Old Thunder: A Life of Hilaire Belloc

Old Thunder: A Life of Hilaire Belloc is an essential read for any enthusiast of twentieth-century literature. Acclaimed biographer Joseph Pearce chronicles the life and work of one of the most compelling and important figures in British intellectual life, drawing on recently discovered and previously unpublished letters and photographs to provide a vivid, full-bodied portrait of Hilaire Belloc’s singular character.

Peeling back the layers of mystery shrouding Belloc, this captivating biography brings into focus both his often controversial public persona and the inner struggles that revealed themselves in his private writings. From his complicated relationships with Gilbert Chesterton and Evelyn Waugh to his long courtship with Elodie Hogan, readers will gain insight into Belloc’s turbulent early life that informed his later works.

Updated with a new introduction by Dale Alhquist, Old Thunder: A Life of Hilaire Belloc provides an illuminating look at this inspirational figure whose passion can still be felt nearly a century later. From the avid economist to the esteemed poet, it’s time to get reacquainted with Europe’s foremost writer-thinker through these thoughtful pages. Trust Old Thunder to bring its subject alive like never before.