author
William Beloe
1756–1817
An Anglican clergyman with a strong literary streak, he wrote lively memoirs, criticism, and translations that capture the world of late 18th- and early 19th-century English letters. His best-known books mix bookish curiosity with sharp personal recollection.
2 Audiobooks
About the author
William Beloe was an English clergyman, translator, and man of letters, born in Norwich in 1756 and dead in 1817. He was educated under the noted schoolmaster Samuel Parr and later studied at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, before building a career in the Church alongside his writing.
He became known for a wide range of literary work, including translations from classical authors, editorial projects, and essays on books and reading. Among the works most closely associated with him are Anecdotes of Literature and Scarce Books and The Sexagenarian, a memoir-like work remembered for its portraits of literary life and its glimpses of the people and habits of his time.
Beloe also held the post of keeper of printed books at the British Museum, though that appointment ended unhappily. Even so, his reputation has lasted through his vivid, conversational writing, which still appeals to readers interested in literary history, memoir, and the culture of the Georgian period.