Showing results by author "Hilaire Belloc" in All Categories

“When Fame comes upon a man well before death then must he most particularly beware of it, for is it then most dangerous. Neither must he, having achieved it, relax effort nor (a much greater peril) think he has done his work because some Fame now attaches thereto.” -- Hilaire Belloc

“Now that story is a symbol, and tells the truth. We see some one thing in this world, and suddenly it becomes particular and sacramental; a woman and a child, a man at evening, a troop of soldiers; we hear notes of music, we smell the smell that went with a passed time, or we discover after the long night a shaft of light upon the tops of the hills at morning: there is a resurrection, and we are refreshed and renewed.” - Hilaire Belloc

“I knew a man once, Maurice, who was at Oxford for three years, and after that went down with no degree. At College, while his friends were seeking for Truth in funny brown German Philosophies, Sham Religions, stinking bottles and identical equations, he was lying on his back in Eynsham meadows thinking of Nothing, and got the Truth by this parallel road of his much more quickly than did they by theirs; for the asses are still seeking, mildly disputing, and, in a cultivated manner, following the gleam, so that they have become in their Donnish middle-age a nuisance and a pest; while he--that...

Long before I knew that the speech of men was misused by them and that they lied in the hearing of the gods perpetually, in those early days through which all men have passed, during which one believes what one is told, an old and crusty woman of great wealth, to whom I was describing what I intended to do with life (which in those days seemed to me of infinite duration), said to me, "You are building castles in Spain." I was too much in awe of this woman not on account of the wealth, but on account of the crust to go further into the matter, but it seemed to me a very foolish thing to say, ...

“When a man weighs anchor in a little ship or a large one he does a jolly thing! He cuts himself off and he starts for freedom and for the chance of things. He pulls the jib a-weather, he leans to her slowly pulling round, he sees the wind getting into the mainsail, and he feels that she feels the helm. He has her on a slant of the wind, and he makes out between the harbour piers.” (quotation from Hilaire Belloc)

Hillaire Belloc of French by birth, British by naturalization was a diverse and prolific writer of the early 20th century. His writing runs the range from poetry, political writings and children’s stories. He was a close friend, and sometimes collaborator with fellow Catholic G.K. Chesterton. This book is a collection of essays and other short writings on a vast array of subjects ranging from observations on the barber, the duel, reflections on war and religion. Some are in the form of drama, dialogue and letters but always engaging with wit and satire. - Summary by Larry ...

This 1911 anthology is a collection of musings on the pleasures, challenges, and experience of walking. It features some famous authors (Thoreau, Dickens, Whitman, etc.) and others who are less well known. The works include essays, excerpts from fictional works, and first-person accounts of adventures had while walking. The collection was compiled by Hilaire Belloc, a Franco-English writer, many of whose books have been recorded for Librivox. - Summary by Verla Viera

Hilaire Belloc, French by birth, British by naturalization, was a diverse and prolific writer of the early 20th century. His writing runs the range from poetry, political writings and children’s stories. He was a close friend, and sometimes collaborator with fellow Catholic G.K. Chesterton. This book is a collection of essays and other short writings on a vast array of subjects ranging from observations on Bad Verse and Mumbo-Jumbo to Sailing the Seas and Hatred of Numbers. - Summary by Larry Wilson

Dance with a lobster, telephone an elephant or knock on a moonlit door - this collection includes magical, macabre, dramatic, funny, bizarre, absurd, delightful, moving and charming poems by Lewis Carroll, A.A. Milne, Edward Lear, Hilaire Belloc, Kenneth Grahame and many others. Readers such as Anton Lesser, Simon Russell-Beale and Timothy West bring the lines beautifully to life and make this an ideal introduction to some of the best-loved children's poetry.

The Catholic brings to history (when I say "history" in these pages I mean the history of Christendom) self-knowledge. As a man in the confessional accuses himself of what he knows to be true and what other people cannot judge, so a Catholic, talking of the united European civilization, when he blames it, blames it for motives and for acts which are his own. He himself could have done those things in person. He is not relatively right in his blame, he is absolutely right. As a man can testify to his own motive so can the Catholic testify to unjust, irrelevant, or ignorant conceptions of the ...

In this whimsical novel, we follow the timid and anxious Professor Higginson, a psychologist, as he finds himself entangled in a minor moral quandary triggered by a mysterious green overcoat. What ensues is a delightful adventure filled with humor and insight that will evoke laughter like a gentle rain. This is Belloc at his Chestertonian best, promising to charm readers young and old! - Summary by Russ Hobbs

In this thought-provoking discussion, I delve into the troubling influence of the modern Capitalist Press, exploring its role in distorting public opinion and empowering the unscrupulous. I also highlight the potential for change through the rise of small, independent media outlets and their increasing impact on the information landscape. (Introduction by Hilaire Belloc)

This book of 13 silly rhymes about strange animals is sure to delight and confuzzle its young listeners. More Beasts for Worse Children, a collection of nonsense verses for children, was written by English-French writer, historian, and satirist, Hilaire Belloc (1870–1953).

Aged merchant Mahmoud relates to his young nephews the story of his rise to fabulous riches. From being kicked out (literally) from the family home by his exasperated father, with only the barest patrimony to sustain him, the young wastrel goes from rags to riches, and back again, aided only by "providence" - and his very inventive wits.

Here is a timeless classic in an exclusive audio edition featuring Matilda, who told such dreadful lies; George, who played with a dangerous toy and suffered a catastrophe of considerable dimensions; and many, many other colourful characters. Witty, memorable, and always instructive, join the many generations who have laughed together and enjoyed Belloc's unique and biting humour.

These humorous verses were originally written for children but the taste is much more to an adult liking. They are strange, perverse and the morals they provide….well, that’s for you to decide. Luckily Joyce Grenfell is narrating so it’s double the experience

The Victorians had a fondness for scaring their offspring straight with cautionary tales - moral stories featuring children who misbehaved and suffered the consequences. Hilaire Belloc's Cautionary Tales are a parody of the Victorian moral fables: irresistible, irreverent and downright jolly.

"Cautionary Tales", humorous poems with an implausible moral, are the most widely known of Hilaire Belloc's writings. Supposedly for children, they, like Lewis Carroll's works, are more to adult and satirical tastes. Here, Joyce Grenfell reads a selection.

In this gripping chapter of Macaulay‚s History of England, we delve into the tumultuous insurrections against James II and the kings desperate maneuvers to quell them. The narrative follows Argyle, who, having taken refuge in Holland, returns to rally an army against James. Despite his courage and quick wit, Argyle proves to be an ineffective leader, leading his forces into chaos before being captured and meeting a brave end. We also witness Monmouths dramatic return from Holland, where he audaciously declares himself king on June 20, 1685. His subsequent defeat at the Battle of Sedgemoor ...

Discover the captivating world of Isaac DIsraelis Curiosities of Literature, the third and final volume of his remarkable exploration. This work delves into a wide array of topics that extend far beyond literature, offering insightful essays on history, politics, and the customs of English society. Whether youre a literature enthusiast or simply curious about various subjects, this book promises to engage and intrigue every reader. - Summary by Carolin