"As a writer of light verse, he has few equals and no superiors" - WH Auden
Joseph Hilaire Pierre René Belloc (to give him his full name) was born in an outer-western suberb of Paris in 1870. He grew-up in Sussex, attended Balliol College at Oxford and became a British subject in 1902. A prolific writer of travel books, political and historical essays and also lyric poetry; he collaborated frequently with GK Chesterton. Belloc died in 1953.
This Pocket Book contains 20 poems, and additional shorter couplets, by Belloc. Including Matilda and Henry King from his Cautionary Tales for Children; as well as Ha'nacker Mill, Tarantella and The South Country.
This vintage edition is not dated but heralds from a time when The Quince Tree Press was based in Bury St Edmunds. It lists the 80 Pocket Books which were also in print at the time; many of which are sadly no longer available. It has a matt card cover and is dedicated to Sally (JL Carr's wife).
Hilaire Belloc
Publication Essentials
Pocket-sized at 13 x 9.5cm (5 x 3.5" in old money) and comprising 16 pages with a firm card cover. This little volume is just one in the series of Carr's Pocket Books; they hover between a greeting and a present and make a lasting alternative to a birthday card. In cold bedrooms, only one hand need suffer exposure. A distinguished novelist recommends them for reading in the bath and an ambassador claims they can be palmed from the cuff during tedious speeches or profitless sermons.
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Reviews
Alas that there are fewer of these extant than there once were. Still, a largely enjoyable collection, if sometimes devoid of context. I wonder why there was none of Belloc's prose included?