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Synopsis
One day in 1925 a friend asked A. J. A. Symons if he had read Fr. Rolfe's Hadrian the Seventh. He hadn't, but soon did, and found himself entranced by the novel -- "a masterpiece"-- and no less fascinated by the mysterious person of its all-but-forgotten creator. The Quest for Corvo is a hilarious and heartbreaking portrait of the strange Frederick Rolfe, self-appointed Baron Corvo, an artist, writer, and frustrated aspirant to the priesthood with a bottomless talent for self-destruction. But this singular work, subtitled "an experiment in biography," is also a remarkable self-portrait, a study of the obsession and sympathy that inspires the biographer's art.
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About the Author
A.J.A. Symons (1900-1941) pursued a wide variety of projects in his short life, writing and editing works on the verse of the 1890s, the history of the Nonesuch Press, and critical studies of various figures of note. He is remembered for his groundbreaking biography of the bizarre genius Baron Corvo and for his own eccentric hobbies, as chronicled in a biography written by his brother, the mystery novelist Julian Symons.
A S Byatt is renowned internationally for her novels and short stories. Her novels include the Booker Prize-winning Possession, The Biographer’s Tale and the quartet,The Virgin in the Garden, Still Life, Babel Tower and A Whistling Woman. Her most recent novel, The Children’s Book was published in 2009.
Review
"Symons's biography of a little-known writer named Frederick Rolfe is unique in biographical literature in bringing the reader in on how the biographer knows what he knows about his subject; and in owning up to what he doesn't know or feels cannot be known. 'The Quest for Corvo' is biography in the form of a detective story, and as such it is riveting....The surest formula for a masterpiece biography—of which there are not that many—is an extraordinary human being writing about a great one. In 'The Quest for Corvo' we have an utterly charming man writing on a madly eccentric one....A slender book, an odd book, a completely original book, [it] also represents a new method of writing biography that has never been copied." —Joseph Epstein, The Wall Street Journal
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- PublisherPenguin Books
- Publication date1979
- ISBN 10 014000291X
- ISBN 13 9780140002911
- BindingPaperback
- LanguageEnglish
- Number of pages304
- Rating
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The Quest for Corvo. Genius or Charlatan
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Softcover. Condition: As New. Later Printing. A crisp, clean, tightly bound softcover copy appearing unread, presenting light shelf wear only. Read descriptions carefully. Avoid GLASSFROGBOOKS, ERGODOBOOKS, MORE BOOKS, IRISH BOOKSELLERS, PRO QUO/BAYSIDE BOOKS, BOOKSPLEASE, RIA CHRISTIE, DISCOVER BOOKS, BOOKS2ANYWHERE, BOOKS EXPRESS, CHIRON MEDIA! These "Booksellers" have no books of their own. they buy honest booksellers' books, upcharge you and have no idea what the book is really like. Support your local and small bookstore owners!. Seller Inventory # 30185
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The Quest for Corvo: an experiment in biography
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Soft cover. Condition: Near Fine. 1979 reprint. 7600 shelf. Unread. Trade paperback, pictorial covers. No names, clean text. Fr. Rolfe (Baron Corvo) -- genius or charlatan? Index. N. Mossakowski cover art. Solid. 98 pgs 98 p. Book. Seller Inventory # 024723
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The Quest for Corvo: An Experiment in Biography
Published by
Penguin Books (1979)., New York, 1979
ISBN 10: 014000291X
ISBN 13: 9780140002911
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Seller: Magic Carpet Books, Carson City, NV, U.S.A.
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Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. Reprint. Trade paperback. 298 pp. Introduction by Julian Symons. Moderate wear to covers. Seller Inventory # 001291
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