The Eagle's Shadow

James Branch CabellProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.3

Word count: 280K words
Chapters: 29

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Eagle's Shadow by James Branch CabellAuthor: Cabell, James Branch, 1879-1958,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Jan 1, 2004

Editor's review

The Eagle's Shadow is a novel by James Branch Cabell, falling under the category of American and Canadian literature. Cabell's writing is known for its refined style, ironic tone, and parody of legendary themes, and this work likewise carries his signature elegant allegorical quality: on the surface it tells a story, while beneath it often offers gentle yet sharp mockery of romantic conventions and human foibles. As a free electronic edition from Project Gutenberg, it suits readers interested in early twentieth-century American literature, especially novels with allegorical and legendary overtones. When reading, pay attention to the narrator's tone and word choices; much of the meaning lies in the turns of rhetoric and should not be approached with an appetite for fast-paced plot. If you can accept somewhat classical English expression, this work offers an intellectual pleasure.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in early twentieth-century American literature
Literature enthusiasts who enjoy irony and elegant allegorical style
Students studying Cabell's works and the tradition of legendary parody
Readers who can accept classical English expression and prefer slow reading

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking fast-paced plots and strong dramatic conflict
Learners whose English reading is not yet proficient and who need simplified materials

Reading tips

First understand Cabell's habitual irony before entering the text to avoid misreading the narrative tone.
Slow down and pay attention to rhetoric and word choice; much of the meaning lies in the turns and hints of sentences.
After reading, consult relevant literary criticism to understand the work's intent to parody the legendary tradition.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

How difficult is this book to read?

As an early twentieth-century American novel, its English expression is rather classical, and its sentence structures and word choices pose a certain barrier for modern readers. Combined with Cabell's habitual irony and implication, understanding requires a slower pace. Readers with some foundation in English literary reading will adapt more easily.

Do I need to know the author's other works first?

Not necessarily. The materials do not indicate that this book depends on any specific earlier work. However, Cabell's writing style is fairly consistent, and prior familiarity with his preference for irony and legendary parody can help you enter the text's tone more quickly and reduce misjudgments of narrative intent.

Is this book suitable as English learning material?

It is not very suitable as introductory learning material. The classical expression and ironic rhetoric increase the burden of understanding. It is better suited to readers who already have some English reading ability and wish to engage with literary texts, as an object of close reading and stylistic appreciation.

Comments

Find this book

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

James Branch Cabell Author · American · 1879–1958

James Branch Cabell (1879–1958) was an American writer born in Richmond, Virginia, and a graduate of the College of William & Mary in 1898. Much of his fiction is set in the invented kingdom of Poictesme. His best-known work, Jurgen: A Comedy of Justice, became the subject of an obscenity prosecution, a famous episode in early twentieth-century American literary censorship. The collection here includes 13 of his works, among them Figures of Earth: A Comedy of Appearances, Chivalry, and Gallantry, many bearing the subtitle "comedy," which reflects his tendency to treat chivalric romance and the worship of women with irony and parody. Public information is limited, but his books use fantastical frameworks for social allegory, creating a distinctive style poised between popular and serious fiction.