The Cords of Vanity: A Comedy of Shirking: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Cords of Vanity: A Comedy of Shirking: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The Cords of Vanity: A Comedy of Shirking is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Cabell, James Branch (1879–1958).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Cords of Vanity: A Comedy of Shirking" by James Branch Cabell is a novel likely written in the early 20th century. The story follows Robert Etheridge Townsend, a young man of artistic temperament who evades the responsibilities and discomforts of life through a series of whimsical introspections and romantic entanglements, particularly with the enchanting Stella Musgrave and other women in his life. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to the protagonist as a child reflecting upon the complexities of life, love, and loss, notably through his experiences with his mother's sorrow over his father's death. The tone is distinctly playful and ironic, providing rich commentary on the nature of youth and the burdens of adulthood. Through a series of encounters, particularly a dance with Stella, the opening sets the stage for Townsend's ongoing struggle with the expectations placed upon him and his desire to shirk those obligations in favor of a more carefree existence. This nuanced interplay of themes promises a combination of humor, reflection, and societal critique as the story unfolds.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Cords of Vanity: A Comedy of Shirking
- Author credits: Cabell, James Branch (1879–1958)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Authors -- Fiction
- Marriage -- Fiction
- United States -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: American Literature
- Category: Humour
- Category: Novels
- Fantasy
Read this edition
View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.


