
A witty, self‑conscious celebration of courtly manners and masquerade, this work invites listeners into a glittering garden of invented verses and playful literary hoaxes. The author mingles poetry with prose, slipping in faux‑Latin epigraphs, imagined medieval minnesingers, and mock‑serious scholarship that feels both erudite and delightfully mischievous. From the opening dedication to the “highest meaning of gallantry,” the text revels in the art of disguise, turning every stanza into a costume change.
Beyond the surface of elegant rhyme, the narrative probes the psychology of the poet‑mask, revealing how early disappointments drive a continual reshaping of identity. Listeners will enjoy the layered commentary on the power of words, the charm of fabricated histories, and the subtle satire that undercuts pretentiousness without losing its lyrical grace. It is a spirited journey through a world where poetry, parody, and philosophy dance together in a perpetual masquerade.
Language
en
Duration
~8 hours (500K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2005-08-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1879–1958
Best known for witty, fantastical novels that poked at romance, heroism, and social convention, this Virginia writer turned literary satire into something strange and memorable. His 1919 novel Jurgen became famous not just for its humor and imagination, but also for the censorship fight that followed it.
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