# Bibliography explained — Domnei

> Chapter companion for Domnei by James Branch Cabell.

## What happens

This chapter lists various editions, translations, and adaptations of the story of Melicent and Perion, spanning from the 15th to the early 20th century, including the earliest known French version from 1546, English, German, Portuguese, Italian, Danish, Latin, Dutch, and other renderings, as well as related works on Mélusine.

## Themes in this chapter

### Beauty and Its Perils

The enduring appeal of Melicent's story across centuries and languages reflects the fascination with beauty and its associated dangers.

### The Nature of True Love

The romance's many translations and adaptations underscore its exploration of love's idealistic and transformative power.

## Character check-ins

### Perion de la Forêt

Referenced in titles such as 'Perion und Melicent' and 'Los Negociantes do Don Perion'.

### Melicent

Central figure in many listed works, including 'Les Amants de Melicent', 'Melicent; an heroicke poeme', and 'The Soul of Melicent'.

### Demetrios

Referenced in the Italian translation 'La donna di Demetrio'.

### Mélusine

Subject of multiple listed works, such as 'Le Liure de Mélusine' and 'Historia de la linda Melosyna'.

### Nicolas de Caen

Mentioned as the author of 'Cinq Ballades de Nicolas de Caen' and in the notice of the 1546 edition.

## Key lines

> Les Amants de Melicent , Traduction moderne, annotée et procedée d’un notice historique sur Nicolas de Caen, par l’Abbé. * * * A Paris. Pour Iaques Keruer aux deux Cochetz, Rue S. Iaques, M.D. XLVI . Avec Privilège du Roy.

A modern French translation of 'Les Amants de Melicent' with notes and a historical preface about Nicolas de Caen, published in Paris in 1546 by Iaques Keruer.

_This is the earliest known French edition, discovered in 1917._

> The Soul of Melicent , by James Branch Cabell. Illustrated in colour by Howard Pyle. New York, 1913. This rendering was made, of course, before the discovery of the 1546 version, and so had not the benefit of that volume’s interesting variants from the abridgment of 1788.

Cabell's 1913 English version of the story was based on the 1788 abridgment, as the 1546 edition had not yet been discovered.

_Highlights the textual evolution and the impact of the 1917 discovery._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/domnei_se/chapters/bibliography
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/domnei_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/domnei_se/chapters