Hubert's Arthur

by Frederick Rolfe, Kristin Mahoney (Editor)

Taking as its point of departure the alleged inaccuracy of the chronicles of Matthew Paris, Hubert's Arthur presents an alternative retelling of English history from the point of view of Hubert de Burgh. In Hubert's narrative, which begins with an account of the struggle for succession in the wake of King Richard Lionheart's death, young Duke Arthur of Brittany does not die at the hands of King John, but instead ascends to the throne. Hubert relates Arthur's adventures as he combats the wily John, fights in the Crusades, and wages battle against the treacherous Simon de Montfort, before facing perhaps his greatest challenge when his reign is threatened by the crucifixions of young Christian boys. Penned by the brilliant but eccentric Frederick Rolfe (who styled himself Baron Corvo) whilst he was starving and homeless in a self-imposed exile in Venice, Hubert's Arthur , first published posthumously in 1935, is one of the strangest and most remarkable novels of the twentieth century. Filled with action and suffused throughout with Rolfe's characteristic humor, the novel is notable for its blatant homoeroticism, its savage anti-Semitism, and its shockingly graphic violence. This edition features a new scholarly introduction by Kristin Mahoney, who also provides detailed annotations to help guide readers through Rolfe's labyrinth of historical and literary references and his unique vocabulary of archaic words, some of which have not been used since the sixteenth century. "Mahoney's introduction to Hubert's Arthur is excellent advocacy for the virtues and importance of the work. With notes in the text up to this standard, the edition will not only contribute importantly to scholarship on Rolfe, but also help forge new understanding of the values of his age." - Prof. Edmund Miller, Long Island University

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, British Literature

548 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1935

About the author

English writer, novelist, artist, fantasist and eccentric. Rolfe is also known as Baron Corvo. His best known work is the novel Hadrian the Seventh.

Reviews

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

here's a pretty neat book written by your favourite arch catholic decadent pederast. basically this is a sort of pseudo medieval romance purporting to be written by hubert de burgh, in which the course of history went differently to how it did irl: here duke arthur of brittany isn't killed by king john, but instead survives and ultimately becomes king of england, ushering in a new golden age of aristocratic rule in which magna carta doesn't lead to any further pesky developments in the direction of democracy. the style of the book is really cool: rolfe likes to use lots of strange archaic terms(some real, some invented just to sound good) and the sentences are often elaborate and baroque. when a character of noble background is introduced we are given their coat of arms in proper heraldic language. the style is often witty and ironic as well and hubert de burgh as narrator often puts in little jokes or comments about whatever he's talking about. there is a lot of insane violence and homoeroticism as well if you like that kind of stuff. mostly the book is really enjoyable to read but a significant part of the plot hinges on medieval stories about blood libels by jews being literally true, and the jews in the book are all basically antisemitic caricatures. you can sort of read this as hubert de burgh being an antisemitic character since the book is entirely narrated by him but there's not really any counterpoint provided to it. some quotes from the book:

"Some sins resemble a bog. Your fine young man lightheartedly strolls in his life’s fair meadow. Suddenly, he finds himself off the path and up to his middle in slime. To struggle to win through to the other side, is to court instant engulfment. To remain inactive, is to be engulfed more slowly. The only safe method is to retire, with as little ado as possible (excepting in the way of silent prayer, which ought to be extremely vigorous). Even when he regains foothold on the brink, his condition is nauseous and lamentable: for his garments reek with defilement, and foetid also is the very flesh of him. Long, indeed, is the time of his cleansing. And Hubert de Burgh was in such a predicament, when he was moved to purge his treason. "

"When King Philip the August had heard the news from Roches, he savagely raided Touraine and burned Tours: but Earl John came up and ate his garrison. The Frank returned to Paris, much pained. Softsword capered through Anjou and Maine.
Despite his success at Mirabel, all was not going quite nicely with the Wild Ass. He was losing allies. King Hottho of the Romans was howling for payment of the Lionheart’s legacy; and John’s bath of lust and crime (in which he wallowed like a black duck in a stable cesspool) blinded him to the important law that a villain must not be villainous to villains who support him in his villainies. Beside the disagreeableness of Hottho, Earl Baldwin of Flanders, or, a lyon sable, within a bordure gules, ran away to become Emperor of Romania and to avoid his creditors: while Earl Reinald Dampmartin of Boulogne, or, three torteaux gules, sickened so awfully at the outrageous flaunting of Lady Jezebel that he defied John and joined himself to King Philip. Furthermore, old Roches was convening (at Angers) the bishops and magnates of Armorica; and these, with one voice, screamed for the release of their Duke Arthur."

"John, in his johannine manner, rushed to London, snatching castles on the way, exacting fresh hostages from magnates whom he suspected. The Scots Earl David of Huntingdon had to give up his son and his fortress at Fotheringham. Earl William Marechal of Pembroke had to contribute his heir, though Softsword already had his second son Richard. Sir Eustace de Vesci bolted to Scotland: Sir Robert fil-Walter (of Dunmow and Baynard’s Castle by the Black Friars) fled to France: both incurred outlawry and confiscation of their feofs. So outrageously wild and asinine was the Wild Ass, that even an archdeacon was inspired to testify, namely, Archdeacon Geoffrey of Norwich, who wondered (very loudly indeed) what would become of misguided persons daring to remain in the service of an excommunicated earl. Softsword at once let him taste the inconveniences accruing to archdeacons who did not so dare: for he had him happed up in a leaden cope, hammered closely to his body, so that he presently died, fixed standing in his tracks and starved, being unable even to lift up his hands that he might nibble the nails thereof for fodder in extremis. O manners."

[Bettie]

Posthumously published by A. J. A. Symons in 1935.

Wiki description: The lengthy narrative of the aged Hubert de Burgh, who is supposed to have saved Arthur's life and accompanied him on crusade to the Holy Land, where he becomes King of Jerusalem and eventually returns to England, defeats King John and kills his son Henry Plantagenet (the historical Henry III) in single combat. The remainder of the book details the prosperous reign of King Arthur, his defeat of the Barons under Simon de Montfort, and his eventual death. Of all Rolfe's novels this one has never been reprinted, perhaps because of the strong strain of anti-semitism, which draws upon the myths of Christian boys martyred by Jews, such as St. Hugh.