The Desire and Pursuit of the Whole

The Desire and Pursuit of the Whole is a novel by Frederick William Rolfe, published posthumously in 1934. Rolfe, an English author and eccentric, is also known for his autobiographical fantasy, Hadrian the Seventh.1

The novel was written during Rolfe's time in Venice, where he lived for the remainder of his life after 1908, experiencing periods of both extreme poverty and extravagance. Despite his difficult circumstances, he managed to complete this work. Rolfe's writings often explore themes of myth, symbolism, and deeper significance beyond the surface narrative. His characters can become symbols of universal human states or impulses, and his works sometimes draw on classical myths for structure or thematic resonance.12