Hilaire Belloc is today most famous for his delightful nonsensical verse for children in Cautionary Tales and The Bad Child's Book of Beasts. It was this gift to see nonsense where others saw none which makes his eccentric life read like a novel.Born of an English mother who decided to propose to his father while on vacation in France, Belloc shared his mother's sense of purpose. He briefly served in the French navy, walked from New York to San Francisco to be with the girl he loved and addressed crowds as a Liberal MP. As a writer his convictions, and the many quarrels that resulted, electrified English life, yet as a friend he was always loyal and generous.Having had unprecedented access to all the Belloc archives, A. N. Wilson gives a riveting view of Belloc's life, his friendships and the movements of his mind in a biography that is unlikely to be surpassed. Read Less