The Age Of Chivalry

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE. REPEAT IF REQUIRED

Raindrops on window

Today began with leaden skies and raindrops on windows.

Garden through rainy window

Even owls, dripped on from branches above,  peered enviously inside.

Late this afternoon, when the rain had desisted somewhat, we took a car load of rubbish, that we had ourselves recycled once or twice already, to Efford Recycling Centre; and returned with two mirrors for the garden, a bar stool, and a Chinese rug.

Back in the early 1970s, I discovered the English book illustrator Frank C. Papé, and,  through him, the American writer, James Branch Cabell, in the illustrated editions produced by The Bodley Head in the early 20th century. I have already featured ‘The Cream of the Jest’, and today, as I finished reading ‘Domnei: a Comedy of Woman-Worship’, offer more information on the collaborators.

On the author, Wikipedia tells us:

‘James Branch Cabell (/ˈkæbəl/; 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. MenckenEdmund Wilson, and Sinclair Lewis. His works were considered escapist and fit well in the culture of the 1920s, when they were most popular. For Cabell, veracity was “the one unpardonable sin, not merely against art, but against human welfare.”[1][2]

Although escapist, Cabell’s works are ironic and satirical. H. L. Mencken disputed Cabell’s claim to romanticism and characterized him as “really the most acidulous of all the anti-romantics. His gaudy heroes … chase dragons precisely as stockbrockers play golf.” Cabell saw art as an escape from life, but once the artist creates his ideal world, he finds that it is made up of the same elements that make the real one.’

There is much more information on his life and works on this link [1]’

Maybe I’m too gullible, but I found this work an enthralling fantasy of an imagined love story from the age of chivalry. There are a number of cynical characters, and we are invited to believe it is based on fragments of a Medieval manuscript. Obviously the source is spurious, and it is perhaps significant that the only uncut pages are the last two of the alleged bibliography. Nevertheless the romantic in me was enjoyably engaged with this readable story, details of which I will not reveal. The language is of the writer’s time, yet following the form of a 14th century geste. The descriptions of the natural world are beautifully done.

The artist is perfectly in tune with the writer, Clicking on the numbered highlight in the following paragraph will take you to the fuller Wikipedia page about him.

‘Frank Cheyne Papé, who generally signed himself Frank C. Papé (b. Camberwell, July 4, 1878 – d. Bedford, May 5, 1972) was an English artist and book illustrator. He studied at The Slade School of Fine Art, completing his studies circa 1902-04.[1] Papé was married to a fellow Slade student, illustrator Alice Stringer.’

Papé’s distinctive style ensured his popularity in the golden age of book illustration. He has a mastery of line and form.

Domnei, first published in 1913, underwent several revisions before the first illustrated edition of 1930, of which my copy is one.

Domnei001

Of the ten plates protected by tissue sheets, we begin with the frontispiece;

Domnei002

thereafter I have chosen samples of chiaroscuro elegance;

Domnei003

of drollery;

Domnei004

and of excellent composition, with an ability to indicate the effect of passing time on a still beautiful woman. We can well believe this is the lady in the second picture above.

Domnei005

Each of the thirty short chapters is introduced

Domnei006

by a framed picture illustrating its first page.

Domnei007

These are minutely faithful to the text.

Domnei008

I cannot elaborate on this without giving too much away.

This evening we dined on Jackie’s supreme lamb jalfrezi, savoury rice, and vegetable samosas. I finished the malbec.

 

54 comments

  1. You have seduced me Derrick – I want to read this book and admire those illustrations – the style of drawing gives such weight and texture to the fabrics I am entranced by them! Is this one of your older long kept tomes? I’m beginning to think I could spend as long in your garage library as I could in Jackie’s garden!!

  2. Why is it in all these type of pictures everyone looks so damned tragic, nobody ever smiles or laughs. They’re miserable things really.

    I’m still waiting, but no longer holding my breath, for you to say something along the lines …
    ‘This evening we dined on Jackies fried sardines on pancakes, washed down with a fourpenny dark from Wagga Wagga, and it was a bloody disaster.’

  3. Thank you for introducing me to the enchanted world of Messrs. Cabel, and Papé. Your preoccupation on a rainy day reflects richly on your disposition too!

  4. What entrancing pictures …. I can’t year my eyes from the first …. exquisite, romantic and captivating. Your commentaries are tantalising – these are certainly a writer and an artist I would like to discover ?

      1. They remind me of books I used to sit and look at as a little girl at my Granny’s house. I must check mother’s library when I’m next in England because I know father had many of his mother’s books. By the way – I did like your take on the story …. being something of a romantic soul myself 🙂

  5. Love your choice of literary entertainment Derrick, I too love reading works in the styles of the old writers, their words are so descriptive and their imagery comes alive for the times.
    I am currently reading an old book I came across written in 1840, describing the lives and Times of the Moss Hags of Scotland during the reign of Charles, reading does become an adventure mate.
    Cheers.

  6. Well, this week, I bought the Bodley Head versions of:
    Something about Eve
    Jurgen
    The Cream of the Jest
    Figures of Earth
    Dominei
    The Silver Stallion
    Fantastic bits of craft and illustration, and all in pretty good nick. A bargain at £30.
    That’s the long winter evenings sorted.

  7. Dear Derrick, I’ve just discovered Frank C Papé via a Bodley Head copy of Thaïs, found in a Harrogate church book sale for £1. Enthralled by his art, if not the prose of the worthy France, I’m now on something of a mission to try and track down all the Anatole France and James Branch Cabell works that he illustrated.

    However not only are prices quite random (£6 – £220 for the same book!) it’s surprisingly difficult to find a definite list. I’ve been messaging people with poorly described listings on eBay to ask, ‘is this illustrated, if so by whom?’ Your blog is the most detailed coverage I can find and you appear to be in the enviable position of having the complete works of Papé to hand.

    Would you be able to post a definitive list of the novels he illustrated?

    1. Thank you for reading and for asking, Robert. The additional ones I have are The Gods Are Athirst; At The Sign of The Reine Pédauque; Penguin Island (posted as A History of the World); The Well of St Clare; and The Revolt of the Angels – but I guess you have seen these posts.
      I also have (and posted) The Cream of the Jest; Domnei; Figures of Earth (posted in Magic and Witchcraft); Jurgen; The Silver Stallion (posted in Soul-Contenting Pictures); and Something About Eve – all by James Branch Cabell illustrated by Papé

Leave a Reply