'If there be one place in all this orb of earth where a secret is a Secret, that place is a Roman Conclave'Part novel, part daydream, part diatribe, this strange masterpiece tells the story of George Arthur Rose, a poor, frustrated writer who lives in a shabby bedsit, saving his cigarette ends and eating soup - until one day he is made Pope. As the first English pontiff in five centuries, he is a mass of contradictions: infallible and petulant, humble and despotic....

In un freddo giorno di marzo dei primi anni del Novecento, George Arthur Rose, vestito col suo prediletto abito di tela blu simile a una tuta da meccanico, si aggira come un recluso tra le pareti della sua casa londinese. Consumato da anni di speranze non soddisfatte, smarrito dinanzi alla rovina del mondo («Le antiche monarchie legittime sono dovunque in declino, e Demos è pronta ad inghiottirle nelle sue fauci vili», ama dire al suo gatto, declamando D’Annunzio), vive nella povertà più a...

"Hadrian the Seventh: A Romance" by Frederick Rolfe delves into the eccentric world of the papacy with biting satire and profound insight. The novel follows the journey of an unconventional protagonist, who unexpectedly ascends to the papal throne as Hadrian the Seventh. Rolfe's work intertwines elements of religion, politics, and intrigue within the hallowed halls of the Vatican, offering a unique perspective on the complexities of power and identity. Set against the backdrop of ecclesias...

In "Hadrian the Seventh," Frederick Rolfe explores the intricacies of the human psyche through the lens of a fictional papal election. The novel follows the journey of a Protestant writer who unexpectedly finds himself elected as Pope Hadrian VII. Rolfe's writing is imbued with rich, evocative language that juxtaposes grandeur with absurdity, reflecting the complexities of faith, identity, and the institutional Church. As a work of modernist literature, it engages with themes of power, red...

In "Hadrian the Seventh," Frederick Rolfe crafts a rich narrative blending autobiography, fiction, and theological exploration within the framework of a fantastical papacy. The novel follows the protagonist, an English writer named Father Hadrian, who unexpectedly ascends to the papal throne after a series of surreal, dreamlike events. Rolfe's lush prose is imbued with vivid imagery and complex characterizations that reflect his deep understanding of Catholicism and the socio-political int...

George Arthur Rose aspired to the priesthood, but after being much abused and taken advantage of for many years by his Catholic brothers, he finds himself disillusioned with humanity. But just as the secret conclave in Rome is deadlocked in the election of the next Pope, he finds himself rediscovered. A compromise in the election results in Rose being chosen for the office, and he styles himself as Hadrian the Seventh. With his new authority, he implements church reforms and a program to b...

"Hadrian VII." von Frederick Rolfe, ein Werk der frühen modernen Literaturszene, entfaltet sich als eindrucksvolle Studien über Macht, Religion und die Komplexität menschlicher Ambitionen. Der Roman macht sich die Intrigen der katholischen Kirche und den subjektiven Charakter eines außenstehenden, aber fanatisch engagierten Individuums zunutze. Rolfe entfaltet seine Geschichte durch eine präzise, doch stilistisch opulente Prosa, die an das literarische Klima der Edwardianischen Ära erinner...

Once upon a time, Caesars were masters of the world; and the genius of Divus Julius, of Divus Augustus, was worshipped everywhere on altars. There are Cesarini at this day in Rome, cosa grande ch’ il sole, masters of wide domains, but not of empires. Once upon time, Buonaparte held Europe in its grip. Buonaparte at this day keeps exile in Muscovy or Flanders. Once upon a time, the Sforza were sovereigns-regnant; and of their daughters were made an empress and a queen. There are Sforza at t...

In 2014, The Guardian placed "Hadrian the Seventh" on the list of the 100 best novels written in English. A historical novel by the English novelist Frederick Rolfe, it is based on his essay the Papal Conclave to elect the successor to Pope Leo XIII. It tells about an English priest that got invited by two Catholic priests to Rome, where the Conclave was gathered to elect the new Pope. Suddenly, the Conclave gives this position to him, and since the only previous English Pope was Adrian (o...

In "Hadrian the Seventh," Frederick Rolfe masterfully weaves a narrative that explores themes of ambition, spirituality, and the human condition through the lens of a fictionalized papacy. The novel, rich with baroque language and vivid imagery, immerses readers in the intricacies of early 20th-century ecclesiastical politics and the personal struggles of its protagonist, George Arthur Rose, who becomes Pope Hadrian VII. Rolfe's unique literary style, blending humor, pathos, and theologica...

One day George Arthur Rose, hack writer and minor priest, discovers that he has been picked to be Pope. He is hardly surprised and not in the least daunted. "The previous English pontiff was Hadrian the Fourth," he declares. "The present English pontiff is Hadrian the Seventh. It pleases Us; and so, by Our own impulse, We command."Hadrian is conceived in the image of his creator, Fr. Rolfe, whose aristocratic pretensions (he called himself Baron Corvo), religious obsession, and anarchic an...

"Hadrian the Seventh" is a captivating novel by Frederick Rolfe that intertwines themes of faith, identity, and divine calling within a richly textured narrative. The book employs Rolfe's distinctive literary style, characterized by lush, baroque prose that evokes the opulence of a bygone era. Set in a fantastical alternate reality where the protagonist, a failed novelist named George Arthur Rose, unexpectedly becomes the Pope, the novel deftly explores questions of religious authority and...