WRITER

James Branch Cabell

1879 - 1958

Photo of James Branch Cabell

Icon of person James Branch Cabell

James Branch Cabell (; April 14, 1879 – May 5, 1958) 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. Read more on Wikipedia

Since 2007, the English Wikipedia page of James Branch Cabell has received more than 220,201 page views. His biography is available in 15 different languages on Wikipedia. James Branch Cabell is the 6,410th most popular writer (down from 5,758th in 2019), the 11,853rd most popular biography from United States (down from 10,763rd in 2019) and the 869th most popular American Writer.

Memorability Metrics

  • 220k

    Page Views (PV)

  • 41.23

    Historical Popularity Index (HPI)

  • 15

    Languages Editions (L)

  • 2.46

    Effective Languages (L*)

  • 2.97

    Coefficient of Variation (CV)

Notable Works

Figures of Earth
Fiction, fantasy, general, Poictesme (imaginary place), fiction, Wit and humor
The Eagle's Shadow
Fiction, Middle Ages, Fiction, fantasy, historical
The Cords of Vanity A Comedy of Shirking
Fiction, humorous, general
Jurgen
Classic Literature, Fantasy, Fiction
"Jurgen: A Comedy of Justice," an entry in the Poictesme series, is an epic fantasy voyage as well as an erotic fable. Cabell himself wrote: "This fable is, as the world itself, a book wherein each man will find what his nature enables him to see; which gives us back each his own image; and which teaches us each the lesson that each of us desires to learn." Jurgen was banned for decades because of its explicit content. It was, and remains, a groundbreaking early fantasy novel and a worthy addition to the Wildside Fantasy Classics line.
Domnei: A Comedy of Woman-worship
Fiction, fantasy, historical, Fiction, humorous, general, Fiction, romance, fantasy
The Cream of the Jest
Fiction, fantasy, general, Poictesme (imaginary place), fiction, Allegories
The Eagle's Shadow
Fiction, Middle Ages, Fiction, fantasy, historical
The Cords of Vanity
Fiction, humorous, general, Authors -- Fiction, United States -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
<p><i>The Cords of Vanity</i> by <a href="https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/james-branch-cabell">James Branch Cabell</a> is the thirteenth installment in his <a href="https://standardebooks.org/collections/biography-of-the-life-of-manuel">Biography of the Life of Manuel</a> series.</p> <p>Robert Etheridge Townsend is an arrogant young man from a prominent wealthy family (he is the great-grandson of <i><a href="https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/james-branch-cabell/jurgen">Jurgen</a></i> of Poictesme). As a teenager, he falls in love with Stella, beginning the first of many love affairs. Townsend’s vanity allows him to proceed through these love affairs with disregard for the women who are the objects of his “affection.” As the years pass, he begins to mature, but still struggles to overcome the need to avoid any situation that may cause him unpleasantness.</p> <p><i>The Cords of Vanity</i> was originally published in 1909, and was revised in 1920 (the edition on which this ebook is based) with an introduction by author Wilson Follett. Six of the chapters were originally published as short stories in the monthly literary magazine <i>The Smart Set</i>.</p>
Jurgen
Classic Literature, Fantasy, Fiction
"Jurgen: A Comedy of Justice," an entry in the Poictesme series, is an epic fantasy voyage as well as an erotic fable. Cabell himself wrote: "This fable is, as the world itself, a book wherein each man will find what his nature enables him to see; which gives us back each his own image; and which teaches us each the lesson that each of us desires to learn." Jurgen was banned for decades because of its explicit content. It was, and remains, a groundbreaking early fantasy novel and a worthy addition to the Wildside Fantasy Classics line.
Figures of Earth
Fiction, fantasy, general, Poictesme (imaginary place), fiction, Wit and humor
Domnei: A Comedy of Woman-worship
Fiction, fantasy, historical, Fiction, humorous, general, Fiction, romance, fantasy
The Cream of the Jest
Fiction, fantasy, general, Poictesme (imaginary place), fiction, Allegories

Among WRITERS

Among writers, James Branch Cabell ranks 6,410 out of 7,302Before him are Janet Evanovich, Tron Øgrim, Thomas Percy, Joe Hill, Māra Zālīte, and Ayi Kwei Armah. After him are Michael McClure, Andrew Sarris, Jáchym Topol, Frances Wright, Michal Šanda, and Thomas Hood.

Most Popular Writers in Wikipedia

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 1879, James Branch Cabell ranks 256Before him are Frank Kugler, Lucy Burns, Edward Dillon, Björn Þórðarson, Terence MacSwiney, and Albert Ireton. After him are Charles Thias, King Baggot, Elmer McCollum, Gerald Logan, Vachel Lindsay, and C. H. Douglas. Among people deceased in 1958, James Branch Cabell ranks 196Before him are Walter Crickmer, Tris Speaker, Friedrich Maurer, Mary Ritter Beard, Harold Smith, and David Jack. After him are Russell Mockridge, Charles King, Dunc Munro, Helen Twelvetrees, Zoe Akins, and Clarence DeMar.

Others Born in 1879

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Others Deceased in 1958

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In United States

Among people born in United States, James Branch Cabell ranks 11,853 out of 20,380Before him are Robert Detweiler (1930), Jane Withers (1926), Sue Carol (1906), Hans Reiser (1963), Phoebe Hearst (1842), and Normani (1996). After him are Michael McClure (1932), Andrew Sarris (1928), Luke Harper (1979), Roy Z (1963), Judy Sheindlin (1942), and Nicki Hunter (1979).

Among WRITERS In United States

Among writers born in United States, James Branch Cabell ranks 869Before him are Joe Paterno (1926), Leslie Feinberg (1949), Jennifer Egan (1962), James Patrick Kelly (1951), Janet Evanovich (1943), and Joe Hill (1972). After him are Michael McClure (1932), Andrew Sarris (1928), Tana French (1973), Barbara Kingsolver (1955), Rick Yancey (1962), and Jonathan Rosenbaum (1943).