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Paperback The Path to Rome Book

ISBN: 1023129930

ISBN13: 9781023129930

The Path to Rome

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Format: Paperback

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Book Overview

Embark on a remarkable walking tour across Europe with Hilaire Belloc's "The Path to Rome," a timeless autobiographical journey. This captivating blend of travel writing and Catholic reflection chronicles Belloc's pilgrimage on foot to Rome, offering a unique perspective on the landscapes and cultures he encounters. Primarily focusing on his traverse of Switzerland and the Swiss Alps, this narrative provides a rich description of the geography and people of early 20th-century Europe. More than just a travelogue, Belloc's engaging prose and personal insights create a deeply satisfying read for anyone interested in European travel, offering a historical glimpse into a bygone era. Retrace Belloc's steps through Italy and Switzerland in this meticulously prepared print edition, and experience the enduring charm of a classic travel narrative.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Customer Reviews

5 ratings

It's all about the journey

Belloc shares his adventure of making a pilgrimage to Rome on foot in the early twentieth century (prior to World War I). He was "On the Road" fifty years before Kerouac on a spiritual journey full of faith, wit, beautiful scenery, interesting characters, and personal adventures.

Return to a simpler time

Partly travelogue, partly interior monolog, completely entertaining! The young Belloc describes his walking trip from southeastern France to Rome, which (most intriguingly) he tries to accomplish by walking in a straight line, 30-45 miles a day. This extraordinary route takes him well off the beaten track, through isolated villages, nearly unpassable mountains and rivers, and sparsely populated plains. Belloc describes his experiences with his usual insight and offers humurous digressions on aspects of faith and culture as well. The book also contains a good number of rough landscape sketches he drew during his journey. In the end, Belloc paints a thoroughly detailed and honest picture of the Europe he loved so well and was to write of with such power. In the process he also gives us a detailed picture of his own character and mood, something quite helpful in interpreting his historical works.

Unbeatable Fun

I'd heard about this book for years, but it was out of print and I was not able to locate a copy. I'm happy to report it was worth the wait. It even made me feel young again because it's written with a rare physical energy and youthful exuberance...and humor. In fact, Belloc wrote this in such a fresh and vigorous way he made me laugh out loud 101 years later. As a young man Belloc took off for a personal pilgrimage from Toul, France to Rome, Italy -- and he didn't want to take an easy way. If he had a choice of going around a mountain or over it, he wanted to go over it. It happened more than once that he walked into an inn and told others what he had just done -- only to find they didn't believe him! I wanted to grab his listener by the arm and say, "I know he did it! I was with him!"This book is both a time machine and a vicarious adventure.

A brilliant look at pre-war Europe.

This is surely one of the most delightful reads you will ever find. Belloc is such a good story teller, and, writing from a Catholic viewpoint, paints a picture of Europe before World War 1, before the lights went out for 30 years of constant strife and destruction. Along with various colorful characters along the way, some long forgotten fortresses, and the Italian Alps, Belloc weaves his travels with personal anecdotes and observations. What a book, and it is quite a shame that his journey can not accurately be repeated by another intrepid walker! Enjoy without reservation!

Magnificently erudite journal of a great journey to Rome.

Belloc's wonderful book is not for those who only travel to say they have "been there". For those are the tourists. This delightful book is for those who journey and realize that looking at lighted windows and medieval towns built into ancient crags is what makes life worth living. Written at the turn-of-the-century, Belloc's words flow magically and playfully to form a description not only of one writer's determined passage, but of a time already long gone. Simple pleasures are the best, especially when written by an artist with an eye for life itself.
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