Hadrian the Seventh

"Hadrian the Seventh" by Frederick Rolfe is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story follows the life of George Arthur Rose, a complex character filled with artistic aspirations and emotional turmoil, who unexpectedly finds himself declared the Pope of the Catholic Church, which leads to reflections on faith, power, and personal strife. The opening of the novel presents George Arthur Rose, a writer grappling with physical ailments and a sense of overwhelming fatigue as he struggles to create. He is characterized by his loneliness, his love for his cat Flavio, and a deep-seated critique of society and its failures. While navigating through his pain and the burdens of his past, Rose reflects on his vocation, relationships, and the role of art in a troubling world. A palpable sense of melancholia permeates the narrative as he contemplates the disparity between his lofty ideals and harsh realities, setting an introspective tone for the rest of the tale.