Hadrian the Seventh (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Historical Novel - A Story of The ReformerBy Frederick Rolfe
Length15h 1m
About this audiobook
Hadrian the Seventh (1904) is Frederick Rolfe's extraordinary fantasy of ecclesiastical reversal, in which George Arthur Rose, an impoverished, rejected aspirant to the priesthood, is unexpectedly raised to the papacy as Hadrian VII. Written in a richly idiosyncratic, ornate, and often caustic prose, the novel blends theological speculation, political satire, self-dramatizing autobiography, and fin-de-siècle Catholic imagination. Its context is the crisis-ridden modern Church of the late nineteenth century, yet its method belongs equally to decadent fiction and spiritual romance. Rolfe, who styled himself Baron Corvo, was a gifted but embittered English convert to Roman Catholicism whose frustrated ambitions for ordination profoundly shaped the novel. His life was marked by poverty, quarrels, patronage, exile, and a fierce sense of personal grievance. Hadrian the Seventh transforms these wounds into art: Rose is unmistakably Rolfe's alter ego, and the papal fantasy becomes both vindication and indictment. This book is recommended to readers interested in Catholic literature, decadent prose, psychological self-portraiture, and the strange borderland between satire and wish fulfillment. It remains a singular, unsettling, and brilliant novel.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenreGeneral Fiction, Humor
Length15 hrs 1 min
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateMar 8, 2022
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation (Annotated)
17Chapter XI
2Introduction
18Chapter XII
3Synopsis
19Chapter XIII
4Historical Context
20Chapter XIV
5Hadrian the Seventh
21Chapter XV
Show all chaptersShow less
6Chapter I
22Chapter XVI
7Chapter II
23Chapter XVII
8Chapter III
24Chapter XVIII
9Chapter IV
25Chapter XIX
10Chapter V
26Chapter XX
11Chapter VI
27Chapter XXI
12Chapter VII
28Chapter XXII
13Chapter VII
29Chapter XXIII
14Chapter VIII
30Analysis
15Chapter IX
31Reflection
16Chapter X
32Memorable Quotes
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