The Cords of Vanity

The Cords of Vanity by James Branch Cabell is a satirical novel that dissects the pretensions and follies of literary society. Narrated by the cynical Robert Etheridge Townsend, the story charts his interactions with a range of eccentric characters in a world obsessed with image and reputation. With wit and irony, Cabell critiques the superficiality of fame, the pursuit of aestheticism, and the tension between artistic integrity and social ambition. The novel reflects the author’s stylistic elegance and philosophical depth.