Hadrian the Seventh (ePub)

Frederick Rolfe, also known as Baron Corvo, was a unique figure in English literature known for his eccentricity and the novel 'Hadrian the Seventh.' Born on July 22, 1860, in London, Rolfe's life was one of fluctuating fortunes and constant wanderings. Rolfe's literary creations are marked by his elaborate prose style and the recurrent themes of personal fantasy and Roman Catholicism. His most renowned work, 'Hadrian the Seventh' (1904), stands as a remarkable concoction of satirical fantasy and autobiographical elements. In this novel, an outcast English writer, much like Rolfe himself, is unexpectedly elected Pope. Through this allegorical narrative, Rolfe expresses his complex relationship with the Church; he had converted to Catholicism in the 1880s and unsuccessfully sought to become a priest, an experience that left him embittered and profoundly influenced his literary output. Rolfe's inimitable style coupled with his self-fashioned persona, complete with the assumed title of 'Baron,' has granted him a distinctive place in literature. His works are studied for their idiosyncratic artistry and insight into the psychobiographical dimensions of his life, marked by conceit, failed priestly ambitions, and penury. Despite a life plagued by financial hardship and a reputation that oscillated between genius and charlatan, Frederick Rolfe died in relative obscurity in Venice on October 25, 1913, leaving behind a unique and indelible mark on English letters.