Hilaire Belloc was an English writer, poet, historian, and political activist born in France in 1870. He is best known for his works of history, satire, and verse, and was a prolific author who wrote over 150 books. He was a strong advocate of Catholic social teaching and was a member of the Distributist movement. His most famous works include The Path to Rome, The Bad Child's Book of Beasts, and The Four Men.