Image courtesy: John Thorne and William Lloyd, The Silver Stallion
Though best known for his more than 50 books, James Branch Cabell published extensively in magazines, newspapers and other periodicals. After publication, he frequently reworked those short stories and essays to include them in books. (For insight into this process, read Paul Spencer’s “Some Ladies and Jurgen” Kalki, Vol, 7, no. 2, Whole no. 26, available on the Silver Stallion site.) The release of a book didn’t necessarily end the writing process, however. Cabell also revised and republished and reordered his books.
Keeping track of all the bits and pieces of Cabell’s writing as they coalesce and evolve has required the effort of a number of dedicated readers and scholars. Cabell’s bibliographers have studied and organized Cabell’s writing and publication history, along with important biographical and critical works about the author.