Hilaire Belloc, A Biography

by A.N. Wilson

It's Spring 1945 and the war has ended in Europe, but the hate and devastation linger on. Lieutenant Vere Marriott of the Royal Navy, and the men of Motor Gunboat 801 are moored in Kiel harbor, witness to the disintegration of the mighty German navy. Where once they fought just to stay alive, Marriott and his men must now learn how to accept peace.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction

408 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Andrew Norman Wilson is an English writer and newspaper columnist, known for his critical biographies, novels, works of popular history and religious views. He is an occasional columnist for the Daily Mail and former columnist for the London Evening Standard, and has been an occasional contributor to the Times Literary Supplement, New Statesman, The Spectator and The Observer.

Reviews

[John Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Belloc has rather fallen out of fashion. His anti semitism hasn't helped his reputation; in that respect he was a child of his time. To be fair to him, and Wilson is, he was forthright in his condemnation of the Third Reich's 'final solution' and enraged by the failure of the powers to arrest this, particularly the Pope, Pius XII. (HB was a fervently devout Catholic). Like many of us he was a mass of contradictions. He was fulsome in his admiration of Mussolini, ( M. was an atheist? and certainly anti papist). At the same time he loathed Hitler, but then he was half French, half English, born at the time of the Franco-Prussian war which had adversely affected the family's fortunes.

A powerful orator and larger than life character. There were many similarities between him and Churchill. Both Liberal MPs at one time and with a similar attitude to politics it seemed to me.

Much of Belloc's extensive written work is now out of print apart from his poems for children, old and young, which remain enduringly popular. I recall reading these at primary school (seems like yesterday!)

Well written portrait of a very colourful character, an interesting and probably brilliant individual who could be both endearing and frustrating at the same time, and more... Recommended.

NB The synopsis of the book as it appears on Goodreads bears no resemblance to it. It seems to relate to a war novel. Perhaps someone in the know can correct it?

[Isidore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wilson's 2014 biography of Victoria was flabby and dull. Written a quarter of a century earlier, his Hilaire Belloc is the work of a biographer in top form. Wilson's enthusiasm and energy come through on every page, and Belloc's outsized personality is vividly evoked, with all its peculiarities, orneriness, and unexpected sweetness.

Wilson would have had to work hard to find a more politically incorrect subject, since pretty much everything Belloc prized is now derided or despised: dogmatic Catholicism, European culture, monarchy, etc. What amazes me is Wilson's willingness to take Belloc's views and what would now be called his "conspiracy theories" seriously, although I'm pretty sure his own attitudes are the polar opposite of his subject's. And even more surprisingly, he manages to find points of merit in even the most unfashionable of Belloc's notions. Biographical generosity on such a scale is pretty much extinct in our present Golden Age of the Scold.

Belloc's literary output was vast, and is now largely in the hands of print-on-demand "publishers", but Wilson doesn't leave you wanting to rush out and read his books. Clearly Belloc was one of those people who needed to be experienced first hand, and by his own admission most of his published writings were hacked out in order to pay for family expenses, champagne and travel. Nevertheless, while focusing on Belloc's wild personality and controversies, Wilson does a neat job of sustaining a thread of interest in his publications, noting which are the few good ones, and why. Belloc's reputation might be greater today had he lucked into a Boswell, to record his everyday pronouncements and savage wit.

In short, a completely enjoyable book, and a testament both to Wilson's skill and his sense of fair play. I am now seeking out other books by him, while avoiding the more recent ones, lest they share the torpor of his Victoria.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

spectacular work by Mr. Wilson bringing Belloc to life. what an impossible, over the top character.

[Helen (Helena/Nell) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. I found it human and readable and relevant and well written.

I have always loved some of Belloc's poems, and his fabulous facility for light verse, whether or not it is politically (or otherwise) correct. The book is really a biography, and in no way a critical biography. So really not about Belloc as poet. There may be another book to be written about that.

But it gave me a whole lot more background, so I could fit this strange but gifted and sparky man into his times and his proper context. I don't love him any less now. In fact, a whole set of things make a lot more sense.

I wish there had been some mention in the book of the poet Ruth Pitter, and the fact that Belloc paid for the first two collections of this, then, very young poet, to be privately printed. It seems to me an important part of his character and his faith in poetry that he did this.

One tiny detail that the book imprinted on me forever is that the poem Tarantella ('Do you remember an Inn, Miranda, Do you remember an inn?' That's the one with the fleas that tease in the high Pyrenees). Well, Miranda was never a girl. It's apparently a man. Duke Miranda, if I remember rightly, or something like that. This doesn't in the least bit damage the poem, and in fact makes a whole lot more sense.

I do not, however, understand, why the text that appears beside the book in GoodReads does not appear to belong to this book!

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very well written fair biography of a flawed genius. I felt that I learned much of the history of England and Europe from from the late 19th century to the Second World War. I had read some of Hilaire Belloc's work (loved the Child's Book of Beasts and the Cautionary Tales) but am inspired now to delve into more of his work with a better perspective on his genius and failures as a writer. I especially liked the way that Mr. Wilson wove in so many letters and oral history in this volume. The well rounded picture of Mr. Belloc is appreciated.

[Red Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Belloc:

If ever I become a rich man,
or if every I grow to be old,
I will build a house with a deep thatch
to shelter me from the cold.
I will hold my house in the high woods
within a walk of the sea,
and the men who were boys
when I was a boy
shall sit and drink with me.

[Roger Buck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hmm ... I heard this was a "hatchet job" on Belloc and approached with caution. I am glad to say I was surprised. This is, I think, the most insightful biography there is ...

Yes, Wilson is severe at times and there are ways in which I think he really does _not_ get HB. Paradoxically, in other ways, he has more insight into Belloc's greatness than either Pearce or Speight, I think.

For anyone interested, I have a growing archive of Belloc material here: http://corjesusacratissimum.org/tag/h....

I plan to review this book in depth at that part of my site in time. I also have a long review there of the Pearce biography.