Hadrian the Seventh (ePub)

Frederick William Rolfe, also known as Baron Corvo, was an English writer, artist, photographer, and eccentric, born on July 22, 1860, in London. Rolfe's literary career is often best remembered for the novel 'Hadrian the Seventh' (1904), a work of astonishing imagination that presented an autobiographical fantasy in which the protagonist, an English writer, is unexpectedly elected Pope. This book showcases Rolfe's idiosyncratic prose style, ornate and latinate, full of elaborate conceits and intricate phrasing. His works often explored themes related to Catholicism and pitted the beauty of ritualistic tradition against the imperfections of institutional religion, a topic close to the author's heart given his own failed attempts at priesthood. An outsider, Rolfe frequently grappled with poverty and the neglect of his artistic endeavors, influencing the often bleak and bitter perspectives in his writing. Despite his novels' limited popularity during his lifetime, posthumous interest in his unique voice has solidified Rolfe's position as a minor cult figure in English literature. Rolfe's other notable works include 'The Desire and Pursuit of the Whole' (1934) and 'Stories Toto Told Me' (1898), which further characterized his distinctive literary voice. He died in Venice on October 25, 1913, leaving behind a complex legacy marked by innovative writing that was both admired and misunderstood in his time.