Re-reading Belloc 2
Aug. 15th, 2010 07:50 pmBelloc is an expensive author. I've been looking at what they ask for his books on the secondhand market- and there's little for under ten pounds. Some titles go for three figure sums.
I used to collect his work. He was out of favour and cheap. I paid 50p for my first edition of The Four Men. Then money got tight and I sold all except the Four Men (which is the book of his I love best) for what would now be a pittance. I'd like to replace my collection, but I can't afford to- not at current prices.
I'm going to re-read The Four Men. It's the account of a wander through Sussex. Belloc calls it a farrago- which is a good name for a book in which one cuts loose and does as one pleases. The four men of the title are aspects of Belloc himself- grizzlebeard, the sailor, the poet (who is a bit of a weed) and "myself". They talk and argue, tell tall stories and sing songs. Belloc also drew and painted the pictures.

I used to collect his work. He was out of favour and cheap. I paid 50p for my first edition of The Four Men. Then money got tight and I sold all except the Four Men (which is the book of his I love best) for what would now be a pittance. I'd like to replace my collection, but I can't afford to- not at current prices.
I'm going to re-read The Four Men. It's the account of a wander through Sussex. Belloc calls it a farrago- which is a good name for a book in which one cuts loose and does as one pleases. The four men of the title are aspects of Belloc himself- grizzlebeard, the sailor, the poet (who is a bit of a weed) and "myself". They talk and argue, tell tall stories and sing songs. Belloc also drew and painted the pictures.