Hilaire Belloc

Joseph Hilaire Pierre René Belloc (July 27, 1870 - July 16, 1953) was one of the most prolific writers in England during the early twentieth century. His style and personality led to the nickname, "Old Thunder".

Writing

As an essayist he was one of a small, admired and dominant group (with Chesterton, E. V. Lucas and Robert Lynd) of popular writers. In the large he sometimes came across as too opinionated, and too dedicated a Catholic controversialist. He was at his most effective in the 1920s, on the attack against H. G. Wells's Outline of History; but tended to come off worse in crossing swords with academics.

Related Topics:
Essayist - E. V. Lucas - Robert Lynd - H. G. Wells - Outline of History

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Belloc was most successful as a children's writer, rather like another staunch Christian, C S Lewis. Belloc's gruesome poetic warnings are as fresh and beautifully written now as when penned. No erudite child can be happy without the brisk cruelty of a Belloc rhyme to "lull" them to sleep knowing that misbehaviour of even the slightest kind is likely to result in full & terrible retribution. Belloc's use of language, rhythm & ability to, as Quentin Blake (illustrator) said, be at one & the same time the overbearing adult & mischievous child, make his work perfect nighttime material for children bored with Roald Dahl etc. His children's works also show his philosophy, often in its most enjoyable spirit, eg his understanding the absurdity of a hierarchical political elite:

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It happened to Lord Lundy then/as happens to so many men/

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about the age of 26/ they shoved him into politics...

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