CORVO, Frederick Rolfe Baron. The Desire and Pursuit of the Whole. A Romance of Modern Venice.

(New York, NY): New Directions, 1953.  First edition.  Octavo.  299 pages.  Introduction by A.J.A. Symons and a foreword by W.H. Auden.  A work that stands as a uniquely scurrilous sensual testament to Frederick Rolfe’s fervent affection for the physical beauty of the city of Venice and it’s a inhabitants. This is the Death in Venice, Thomas Mann would not have dared to write and is one of the classic books on Venice at a time when it served as an home for undesirables from all over Europe as well as erotic vacation destinations for some in the way Asia is today.   A near fine copy, small neat previous owner’s name on front endpaper, in a very good dust jacket with cover art by Andy Warhol. Jacket with some loss at top edge of front panel, spine head, and corner of rear panel. Still a presentable copy.