Rereading: THE LINE OF LOVE by James Branch Cabell

This is the eighth book in Cabell’s epic work “The Biography of the Life of Manuel,” but like several others, it did not start out that way. It’s a series of stories in the historical romance genre following one family through many generations, and involving kings and queens of England and France as well as literary and historical figures like Falstaff, Christopher Marlow, and Francois Villon. Originally written in 1905, Cabell revised it slightly to connect it to the Manuel saga, though the connection is minor. There’s no magic, other than the magic of the power of love, as the characters find their soulmates, and deal with them in a variety of ways. Some run away together, some reject their true love in favor of duties and obligations, some give up love for the betterment of their true mate, a few even ruin their lovers. Most, however, end up married and have children to carry on the line of love. Cabell’s prose is old fashioned and sometimes flowery, but there’s always an undercurrent of modern humor below the surface that makes the writing easier to enjoy. Recommended.

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