Hilaire Belloc is chiefly remembered for his controversial political opinions, often belligerent character, and strong allegiance to the Catholic Church. His deep feelings about the important political and social issues of his day manifest themselves in most of his works. Although he has been criticized because of his tendency to sermonize, the sheer number of his published works, their versatility, and their stirring and often humorous style are impressive. Belloc was a historian, poet, essayist, biographer, and novelist, as well as an important and popular travel writer. His travel books were popular and critically respected works, especially The Path to Rome (1902) and The Cruise of the "Nona" (1925). Belloc traveled extensively in Europe and the United States, visited Moscow to do research, and traveled to Algeria to convalesce after an illness. Whenever he traveled, Belloc tried to write something about the people, customs, topography, and eating habits that he...