Rereading: THE SILVER STALLION by James Branch Cabell

Generally considered the third book in Cabell’s “Biography of Manuel,” my 1926 first edition copy is part of what became known as the Kalki edition because of the silver stallion in a circle on the covers and title pages. Many of these were later partially rewritten by Cabell, but not this one. It takes place in the years following the disappearance and presumed death of Manuel, as recounted in “Figures of Earth.”

In this book we learn more about the friends and close allies of Manuel, a group that, with him, formed the Fellowship of the Silver Stallion. We can assume that was Manuel’s horse, named Kalki, who was on his war banner. Once Manuel is gone, the Fellowship breaks apart, and we follow each member through the rest of their lives. Some go off to new wars and adventures in far countries, some remain alongside Manuel’s wife Niafer to help build Manuel’s legacy and found the cult or religion based on his memory and deeds, or at least the highly exalted version they tell. The tales are varied, interesting, and at times funny or tragic, and always imbued with Cabell’s witty insights into human nature. It has some parallels to the way Jesus’ legend may have been transformed by his disciples, or perhaps King Arthur’s story was enhanced by storytellers who didn’t know him, if he existed at all.

I enjoyed reading this, it felt new. I hadn’t read it since the Ballantine paperback edition of the early 1970s, and I suspect I wouldn’t have understood it as well back then. While the setting is medieval, Cabell brings us behind the curtains to show what the people involved were really like, each with their own strengths and flaws. A fine book and recommended. I regret I’ve never seen the later edition illustrated by Frank C. Papé.

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