Hilaire Belloc: Edwardian Radical

by John P. McCarthy

Intriguing and informative, this biography celebrates one of England's most respected and beloved 20th-century Catholic sons. Based on sound scholarship and thorough research, this study deals with the life; background; intellectual context; political and economic beliefs, particularly those concerning the theory that capitalism and socialism are not two distinct thoughts but rather Siamese twins; and overall work of Hilaire Belloc. Including a particularly useful focus upon his early career and pre-1920 intellectual background and development, this survey depicts one of Distributism's greatest figures, one of the Church's most worthy apologists, and one of the English language's most noteworthy modern talents.

Genres: Biography

373 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1979

Reviews

[Adam Marischuk · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are looking for a book about Hilaire Belloc, the Catholic apologist, historian, poet and author. This is't the book.

But if you are looking for a book about Hilaire Belloc the economic and political theorist, I suppose this will likely be the closest thing that you can find aside from just reading his own works. Though Distributism is not the central focus either.

If you are looking for a history of British Parliamentary debate around home rule, educational reform, brewing monopolies, the Boer war and inter-party dynamics from 1900 to 1912, where Belloc makes at least a guest appearance, this is the book for you.

I would have given the book 2 stars if it weren't for the chapter on the Servile State, which was at least interesting and about Belloc and included those famous literary figures one normally associates with him, either as friend or foe: Chesterton, Shaw, Wells, Churchill. The remainder of the book was a rather dry with too many peripheral figures given too much ink:

During the Boer war the Liberal MPs had divided three ways. The Pro-Boers, such as Harcourt, Morley, Labouchere, and Lloyd George, were totally opposed to the war and blamed Great Britain for causing it. They were about equal in number to the Liberal-Imperialists, such as Asquith, Grey, and Haldane, who believed the ultimatum of the Boers had caused the war and regarded British annexation of the Transvall and the Orange Free State as an ideal outcome of the war. A smaller group, which followed the party's leader, Henry Campbell-Bannerman, who sought to maintain party unity, tended to blame Great Britain for the outbreak of the war but once it had started supported the government in its efforts to annex the Boer states. Despite these differences, all liberal candidates were branded as "Pro-Boers" by the Unionists during the 1900 Khaki election...page 68-69

Riveting stuff.

But to be fair, it was interesting to see how an "Edwardian Radical" could see the political sands shift around him. The "great switch" of Republican and Democrats (liberals and conservatives) towards economic freedom and capitalism occured much sooner in England than in the United states and the Radicals play an interesting role in such.

The book closes with

It has been suggested that Belloc will endure only as a poet. Perhaps, but possibly this book will make some contribution to a revived appreciation of the prophetic and subtle character of so much of his social and political commentary. page 339

I cannot comment much on the success of the book, but judging from the number of reviews, the contribution has been minimal. As for Belloc being remembered either as a poet or a political theorist, I think he is still today best remembered as the second half of the Chesterbelloc and combative Catholic historian.

[Patrick O'Neill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read *The Edwardian Radical* a couple of months ago, and I suspect it may have originated as part of the author's PhD research. That said, it offers a fascinating look at Hilaire Belloc in his political context, particularly in the late Victorian and Edwardian era.

I found one or two chapters especially interesting, particularly in relation to Belloc’s beliefs and his advocacy of distributism—a social and economic theory he shared with G.K. Chesterton. Distributism, which promotes widespread property ownership as an alternative to both capitalism and socialism, was later developed further by figures like Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker Movement, though I admit I’m not too well-versed in that area.

The book was quite heavy going at times, but overall, it provided valuable insight into Belloc as both a political thinker and a Catholic author. An interesting read for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of his ideas.