THE LIFE OF HILAIRE BELLOC

by Robert Speaight ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 13, 1957

From previous publication in England the official biography of Belloc, ""written at the request of his literary executors"", has already achieved wide acclaim as a definitive, sensitive work. From our reading, their praiseful estimates remain valid; Mr. Speaight's extensive research, his flair for organization and his intimate analysis of Hilaire Belloc's varied personality and controversial life, make a book that is a pleasure to read and to learn from. Born in France, raised an Englishman and, in adult life historian, parliamentarian and conversationalist, Belloc led a life marked by intensity. His early schooling was highly religious in content and when still in his teens he helped to put out a periodical based on the tenets of his strong Roman Catholic faith. Nevertheless, the chance came to go to Oxford and he took it, for if it has been said that Belloc was a Catholic before he was a Christian, he was an intellectual before he was a Catholic. He did everything, even hating the Jews, intellectually, though this may have had its bearing on Belloc's failure to gain a lifelong All Souls fellowship which would have given him time and money to do and write as he wished. Mr. Speaight interprets the authorities as hesitant about giving such an extensive award to a dominating man with such clearly defined prejudices. On his own, then Belloc entered into the life of lecturing and writing which he was to live- at first happily married to an American girl, Elodie Hogan, and later as a widower. This poised and analytical record remains the best kind of tribute to a man about whom not everything to be said was good- an unbiassed yet deeply understanding account.

Pub Date: April 13, 1957

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Cudahy

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1957

Categories: NONFICTION