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CABELL, JAMES BRANCH.[[2]] Domnei; a comedy of woman-worship. *$2 McBride

20–20192

A revised edition of “The soul of Melicent,” published in 1913, with a new introduction by Joseph Hergesheimer. For note on the story see Annual for 1914.


“Cabell has won indisputably the position of being one of our few distinguished men of letters. He is not for every reader, but one can scarcely picture his desiring this doubtful honor. He writes for his own discriminating audience, and for them he cannot write enough. He creates a taste which it is difficult to satisfy with lesser delights. ‘Domnei’ carries a significance and an atmosphere of its own.” D. L. Mann

+ Boston Transcript p6 Ja 8 ’21 1100w

“It is a subtle story, but not a convincing story.... And ‘Domnei’ is an entertaining story—a story to be read at one sitting—with colour and marvel and high-sounding words. It has the outline of a narrative poem, and I, for one, feel that it is a pity that Mr Cabell did not turn his prose into verse.” Padraic Colum

+ − Freeman 2:404 Ja 5 ’21 650w

“The thing that makes ‘Domnei’ stand out above most fables of chivalrous romance is not the clear and sympathetic character portrayal, nor the flowing, beautiful English, nor is it the great wealth of mediaeval lore, which Mr Cabell undoubtedly possesses to an exceptional degree. The greatness of ‘Domnei’ lies in the fact that every detail, historical, narrative, or constructive, falls into place with consummate art, bringing to us of these later and hurried days a spiritual interpretation of the knight’s quest for divine beauty.” H. W. M.