The Eagle's Shadow

"The Eagle's Shadow" by James Branch Cabell is a novel written in the early 20th century. It centers around the life of Margaret Hugonin, exploring her relationships and the complicated dynamics of love, society, and wealth surrounding her. The story unfolds in the genteel setting of Selwoode, a country estate, where Margaret's interactions with various suitors reveal much about her character and the social expectations of the time. At the start of the narrative, readers are introduced to Margaret Hugonin through the eyes of an unnamed narrator who expresses a fondness for her name and personality. The opening chapter introduces Colonel Hugonin, Margaret's father, as they share breakfast and engage in light-hearted bickering over her house guests, showcasing their affectionate yet complicated relationship. As they discuss various characters who will be staying with them, both Margaret’s radiant beauty and her father’s gruffness come to life. They also hint at Margaret's past romantic entanglements, i.e., her former fiancé Billy Woods and her current suitors, which sets the stage for the ensuing drama and romantic entanglements central to the story. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

James Branch Cabell was an American author of fantasy fiction and belles-lettres. Cabell was well-regarded by his contemporaries, including H. L. Mencken, Edmund Wilson, and Sinclair Lewis. His works were considered escapist and fit well in the culture of the 1920s, when they were most popular. For Cabell, veracity was "the one unpardonable sin, not merely against art, but against human welfare".