# Praise of This Book explained — The Path to Rome

> Chapter companion for The Path to Rome by Hilaire Belloc.

## What happens

The narrator explains how the book came to be written: while visiting his native valley, he saw the old church restored, was moved by a statue of Our Lady, and vowed to go on pilgrimage to Rome on foot, starting from his place of military service. He then discusses the conventions of prefaces, praises his own book, and launches into a playful, Rabelaisian call to arms for his words and style, also addressing the inclusion of his own drawings.

## Themes in this chapter

### Pilgrimage and Faith

The narrator makes a vow to go on pilgrimage to Rome, inspired by a statue of Our Lady in his childhood church.

### The Art of Writing and Style

The narrator discusses prefaces, style, and launches a Rabelaisian call to arms for his words, celebrating rhetorical freedom.

### Nostalgia and Home

The narrator returns to his native valley and feels deep attachment to the old church, calling it 'the kernel of that nut.'

## Character check-ins

### Narrator

The narrator recounts his vow and the origin of the book, and speaks directly to the reader.

### Bacchus

Mentioned among the muses and graces to whom thanks are owed.

### Acedes

Referenced as the discoverer of the Water of Youth in a hollow of the hill Epistemonoscoptes.

## Key lines

> I noticed behind the high altar a statue of Our Lady, so extraordinary and so different from all I had ever seen before, so much the spirit of my valley, that I was quite taken out of myself and vowed a vow there to go to Rome on pilgrimage

Seeing a remarkable statue of the Virgin Mary in the church, I was so moved that I promised to make a pilgrimage to Rome.

_This is the pivotal moment where the narrator makes his pilgrimage vow._

> I will start from the place where I served in arms for my sins; I will walk all the way and take advantage of no wheeled thing; I will sleep rough and cover thirty miles a day, and I will hear Mass every morning; and I will be present at high Mass in St. Peter's on the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul.

I will begin my journey from my former military post, walking the entire distance without any vehicle, sleeping outdoors, traveling thirty miles daily, attending Mass each morning, and arriving in Rome for the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul.

_The narrator details the strict terms of his vow._

> Write as the wind blows and command all words like an army!

Write freely and with authority, marshaling your words as a commander would an army.

_This captures the narrator's exuberant, Rabelaisian approach to style._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_path_to_rome_se/chapters/praise-of-this-book
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_path_to_rome_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_path_to_rome_se/chapters