The Cream of the Jest

The Cream of the Jest is a novel by James Branch Cabell, first published in 1917. It is a satirical work that explores the themes of love, art, and the nature of reality. The story follows the life of Felix Kennaston, a successful writer who is plagued by a sense of emptiness and disillusionment. He becomes infatuated with a woman named Joyce, who he believes is the embodiment of all his artistic ideals. However, as he becomes more and more obsessed with her, he begins to lose touch with reality and descends into madness. The book is notable for its use of allegory and its exploration of the relationship between art and life. It is considered one of Cabell's most important works and has been praised for its wit, humor, and insight into the human condition.1917. Today, some recognize Cabell as one of the first contemporary writers from the South. Like his friend and fellow Richmond writer Ellen Glasgow, Cabell was not afraid to satirize what he saw as the South's contradictions. Others, noting Cabell's unique blending of classic myths and legends with his own imagination, consider him a pioneer of fantasy writing. The Cream of the Jest is an absurdist, aesthetic heroic fantasy, one of the finest and central works of heroic fantasy as a distinct genre. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.