The Certain Hour

By James Branch Cabell

Book Overview

"The Certain Hour" is a sophisticated collection of short stories by James Branch Cabell, structured as a "Dizain des Po tes"-ten tales centered on the lives and creative crises of various poets and writers throughout history. From William Shakespeare and Robert Herrick to Alexander Pope and Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Cabell explores the pivotal moment in an artist's life when they must choose between the demands of their craft and the allure of earthly happiness.

Blending historical fiction with Cabell's signature wit and ironical style, the stories delve into the complexities of romantic obsession and the sacrifices inherent in the pursuit of literary immortality. Each narrative captures the unique voice and era of its protagonist while maintaining a cohesive philosophical inquiry into the nature of beauty and the burden of genius. "The Certain Hour" remains a significant work in Cabell's oeuvre, showcasing his profound understanding of the literary tradition and his unique ability to deconstruct the mythos of the great author.

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025488970
• ISBN13: 9781025488974
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Length: 260 Pages
• Weight: 0.81 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

"Figures of Earth?"

Tales of the "spiritual" descendants of Dom Manuel the Reedemer, carefully annotated by expert commentary. Figures of earth have feet of clay.

Poets Provide Time and the Commonplace with immortality

. . . "They of Poictesme narrate that Queene Freydis thereafter did giue Lyfe to these muddie Ymages, eche at a certayne Houre, and that her sotyll scyaunce of Ergomancy sett these x to liue among Mans Kind," . . .Poets and bottles come in different shapes and sizes, but both should be judged by their contents not their labels. The poets in these ten stories range in time from the early 13th century to that of the 20th.In 1210, the chivalrous Raimbault de Vaquieras, a 30 year veteran of the Crusades, returned to France and made peace with a long time enemy. When he was told by Dona Biatritz, his long time friend and lover, that his enemy was planning his murder, Raimbault refused to negate his oath and take action. However, Dona B.was not restrained by any such an oath. In 1533, the beautiful Graciosa Balthazar not yet 16, attracted the attention of Duke Alessandro de Medici and Count Eglamore,the duke's hatchet man, and found herself forced to make a choice between two evils. In 1609, William Shakespeare found his talents waning, but found new inspiration in the creed of Judith, his unlettered daughter. In 1674, Robert Herrick, the eccentric clergyman and poet, disappeared. His friends Sir Thomas Browne and Philip Borsdale learned that RH had dabbled in magic with tragic consequences. In May of 1680, Robert Wycherley, poet, fop and social gadfly, failed to make a remunerative marriage and was saved from drowning by an unexpected turn of events. In 1718, Alexander Pope, the small, disfigured poet and satirist, tried to bestow a generous gift on a young couple, but failed to do so. In 1681, Robert Calverley resigned an important state position to save the life of his wife Honoria who he had literally stolen from the Marquis of Umfraville before their expected marriage. He returned to England despite warnings from friends that his actions had outraged many in high places and now,they wanted revenge. He was saved from ruin by an unselfish act of a scheming relative. In 1795, Richard Sheridan, poet-politician, married Miss Esther Jane Ogle known as "the irresistible Ogle," after being rebuffed by her many, many times. On Sheridan's turf, Miss Ogle proved to be no match for the wily politician. In 1803, Crown Prince Hilary of Saxe-Kesselberg, staged his funeral, changed his name to Paul Vanderhoffen and fled to England to become a poet and writer. After a series of events, one of which almost ended in his death, he married Mildred Claridge and became a writer on Grub Street. John Charteris, a distinguised writer and lecturer, gave a Commencement Speech at his alma mater and thought he had a chance to rekindle a relationship with Pauline Romeyne, a former lover, until his friend Rudolph Musgrave ruined his plan with a dose of reality. The 21 page "Auctorial Induction" should be read both before and after reading the ten tales. In it, JBC makes a number of penetrating observations about the 1916 literary s