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Start Over Subjects Animals, Mythical, in literature
Virginia Commonwealth University, Cabell Library

James Branch Cabell horse figurine collection

4.33 Linear Feet 4 record storage boxes

The James Branch Cabell Horse Figurine collection consists of 55 horse figurines, a letter from James Branch Cabell to Stanley West (former Director of University Libraries at University of Florida), and a copy of a letter to Stanley West from the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings papers, held at University of Florida. The premise of this collection is that Cabell began by imagining that the literary characters he had created and the real-life people he wrote about were his friends, and that they had given these horses as gifts. Looking to myth and legend, Cabell next chose names for his horses from legendary steeds whose characteristics made them appropriate to the imagined giver. These descriptions offer a multi-layered set of allusions bringing together myth, history, Cabell's biography, and his published works. The dates the horse figurines were created is unknown, but Cabell stated in his letter to Stanely West that he began this project in 1926. It is unclear when the collection was completed.

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James Branch Cabell horse figurine collection 4.33 Linear Feet 4 record storage boxes

Cabell, James Branch, 1879-1958

The James Branch Cabell Horse Figurine collection consists of 55 horse figurines, a letter from James Branch Cabell to Stanley West (former Director of University Libraries at University of Florida), and a copy of a letter to Stanley West from the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings papers, held at University of Florida. The premise of this collection is that Cabell began by imagining that the literary characters he had created and the real-life people he wrote about were his friends, and that they had given these horses as gifts. Looking to myth and legend, Cabell next chose names for his horses from legendary steeds whose characteristics made them appropriate to the imagined giver. These descriptions offer a multi-layered set of allusions bringing together myth, history, Cabell's biography, and his published works. The dates the horse figurines were created is unknown, but Cabell stated in his letter to Stanely West that he began this project in 1926. It is unclear when the collection was completed.

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