Oscar Wilde and Frederick Rolfe: two Catholic converts in 1890s' english literature

This thesis begins with an examination of a theme crucial to the understanding of the role of Catholicism - its drawbacks and attractions - for the English would-be convert. I choose to look initially at two converts, Thomas Arnold jnr and 'John Oliver Hobbes', one a predecessor, the other a contemporary of Wilde and Rolfe. In their work the theme of truth is important because, I claim, they are reacting to the chief prejudice against Catholics in 19th century England. From this examination I turn to my two main subjects separately, beginning with the work of Oscar Wilde. My starting point is in the fascination that truth has for Wilde. I concentrate on three works: The Sphinx, which introduces ideas of duality: the spiritual and the physical, Dorian Gray, which further develops these themes, and the short 'soul' stories in which I see Wilde preoccupied by duality and the separation of the soul from the body. In these works I stress Wilde's borrowing from both classical and Christian traditions. I bring these observations to bear upon my analysis of De Profundis and Wilde's identification with Christ as the Man of Sorrows. In looking at Rolfe my starting point is again truth. I take each of the major novels and see that Rolfe's awareness of his own truthfulness is in opposition to the prevailing feeling in England of the inherent untruthfulness of Catholicism. Rolfe is at pains, I claim, to invent a personalized Catholicism in which he draws, like Wilde, on classical mythology to unite his English Protestant background to the 'foreign' elements of Catholicism. The key to this process I find in Hadrian the Seventh and with it I unlock the Toto stories and the complexities of Don Renato and The Desire and Pursuit of the Whole, in which a personal vision of Catholicism is given a universal application and which unites the duality of soul and body. I append a chapter on John Gray and Aubrey Beardsley in which I take up points covered in my writing on Wilde and Rolfe. I see similarities in their approaches to the problem of individual conversion to Catholicism in the 1890s. The thesis seeks to show that there are similarities in the writings of Wilde and Rolfe which are connected to their religious beliefs: attitudes to truth and to continuity in religious beliefs from classical antiquity which finds expression in Catholicism. Conversion allows these writers to reconstruct their identities in a society hostile to them as individuals. I attempt to complete this argument by claiming that the personality reconstruction, by Wilde in De Profundis and by Rolfe in the autobiographical sketches in his novels, unites both men in a new, hybrid, aesthetic Catholicism

Tocilizumab in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial

Background: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of tocilizumab in adult patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 with both hypoxia and systemic inflammation. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]), is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. Those trial participants with hypoxia (oxygen saturation <92% on air or requiring oxygen therapy) and evidence of systemic inflammation (C-reactive protein ≥75 mg/L) were eligible for random assignment in a 1:1 ratio to usual standard of care alone versus usual standard of care plus tocilizumab at a dose of 400 mg–800 mg (depending on weight) given intravenously. A second dose could be given 12–24 h later if the patient's condition had not improved. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, assessed in the intention-to-treat population. The trial is registered with ISRCTN (50189673) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04381936). Findings: Between April 23, 2020, and Jan 24, 2021, 4116 adults of 21 550 patients enrolled into the RECOVERY trial were included in the assessment of tocilizumab, including 3385 (82%) patients receiving systemic corticosteroids. Overall, 621 (31%) of the 2022 patients allocated tocilizumab and 729 (35%) of the 2094 patients allocated to usual care died within 28 days (rate ratio 0·85; 95% CI 0·76–0·94; p=0·0028). Consistent results were seen in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including those receiving systemic corticosteroids. Patients allocated to tocilizumab were more likely to be discharged from hospital within 28 days (57% vs 50%; rate ratio 1·22; 1·12–1·33; p<0·0001). Among those not receiving invasive mechanical ventilation at baseline, patients allocated tocilizumab were less likely to reach the composite endpoint of invasive mechanical ventilation or death (35% vs 42%; risk ratio 0·84; 95% CI 0·77–0·92; p<0·0001). Interpretation: In hospitalised COVID-19 patients with hypoxia and systemic inflammation, tocilizumab improved survival and other clinical outcomes. These benefits were seen regardless of the amount of respiratory support and were additional to the benefits of systemic corticosteroids. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research

Convalescent plasma in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised controlled, open-label, platform trial

Background: Many patients with COVID-19 have been treated with plasma containing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma therapy in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]) is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. The trial is underway at 177 NHS hospitals from across the UK. Eligible and consenting patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either usual care alone (usual care group) or usual care plus high-titre convalescent plasma (convalescent plasma group). The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, analysed on an intention-to-treat basis. The trial is registered with ISRCTN, 50189673, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04381936. Findings: Between May 28, 2020, and Jan 15, 2021, 11558 (71%) of 16287 patients enrolled in RECOVERY were eligible to receive convalescent plasma and were assigned to either the convalescent plasma group or the usual care group. There was no significant difference in 28-day mortality between the two groups: 1399 (24%) of 5795 patients in the convalescent plasma group and 1408 (24%) of 5763 patients in the usual care group died within 28 days (rate ratio 1·00, 95% CI 0·93–1·07; p=0·95). The 28-day mortality rate ratio was similar in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including in those patients without detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at randomisation. Allocation to convalescent plasma had no significant effect on the proportion of patients discharged from hospital within 28 days (3832 [66%] patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 3822 [66%] patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·94–1·03; p=0·57). Among those not on invasive mechanical ventilation at randomisation, there was no significant difference in the proportion of patients meeting the composite endpoint of progression to invasive mechanical ventilation or death (1568 [29%] of 5493 patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 1568 [29%] of 5448 patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·93–1·05; p=0·79). Interpretation: In patients hospitalised with COVID-19, high-titre convalescent plasma did not improve survival or other prespecified clinical outcomes. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research