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An Ossuary of the North Lagoon and Other Stories
Frederick Rolfe, a.k.a. Baron ¬Corvo, though best known for his novel Hadrian the Seventh and his eccentric personality, was also a master of the short story, which found expression in odd pseudo-biographical pieces and fictions that expressed his own unique sense of style. The present ¬collection contains seven of Rolfe’s best short prose works: three Venetian narratives written toward the end of his life, two tales featuring the Princess of Cinthyanum, and two other peculiar tales, the first of which, ‘The Tattooed Wedding Ring,’ must certainly be seen as an early example of experimental fiction. Previously confined to hard-to-find limited editions, these stories are here available for the first time to a broader public.
Hardcover
First published April 3, 2017
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About the author
Frederick Rolfe
60 books52 followersEnglish writer, novelist, artist, fantasist and eccentric. Rolfe is also known as Baron Corvo. His best known work is the novel Hadrian the Seventh.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 6, 2017
The book “An Ossuary of the North Lagoon and Other Stories” by Frederick Rolfe, who also called himself Baron Corvo, will defiantly appeal to those who enjoy decadent literature, and if read slowly and with an open mind the stories become most enjoyable.
The first three stories in this compilation concern themselves with an Englishman who moves himself to the city of Venice to become a gondolier and ghost writer on the cities many canals and lagoons. Frederick Rolfe wrote these stories in the late 1890.s to the early 1900’s and his stories are considered to be part of the Decadent movement.
The table of contents consist of:
13 – Introduction by Jason Rolfe
19 - “An Ossuary of the North Lagoon”
35 – “On Cascading Into the Canal”
51 – “Venetian Courtesy”
65 – “The Tattooed Wedding Ring”
73 – “The Armed Hands”
91 – “The Princess’s Shirts”
99 – “Deinon To Thely”
The last two stories concern episodes from the life of the Princess of Cinthyanum.
The back cover of the book tells us that “Previously confined to hard-to-find limited editions, these stories are here available for the first time to a broader audience.
So Enjoy !
This book is one of sixty hardcover copies.
The first three stories in this compilation concern themselves with an Englishman who moves himself to the city of Venice to become a gondolier and ghost writer on the cities many canals and lagoons. Frederick Rolfe wrote these stories in the late 1890.s to the early 1900’s and his stories are considered to be part of the Decadent movement.
The table of contents consist of:
13 – Introduction by Jason Rolfe
19 - “An Ossuary of the North Lagoon”
35 – “On Cascading Into the Canal”
51 – “Venetian Courtesy”
65 – “The Tattooed Wedding Ring”
73 – “The Armed Hands”
91 – “The Princess’s Shirts”
99 – “Deinon To Thely”
The last two stories concern episodes from the life of the Princess of Cinthyanum.
The back cover of the book tells us that “Previously confined to hard-to-find limited editions, these stories are here available for the first time to a broader audience.
So Enjoy !
This book is one of sixty hardcover copies.
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April 8, 2023Alexander Theroux sent me here.
I’ll be reading everything by Rolfe/Corvo on which I can get my hands.
I’ll be reading everything by Rolfe/Corvo on which I can get my hands.
February 22, 2017
I'd heard of Frederick Rolfe (aka Baron Corvo) before reading this book, but until Anna sent me a copy of An Ossuary of the North Lagoon and Other Stories (thanks!), I'd never actually read anything he'd written. After reading this one, though, I'm now hooked -- I picked up his Stories Toto Told Me and I already have his Hadrian VII.
Jason Rolfe, who introduces this collection of Corvo's short stories, notes that his work
"foreshadowed the Modernist movement that would eventually define 20th Century literature,"
and yet while serving as a precursor,
"his writing held to its deeply rooted Decadent themes, blending 19th Century aestheticism with 20th Century introspection in unique and highly intelligent ways."
After two times through this book, I'd have to say that I completely concur with this assessment -- and, aside from my happiness in finding another writer of this period, the book itself is a genuine pleasure to read. There was more than one story that gave me a case of the giggles; Corvo's personality and sexuality is writ large on these pages and the innuendo is often hot and heavy. And then of course, there's the writing -- pointed barbs at his enemies, a knack for settling the reader into the time and place in which his stories are set, and beautiful description, especially when we're taken along the canals of Venice by barcheta. Mostly though, from what I've read about him, this book is filled with stories that reveal quite a lot about Corvo himself and his rather odd worldview.
Frederick Rolfe/Baron Corvo is a writer I'll be revisiting, and I have to applaud Snuggly for putting this collection into print. My only suggestion would be that may be worthwhile reading something about Rolfe's life before settling down with this book -- so many things in this book are made clearer once you have a little knowledge about this most fascinatingly-strange man under your belt. I can honestly say I've never read anything like this. Very, very different. I loved it.
http://www.oddlyweirdfiction.com/2017...
Jason Rolfe, who introduces this collection of Corvo's short stories, notes that his work
"foreshadowed the Modernist movement that would eventually define 20th Century literature,"
and yet while serving as a precursor,
"his writing held to its deeply rooted Decadent themes, blending 19th Century aestheticism with 20th Century introspection in unique and highly intelligent ways."
After two times through this book, I'd have to say that I completely concur with this assessment -- and, aside from my happiness in finding another writer of this period, the book itself is a genuine pleasure to read. There was more than one story that gave me a case of the giggles; Corvo's personality and sexuality is writ large on these pages and the innuendo is often hot and heavy. And then of course, there's the writing -- pointed barbs at his enemies, a knack for settling the reader into the time and place in which his stories are set, and beautiful description, especially when we're taken along the canals of Venice by barcheta. Mostly though, from what I've read about him, this book is filled with stories that reveal quite a lot about Corvo himself and his rather odd worldview.
Frederick Rolfe/Baron Corvo is a writer I'll be revisiting, and I have to applaud Snuggly for putting this collection into print. My only suggestion would be that may be worthwhile reading something about Rolfe's life before settling down with this book -- so many things in this book are made clearer once you have a little knowledge about this most fascinatingly-strange man under your belt. I can honestly say I've never read anything like this. Very, very different. I loved it.
http://www.oddlyweirdfiction.com/2017...
June 2, 2017
The usual Rolfe: prickly, prissy, and pedantic, yet disarmingly candid, for which the rest may be forgiven. This miscellany of stories represents Rolfe at different points in his life as a writer, including his favorite themes: High Church political intrigues, the history of Italian noble families, Gothic mysticism, and attractive boys -- sometimes in the same story. The plots are almost nonexistent, and the revelations always anti-climatic, but the stories are driven by a force of personality that overcomes these disappointments.
January 7, 2021
Giving this 3 stars due to the cover and hints of creepy atmosphere in the title story. But really, this one is odd. I love Snuggly Books and they usually put out fairly substantial reads, for not that much money at all. But this one is really short and it feels more like gathering up some leftover odds and ends from the enigmatic Baron Corvo that feel a bit like filler, to be honest. Just some "stuff" that happened to be lying around that doesn't even fit that well together.
As said the title story, while not being much of a story, is good, but the rest of the book feels all over the place and the stories don't really leave much of an impression.
And this one, despite it's rather short length, wasn't that cheap either. I was getting up the "nerve" to invest into this rather short collection as a sort of treat for myself, but I feel a little underwhelmed.
As said the title story, while not being much of a story, is good, but the rest of the book feels all over the place and the stories don't really leave much of an impression.
And this one, despite it's rather short length, wasn't that cheap either. I was getting up the "nerve" to invest into this rather short collection as a sort of treat for myself, but I feel a little underwhelmed.
December 10, 2021
A collection of short stories spanning the years 1897-1913. They are all pretty typical of decadent literature, but have an occasional sparkle of postmodernism in the language which really makes them shine. At only slightly over 100 pages, I really wish there was more.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews