Ecben and the Witch-Women (and a pendant)

In my wandering course through the Biography, I've just completed The Way of Ecben, because I am overdue for more Cabell, but have several reading commitments and so selected a short piece rather than a full novel.

My edition (the 1929 McBride) includes an essay, The Colophon Called, but as is typical of Cabell and his metanarration, it's unclear to me whether this is a separate essay, or actually a necessary part of Ecben, albeit cleverly framed and chapters re-numbered so as to appear a pendant.

I also found it interesting that the Pape illustrations in many cases reproduced those I recognize from Cream of the Jest and other novels, and wonder whether perhaps all illustrations are liften from other works in the Biography? I don't feel cheated, the layers and internal references are served well by the recurring images, but I don't recognize all of them.

I also found it useful to dip a bit into Beyond Life, but I remarked on that in my review here for anyone interested.

I've confirmed that the version of Ecben included in Lin Carter's The Young Magicians * excludes The Colophon Called, but after scanning through the bibliography on The Silver Stallion site, wasn't able to determine if the essay is more or less likely to have been reprinted along with the novella.

* I'd actually forgotten it was included in this anthology until today.

I'm not sure why Pape didn't do any full page plates for an illustrated edition of The Way of Ecben. It's a shame as there are a number of scenes in that book for which I would love to see his interpretation.

I hadn't noticed, but you're right: head and tail pieces, but no full plates.

I speculate it just wasn't a big enough publishing event to warrant the expense. Essentially a novella when first published, later editions bundled it along with other novellas, but didn't seem to have new illustrations. It is too bad, but then I'm a convert and would like to see a Pape illustration for everything of Cabell's!

I don't like Pape, and I'm no big fan of Pyle. I prefer Leon Underwood's work for the first edition of The Music from Behind the Moon. See http://www.wirkman.com/Wirkman/Cabelliana.html . . .

Wirkman, love the Underwood images you've posted, and your discussion generally. Very different aesthetic than Pape or Pyle, but agree they're just as suited. I think Pape fits well with Cabell's droll tone, but the Underwood seems to emphasize the seriousness of purpose and theme. I find that these are equally important threads to Cabell's work, and like that Pape & Underwood each feature (to my eyes) one or the other, rather than trying to combine them.

Which editions feature Underwood illustrations? Or are they published separately, not part of an illustrated edition of Cabell's work?

I believe you pointed us there on another thread, and I'd forgotten. Good stuff, have to read through it all!

ETA See you actually listed the edition featuring Underwood.

Cabell's Music from Behind the Moon was the first publication of The John Day Co in 1926. Supposedly limited to 3000 copies, although I don't think my copy actually has a number in it. A generously sized volume (~7.5 x 11") with the lovely woodcut illustrations.

What DCBlack wrote...!

Yes, the Pape drawings are comic, and I guess fit Cabell, though to me he seems to go too far in the other direction from Underwood. I think I like the Underwood work simply in and of itself.

De gustibus non est disputandum.

The revision of the story in The Witch Woman is the best "Music from Behind the Moon," in my opinion. Cabell got every droll quip into that one. And yet the story is sad and beautiful at the same time.

Being a fan of illustrated books in general, I like the work of all three (Pyle, Pape, and Underwood). One of my long-term collecting goals is to obtain copies of all illustrated versions of Cabell's work. The Golden Cockerel edition of Jurgen may have to wait until I win the lottery (and the kids are out of college), but the others should be obtainable without too much expense.

An excellent website for those interested in book illustrators is the JVJ Illustrators website which has a page on Frank Pape ( http://www.bpib.com/illustra2/pape.htm ) and a page on Howard Pyle ( http://www.bpib.com/pyle.htm ).

>9 DCBlack:

Thanks for that pointer, DCBlack.

The Pape page notes he illustrated Ecben but doesn't clarify whether there were any new illustrations, or if all had been used previously for Cabell books.