HARDY FORUM ARCHIVE H0013 2/7/00 "HARDY,SQUIRE, BELLOC, & WESSEX" ======================================================== Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2000 09:29:36 +0000 (GMT) From: Robert Goddard Subject: Hardy, Squire and Belloc Dear List Members, I wonder, is anyone able to shed a little light on a small mystery? A friend has recently sent me an extract from "The Life of Hilaire Belloc", by Robert Speaight (London: Hollis & Carter, 1957), in which it is mentioned (at pp. 490-491) that on one occasion Sir John Squire introduced Belloc to Hardy. An extract from the Illustrated London News (May 28, 1955) is then quoted: "I [ie., Squire] had been sailing (about 1932) up the Channel with Belloc. We were weatherbound in West Bay by Bridport. I took a car to Dorchester to see Thomas Hardy, with home I regularly stayed, and said I would like to bring Belloc to see him. 'What,' said he, 'do you mean that Catholic journalist?' I said 'Yes,' and he agreed. I returned to ship and told Belloc. 'What,' said he, 'do you mean that atheist novelist?' I said 'Yes,' and he agreed. Hardy had probably never read anything of his junior Belloc's; Belloc had probably never set eyes on Hardy's Napoleonic masterpiece 'The Dynasts'. But when I got them together, I faded into the background and they, both passionate about history, got talking about a great legendary storm which, possibly in the nineteenth century, had swept ships across the narrow isthmus which divides Portland Bill from the Mainland." The mystery is, of course, the date. I have been unable to locate the relevant issue of the Illustrated London News, but suspect the error is probably typographical (perhaps 1932 instead of 1922). Is anyone able to confirm this? (I've flicked through a number of Hardy biographies, and can find no reference to Belloc). With best wishes, Robert Goddard. rjg31@cam.ac.uk ========== From: "James Gibson" Subject: Hardy, Squire and Belloc Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2000 11:06:04 -0000 It may throw a little light on Robert Goddard's mention of a meeting between Squire, Belloc and Hardy to mention that the Max Gate Visitors' Book is signed on 4 August 1922 by "J.C. Squire, Hilaire Belloc and 'Gregory'. I would like to say here that my recent edition of Thomas Hardy: Interviews and Recollections could have been three times as long if it had not been for the constraints imposed on me by the Macmillan Press, who seem only to care for their profits! The hardback edition of I and R began at the greedy price pound 47.50, and has already been put up to pound 50, and this is the House which is so proud of James Gibson, James.Gibson@ukgateway.net ========== From: "James Whitehead" Subject: Re: Squire, Belloc (?) and Wessie Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2000 11:19:26 -0000 This may not be much help but ... It may be worth looking at *The First Cuckoo*, a book which provides a selection of some of the more interesting letters to *The Times* (published in the 1970s, I think). It includes a long letter by Squire describing a visit to Max Gate, concentrating attention on the curious radio-listening activities of Wessex the dog (this may be re-printed in *The Thomas Hardy Journal* in the near future). The letter might possibly include reference to Belloc also ... I'm afraid I'm relying purely on memory here ... -James Whitehead ========== From: Martin Ray Sender: enl090@abdn.ac.uk Subject: Re: Squire, Belloc (?) and Wessie I'm sending as an attachment an extract from Squire's *Water-Music, or, A Fortnight of Bliss* which mentions Wessex and the radio. All best wishes Martin ----------------- Dr Martin Ray Department of English University of Aberdeen Aberdeen Scotland, UK m.ray@abdn.ac.uk Attachment converted: Emma:SQUIRE.DOC (WDBN/MSWD) (00022569) ==========