An Accidental Pope

The novel Hadrian the Seventh has received critical attention in the past, there remain significant gaps in the scholarship regarding Frederick Rolfe’s novel which this collection of essays aims to fill, particularly in terms of its political, religious, philosophical, and literary aspects. The topics discussed include the novel’s place in literary history, both in terms of bridging Decadence with modernism as well as drawing on the Victorian literary tradition inspiring later authors, as well as its genre, offering new perspectives, casting Frederick Rolfe’s novel as a humorous book in the Decadent tradition, and engaging in camp aesthetics. Political issues, frequently connected with religious matters owing to the book’s subject matter, are represented by contributions discussing the role of the Catholic Church in the 20th century, engaging in discussion with Leo XIII’s conciliatory, modernist approach. The issues addressed include the tension between temporal and spiritual power, and the Vatican’s role in international policymaking. Some chapters focus on specific scenes, such as the conclave and the Pope’s visit to St. Andrew’s College provide insight into the protagonist’s dislike of established Vatican politics.