Rereading: CHIVALRY by James Branch Cabell

The sixth book in the series, originally published in 1909, the 1921 edition I have was revised to fit into Cabell’s masterwork with the overall title “The Biography of the Life of Manuel.” Cabell may have been the second twentieth century author to retroactively put much of his work into one overall connected world and story after L. Frank Baum, both perhaps inspired Robert A. Heinlein to do the same many years later.

There are ten stories here, plus introduction, preface, and afterword, that tell of medieval kings and queens of England, France, and Spain mainly. They are love stories, but often tales of frustrated love or love gone wrong in some way as much as anything. Each involves one or more descendant of Manuel of Poictesme, the mythical French province, a man of great military success, and great success with women, gods, and demons too. Several of his children and later offspring became rulers with much larger kingdoms than his, and Cabell follows those threads, though the only magic is perhaps in the bloodline and talents of Manuel’s offspring.

Adherents of Chivalry aim to achieve honor in battle, honor before God, and honor to women. To them, love is as sacred as any holy vow, even if it be their undoing, as it is in some of these stories. While Cabell’s tales are medieval in tone and subject, his more modern understanding of relationships, human nature, and humor, make this an entertaining read. Recommended.

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