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The Works of James Branch Cabell: Beyond Life
Hardcover
ISBN13: 9781025299525
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 300
Weight: 1.31
Height: 0.69 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
Beyond Life serves as a profound and witty exploration of the human condition and the transformative power of literature. Written as a series of nighttime dialogues between the narrator and the novelist John Charteris, the work presents James Branch Cabell's philosophical defense of romance over realism. Cabell argues that the dynamic illusions of fiction are essential to human progress, providing the necessary ideals that allow humanity to transcend its biological limitations.
The work functions as an introductory manifesto to the author's larger body of work, examining the role of the artist as a creator of myths and the enduring value of the aesthetic experience. Through a blend of sophisticated irony and deep literary insight, Beyond Life addresses the necessity of the imagination in a world often dominated by the mundane. It stands as a significant contribution to early 20th-century American letters, offering readers a compelling meditation on why we tell stories and how those stories shape our reality. This volume is a cornerstone for anyone seeking to understand the intersection of philosophy, satire, and the high art of fiction.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
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