Flaxius : $b Leaves from the life of an immortal

"Flaxius" by Charles Godfrey Leland is a collection of philosophical fantasy tales written in the early 20th century. It follows Flaxius, an immortal, witty magus-philosopher, as he wanders through ages meeting fairies, gods, historic figures, and literary heroes, blending folklore, satire, and moral reflection. The tone is erudite and playful, and the episodes meditate on courtesy, humour, belief, and human progress.

The opening of the book frames the work as a suite of linked sketches, then begins with Flaxius in ancient Etruria rescuing a scorned woman who proves to be a penitent high spirit; she rewards him with a home among the fairies and the choice to live on in health and wisdom, effectively making him immortal. Next, in “Flaxius and the God,” an Aryan sage leads him to a hidden shrine where an archaic deity teaches that life’s paradoxes and contradictions are the root of humour; Flaxius weighs this hard material wisdom against Indian nirvanic escape and resolves to master earthly understanding first. “Flaxius and Rooseveldt” recasts a modern statesman as a legendary lord who bravely dines with a despised outsider despite public outrage, earning Flaxius’s praise and a celebratory ballad. In “Flaxius and Hamlet,” the sage lectures at Wittenberg, befriends the prince, and takes him to a fairy revel where the Queen of Faerie promises his life will be immortalized by a great poet; Hamlet wakes at dawn with a token ring. The section closes as a new tale begins, with Flaxius aiding a worthy woodman, Eadward, by conjuring a feast and pledging practical help, provided the man remains honest and kind. (This is an automatically generated summary.)