Hadrian the Seventh (ePub)

Frederick Rolfe, who is also known as Baron Corvo, was an English writer, artist, and eccentric, famed for his semi-autobiographical fantasy novel 'Hadrian the Seventh'. Born on July 22, 1860, in Cheapside, London, Rolfe's life was characterized by his idiosyncratic behavior and artistic pursuits. 'Hadrian the Seventh', published in 1904, is considered his masterpiece, telling the story of an Englishman who is unexpectedly elected Pope. The work reflects Rolfe's own frustrated ambitions in the ecclesiastical world and his personal grievances against the establishment, couched in a narrative of wish-fulfillment and biting satire. Rolfe's literary style is marked by ornate language, meticulous descriptions, and a proclivity for inserting himself into his texts, often under pseudonyms or thinly veiled alter egos. His intricate prose and the fantastical elements of his stories have gathered a cult following, though mainstream success eluded him during his lifetime. Troubled by financial difficulties and alienated by his quarrelsome nature, Rolfe died in October 1913 in Venice, where he had spent his final years. Despite his marginal status in the literary canon, Rolfe's works, particularly 'Hadrian the Seventh', continue to attract scholarly interest for their unique blend of autobiography, fantasy, and caustic wit.