This work investigates the life and enigmatic personality of Frederick Rolfe, known as Baron Corvo, through the lens of a biographer's personal obsession. A. J. A. Symons, a bibliophile and writer, utilizes his own investigative process to reconstruct the history of a man who was largely forgotten by the literary establishment. By framing the narrative as an experiment in biography, Symons explores the intersection between the subject's self-destructive tendencies and the biographer's own psychological investment in the research process.

Critics and scholars frequently cite this book as a seminal work in the genre of biographical writing for its innovative, meta-narrative approach. Readers often note that the prose is engaging and accessible, effectively balancing the historical details of Rolfe's life with the author's own intellectual pursuit.