I truly enjoyed reading your email on Belloc. I was an avid reader until old age forced me to slow down. Your sharing of your feelings about your book buying and enjoyment of your books touched me. When I was much younger, I would go to the library and sometimes spend the day there. The librarians would let me bring my lunch so I could really settle in once I got there. The library was just down the street from where I lived. I felt your excitement when you came across books that were special. I felt that way each time I went to the library. It was my own special treasure. Thank you for bringing back treasured memories. God Bless!
I am reading Belloc for the first time this month after a few years of reading Chesterton. I have enjoyed some of his poems, his novel Mr. Petre, and his children's books so far. Thanks for this, greetings from Florida
"He’s not always right (for one thing, he was too much of a republican and not enough of a monarchist)"
This is an understatement if ever I read one.
Belloc was a proponent of the French Revolution, and defended violent Reign of Terror as necessary to prevent anarchy! He praised the revolutionaries' crushing of the Catholic Vendée uprising. He admired the deist philosopher Rousseau whose Enlightenment thinking was the underpinning of the French Revolution.
Thank you. Fortunately these views of Belloc's, which are truly execrable, do not affect much of his work. I have read a lot of Belloc and most of it is perfectly fine, in fact, excellent. If we must avoid any author who has any problem, we could comfortably fit our libraries into one bookcase!
Having now begun "Belloc: A Biographical Anthology," I came across the first (of many, I'm sure) thought-provoking passages. In his book on the history of Paris, he writes of the destruction of the medieval city, including changes he disliked at Notre Dame: "That huge, ugly high altar, and [they] had destroyed the reverend flooring of tombs to make way for the chess-board pattern of black and white that still displeases us" (36). What would he make of the recent changes? One can picture him, eyes ablaze and jaw firmly set, marching toward the hideous new "altar" with sledgehammer in hand, hurling Latin and French imprecations at those who vandalized the great church.
May I just say how very pleased I am with the Os Justi edition of "The Path to Rome"? It is a lovely reading experience. I am a fan of facsimiles (unless the print is too minute) because they give you a feeling of kinship with the first readers of a work.
Thank you. The fact that you believed it to be a facsimile is evidence that we did our work well, because it's actually not a facsimile but newly typeset from scratch, with a period font and the images carefully placed in the right positions. It was a lot of work, I can tell you, but the results speak for themselves.
Dear Dr. K, would your graciousness extend a bit more...would you recommend a 1st book of Belloc's to read - where does one start on this literary journey?
What a coincidence! Yesterday I was sorting my stack of 13 Belloc paperbacks, wondering if I should sell most of them. I am also challenged for shelf space. I had no idea there were so many of his works I had not heard of. I’ve been meaning to read The Cruise of the Nona. Maybe now is the time!
Good news indeed. I've never quite been able to grasp Chesterton, but Belloc? Oh boy! There is something invigorating in his writing. A friend recently gave me "Belloc: A Biographical Anthology," which now seems to call to me from the bookshelf.
I have been collecting Belloc’s work as gifts for my husband and it’s thrilling to find a first edition in good shape. We are glad to hear the efforts in reprinting them! Thank you sincerely for all you bring to the world.
"bad books are worse than any other scourge on earth."
When I read that quote, I couldn't help but think of Fr. James V. Schall SJ who introduced me to a writer named Hilaire Belloc.
I truly enjoyed reading your email on Belloc. I was an avid reader until old age forced me to slow down. Your sharing of your feelings about your book buying and enjoyment of your books touched me. When I was much younger, I would go to the library and sometimes spend the day there. The librarians would let me bring my lunch so I could really settle in once I got there. The library was just down the street from where I lived. I felt your excitement when you came across books that were special. I felt that way each time I went to the library. It was my own special treasure. Thank you for bringing back treasured memories. God Bless!
Thanks for sharing this memory. I cannot imagine life without books - how impoverished!
I am reading Belloc for the first time this month after a few years of reading Chesterton. I have enjoyed some of his poems, his novel Mr. Petre, and his children's books so far. Thanks for this, greetings from Florida
Enjoy!
"He’s not always right (for one thing, he was too much of a republican and not enough of a monarchist)"
This is an understatement if ever I read one.
Belloc was a proponent of the French Revolution, and defended violent Reign of Terror as necessary to prevent anarchy! He praised the revolutionaries' crushing of the Catholic Vendée uprising. He admired the deist philosopher Rousseau whose Enlightenment thinking was the underpinning of the French Revolution.
See https://www.traditioninaction.org/HotTopics/j016htBelloc_Terror_3.htm for more info.
These are dangerous, leftist, anti-Catholic views that Hilaire Belloc espouses.
I think you ought to temper your praise of him with a warning to your readers.
Thank you. Fortunately these views of Belloc's, which are truly execrable, do not affect much of his work. I have read a lot of Belloc and most of it is perfectly fine, in fact, excellent. If we must avoid any author who has any problem, we could comfortably fit our libraries into one bookcase!
I didn't suggest that we avoid all imperfect authors. I thought you should include a caveat not to trust him when it comes to the French Revolution.
Having now begun "Belloc: A Biographical Anthology," I came across the first (of many, I'm sure) thought-provoking passages. In his book on the history of Paris, he writes of the destruction of the medieval city, including changes he disliked at Notre Dame: "That huge, ugly high altar, and [they] had destroyed the reverend flooring of tombs to make way for the chess-board pattern of black and white that still displeases us" (36). What would he make of the recent changes? One can picture him, eyes ablaze and jaw firmly set, marching toward the hideous new "altar" with sledgehammer in hand, hurling Latin and French imprecations at those who vandalized the great church.
May I just say how very pleased I am with the Os Justi edition of "The Path to Rome"? It is a lovely reading experience. I am a fan of facsimiles (unless the print is too minute) because they give you a feeling of kinship with the first readers of a work.
Thank you. The fact that you believed it to be a facsimile is evidence that we did our work well, because it's actually not a facsimile but newly typeset from scratch, with a period font and the images carefully placed in the right positions. It was a lot of work, I can tell you, but the results speak for themselves.
Belloc's words (that open page you provided for our enjoyment) reads so similar to how you speak and write. We are double-blessed by him and YOU.
God reward you for your encouraging words! I feel very blessed by all the interested and interesting readers who come to this Substack.
Dear Dr. K, would your graciousness extend a bit more...would you recommend a 1st book of Belloc's to read - where does one start on this literary journey?
I'd say "The Path to Rome" is quite a fun read. "The Cruise of the Nona" is more reflective but also very accessible.
What a coincidence! Yesterday I was sorting my stack of 13 Belloc paperbacks, wondering if I should sell most of them. I am also challenged for shelf space. I had no idea there were so many of his works I had not heard of. I’ve been meaning to read The Cruise of the Nona. Maybe now is the time!
It's always time for Belloc, say I!
"...went home hollerin’ like a warrior with scalps." This is hilarious! Hahahhahahaha
Good news indeed. I've never quite been able to grasp Chesterton, but Belloc? Oh boy! There is something invigorating in his writing. A friend recently gave me "Belloc: A Biographical Anthology," which now seems to call to me from the bookshelf.
I have been collecting Belloc’s work as gifts for my husband and it’s thrilling to find a first edition in good shape. We are glad to hear the efforts in reprinting them! Thank you sincerely for all you bring to the world.