front cover. The bindings are tight and square. Text clean, light even age-toning. Moderate shelf handling wear with used book store stamps. Very Uncommon signature. The Cream of the Jest: A Comedy of Evasions is a comical and philosophical novel with possible fantasy elements, by James Branch Cabell, first published in 1917. Much of it consists of the historical dreams and philosophical reflections of the main character, the famous writer Felix Kennaston. Brian Froud is considered the pre-eminent fairy/fantasy artist of our generation, whose prolific body of art is recognized the world over. Brian Froud's draughtsmanship, artistic techniques and wisdom of folklore caught the eyes of many, including Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Cover Art by Brian Froud. Very Good. No Dust Jacket As Issued. Introduction by Lin Carter. Signed by Cover Artist Brian Froud inside the front cover. The bindings are tight and square. Text clean, light even age-toning. Moderate shelf handling wear. Very Uncommon signature. A Comedy of Woman-Worship (1913) is a fantasy novel by James Branch Cabell, set in the imaginary French province of Poictesme during the second half of the 13th century. Brian Froud is considered the pre-eminent fairy/fantasy artist of our generation, whose prolific body of art is recognized the world over. Brian Froud's draughtsmanship, artistic techniques and wisdom of folklore caught the eyes of many, including Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets. James Branch Cabell was an American author of fantasy fiction and belles-lettres. Cabell was well-regarded by his contemporaries, including H. L. Mencken, Edmund Wilson, and Sinclair Lewis. His works were considered escapist and fit well in the culture of the 1920s, when they were most popular.