The Path to Rome [Paperback]

Hilaire Belloc (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 4, 2009

Joseph Hilaire Pierre René Belloc (27 July 1870 – 16 July 1953) was a French-born writer and historian who became a naturalised British subject in 1902. He was one of the most prolific writers in England during the early twentieth century. He is most notable for his Roman Catholic faith, which had an impact on most all of his writing.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Hilaire Belloc (1870 1953) was an Anglo-French writer and historian who became a naturalized British subject in 1902. He was one of the most prolific writers in England during the early twentieth century. He is most notable for his Catholic faith, which had a strong impact on most of his works and his writing collaboration with G. K. Chesterton. Belloc wrote on myriad subjects, from warfare to poetry to the many current topics of his day. He has been called one of the Big Four of Edwardian Letters, along with H.G.Wells, George Bernard Shaw, and G. K. Chesterton, all of whom debated each other into the 1930s. Belloc was closely associated with Chesterton, and Shaw coined the term Chesterbelloc for their partnership. Asked once why he wrote so much,] he responded, "Because my children are howling for pearls and caviar." Belloc observed that "The first job of letters is to get a canon," that is, to identify those works which a writer looks upon as exemplary of the best of prose and verse. For his own prose style, he claimed to aspire to be as clear and concise as "Mary had a little lamb." His best travel writing has secured a permanent following. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 220 pages
• Publisher: Book Jungle (November 4, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1438528310
• ISBN-13: 978-1438528311
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,798,841 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificently erudite journal of a great journey to Rome., August 15, 1999

By 

Leona Malo (The Golden State) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Path to Rome: A Portrait of Western Europe Before the World Wars (Paperback)

Belloc's wonderful book is not for those who only travel to say they have "been there". For those are the tourists. This delightful book is for those who journey and realize that looking at lighted windows and medieval towns built into ancient crags is what makes life worth living. Written at the turn-of-the-century, Belloc's words flow magically and playfully to form a description not only of one writer's determined passage, but of a time already long gone. Simple pleasures are the best, especially when written by an artist with an eye for life itself.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant look at pre-war Europe., January 26, 2003

By 

HappyDaze11 - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Path to Rome: A Portrait of Western Europe Before the World Wars (Paperback)

This is surely one of the most delightful reads you will ever find. Belloc is such a good story teller, and, writing from a Catholic viewpoint, paints a picture of Europe before World War 1, before the lights went out for 30 years of constant strife and destruction. Along with various colorful characters along the way, some long forgotten fortresses, and the Italian Alps, Belloc weaves his travels with personal anecdotes and observations. What a book, and it is quite a shame that his journey can not accurately be repeated by another intrepid walker! Enjoy without reservation!

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unbeatable Fun, May 21, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Path to Rome (Paperback)

I'd heard about this book for years, but it was out of print and I was not able to locate a copy. I'm happy to report it was worth the wait. It even made me feel young again because it's written with a rare physical energy and youthful exuberance...and humor. In fact, Belloc wrote this in such a fresh and vigorous way he made me laugh out loud 101 years later.

As a young man Belloc took off for a personal pilgrimage from Toul, France to Rome, Italy -- and he didn't want to take an easy way. If he had a choice of going around a mountain or over it, he wanted to go over it. It happened more than once that he walked into an inn and told others what he had just done -- only to find they didn't believe him! I wanted to grab his listener by the arm and say, "I know he did it! I was with him!"

This book is both a time machine and a vicarious adventure.