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The Quest for Corvo
An Experiment in Biography
Series: Penguin Modern Classics
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Check link for latest rating. ( 580 ratings, 88 reviews)
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Format: Paperback / softback
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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.
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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