Synopsis
The Desire and Pursuit of the Whole is a scurrilous sensual fantasy, a vindication of a man who felt betrayed by his friends, and a testament to a fervent affection for the city of Venice. Highly autobiographical, it chronicles the hectic descent of Nicholas Crabbe into destitution and starvation amongst the glories of Venice. His passage is brightened only by his love for his servant the boy-girl Zildo; a love which becomes ever more obsessive. Written a year before Thomas Mann's Death in Venice, this novel is both more passionate and more deeply autobiographical. It was never published in the author's lifetime because of its libellous content and the homoerotic aspects of the narrative, and when it eventually found a publisher in 1934 it was altered throughout. This is the first complete edition.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review
'Interweaves a nightmare and a day-dream... Terrifying' W.H. Auden; 'Written from the devil's side' Graham Greene
About the Author
Frederick Rolfe has written perverse yet classic accounts of his life which have drawn bestselling writers such as Graham Greene, W.H. Auden and A.S. Byatt to him. His love for Venice was such that he could not bear to leave it even though he was penniless during the years he wrote this book, was shunned by Italians and English alike and died. Andrew Eburne is a don at St Catherine's College Oxford.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Other Popular Editions of the Same Title
Search results for Desire and Pursuit of the Whole
Stock Image
The Desire & Pursuit of the Whole
Published by
George Braziller, 1994
ISBN 10: 0807613312
ISBN 13: 9780807613313
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: George Kent, Bookseller, Silverhill, AL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: As New. 1st Edition. The book's 297 pages are tight, bright, and clean. Theonly marking is a very tiny and faint spot on the fep and an area on the inside front cover where a sticker may have been removed. The book is near fine and the dust jacket as new. Seller Inventory # 26398
Seller Image
The Desire and Pursuit of the Whole
Published by
George Braziller, 1994
ISBN 10: 0807613312
ISBN 13: 9780807613313
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Fleur Fine Books, Port Neches, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
HARDCOVER. Condition: Used; Very Good. First US Edition. Used; Very Good. 23-G-03 George Braziller 1994 Hardcover. Text is clean and unmarked. Jacket has light wear and is price clipped. Due to the nature of this book, buyer must be 18 years of age or older to purchase. Book Condition; Very Good Jacket Condition; Very Good . 1994. First US Edition. HARDCOVER. Seller Inventory # 9780807613313
Seller Image
The Desire & Pursuit of the Whole
Seller: Chaparral Books, Portland, OR, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First U.S. edition. In very good shape with some light handling to the boards and spine. Contents clean. In a very good unclipped dust jacket showing some light handling. 8vo. Pp. xvii, [6] 7-297. Seller Inventory # SELrolDP
Stock Image
The Desire & Pursuit of the Whole
Seller: Glands of Destiny First Edition Books, Sedro Woolley, WA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
hardcover. Condition: Like New. Dust Jacket Condition: Like New. First THUS. Publisher: George Braziller, New York, 1994. FINE hardcover book in FINE mylar-protected dust-jacket. As new. Unread. First US Complete Edition, (The 1934 original was overly-edited.) First Printing. Seller Inventory # 2308130002