Belloc

Belloc: A Biographical Anthology by Hilaire Belloc, edited by Herbert van Thal, 379 pages

This anthology collects snippets from only a few of the over 150 books Hilaire Belloc wrote during his eventful life.  The selection includes memoirs, fiction, history, biography, political commentary, and poetry, all the varied outpouring of Belloc's restless wit.  As a "biographical anthology", the book is arranged chronologically, and the editor has included notes before many of the entries containing biographic and bibliographic information.  The book does not omit some of Belloc's more controversial writings - a passage is included from The Jews as well as a letter from a trip to North Africa that is, at minimum, remarkably callous.

The greatest pleasure is Belloc's consistency - whether haranguing the rich, remembering a sailing trip through perilous waters, or discussing the character of Charles I, Belloc is always unmistakably Belloc.  To read him is to listen to an expert conversationalist talking late into the night, seasoning his anecdotes with good humor and unforgettable observations, and if the line between fancy and fact is often indistinct, that is only another part of his charm.