The Quest for Corvo

An Experiment in Biography
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( 580 ratings, 88 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Quest for Corvo by A. J. A. Symons delves into the fascinating life of Frederick Rolfe, also known as Baron Corvo. Through a detective-like pursuit, Symons unravels the enigmatic author's life, showcasing his eccentricities and the complex personality behind his literary works. The biography integrates mystery and discovery, making it an intriguing exploration of a unique literary figure.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're intrigued by literary mysteries and the life of forgotten authors. It offers an engaging journey as it unravels the enigmatic life of a colourful and eccentric character in the literary world, blending biography with the delight of detective work.

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The Quest for Corvo

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Part biography, part detective story – the extraordinary life of the eccentric writer Frederick Baron Corvo.

One summer afternoon A.J.A. Symons is handed a peculiar novel called Hadrian the Seventh and, captivated by this forgotten masterpiece, determines to learn everything he can about its mysterious author. Symons proceeds as a detective might, investigating leads, collecting evidence, and corresponding with witnesses. The object of his search is Frederick Rolfe, the self-appointed Baron Corvo – artist, rejected candidate for priesthood, and author of serially autobiographical fictions – and its story is told in The Quest for Corvo, a dazzling portrait of an insoluble tangle of talents, frustrated ambitions, arrogance, and paranoia.

The book, which reads with all the excitement of detective fiction, is at once a literary pilgrimage and reflection on the obsessions and deceptions which lie at the heart of biography.

Series: Penguin Modern Classics

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Quest for Corvo by A. J. A. Symons is noted for its unique blend of detective work, spiritual exploration, and introspective look at biography. It incorporates elaborate symbolism and enigmatic encounters, creating a sense of mystery about both Frederick Rolfe and his biographer. Praised as a remarkable and original work, it's acknowledged as a distinguished yet eccentric achievement in the realm of biography.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241312995

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 22 February 2018

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 15.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 202g

Pages: 272

About the Author

The short life of A.J.A. Symons (1900-41) was described by his biographer as an intricate and largely harmless confidence trick. His many interests included the collection of musical boxes and rare books as well as the study and practice of forgery; they left him time to edit an anthology of Edwardian verse and compose studies of H.M. Stanley and other notable figures. He is remembered for The Quest for Corvo, one of the most remarkable biographies ever written, and for co-founding the Wine and Food Society.

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