Let Me Lie - Cabell, James Branch

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Résumé :
When Let Me Lie was first published in 1947, most reviewers missed the double meaning of the book's title. Deaf to James Branch Cabell's many-layered ironic wit, they read the book as a paean to the old South. Readers of this new paperback edition are unlikely to repeat the mistake. Let Me Lie is indeed a carefully researched and brilliantly written historical narrative of Virginia from 1559 to 1946 - focusing on Tidewater, Richmond, and the Northern Neck - but as a fictional scholar remarks in the book, Cabell's history is both accurate and injudicious. Virginia's story of itself, Cabell claims, depends on illusion and myth, and his skill as a satirist allows him to construct and deflate these myths simultaneously. Ranging in topic from Don Luis de Velasco and Captain John Smith to Edgar Allan Poe and Ellen Glasgow, from Confederate heroes to the oddities of the post-Civil War Old Dominion, Let Me Lie remains compulsively readable, as history, entertainment, or both....

Biographie:
American writer James Branch Cabell (1879-1958) is renowned for his original works of satire and fantasy fiction from the early 20th century. Cabell, who was born in Richmond, Virginia on April 14, 1879, was raised in the South and went to the College of William & Mary. Southern literary heritage affected his early efforts. Cabell's ambitious effort, The Biography of Manuel, a sequence of connected novels that delve into the fictional mediaeval land of Poictesme, brought him literary renown. Figures of Earth (1921) is one of the series' noteworthy pieces. Combining fantasy, romance, and philosophical aspects, Cabell's writing frequently questions social standards and delves into the intricacies of human nature. Although Cabell's writings were praised by critics for their humour and inventiveness, some of them were suppressed because of their allegedly divisive themes. In spite of this, he kept up his prolific writing and rose to prominence in early 20th-century American literary circles. Jurgen, A Comedy of Justice (1919), one of Cabell's latter works, garnered him not only notoriety but also controversy. His popularity as a writer declined with time, but due to his distinctive satirical and fantastical fusion, readers are becoming more interested in his writing.

Sommaire:
American writer James Branch Cabell (1879-1958) is renowned for his works of social criticism, satire, and fantasy. Born in Richmond, Virginia, Cabell honed a distinctive literary style that combined humor, sarcasm, and romance. Early in the 20th century, Cabell started his writing career and became well-known for his ambitious work, the Biography of the Life of Manuel. The connected books in this series, include Jurgen, Figures of Earth, and The Silver Stallion, demonstrated Cabell's talent for weaving complex stories and his examination of subjects like love, desire, and the definition of heroism. In Cabell's writings, fantasy and social critique are often combined in fanciful worlds and locations. Extensive language, sophisticated wordplay, and a self-awareness that questioned accepted literary standards were characteristics of his writing style. Despite Cabell's decreasing popularity in the middle of the 20th century, his writings are still valued for the literary skill with which they probe human nature and society structures. James Branch Cabell is now regarded as a significant contributor to American literature, especially in the fields of satire, fantasy, and speculative fiction....