William Hurrell Mallock


William Hurrell Mallock was an English novelist and economics writer. Much of his writing is in support of the Roman Catholic Church and in opposition to positivist philosophy and socialism.

Biography

A nephew of the historian James Anthony Froude, Mallock was educated privately and then at Balliol College, Oxford. He won the Newdigate Prize in 1872 for his poem The Isthmus of Suez and took a second class in the final classical schools in 1874, receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree from Oxford University. He never entered a profession, though he at one time considered the diplomatic service.
He first drew wide attention with the satirical novel The New Republic, conceived while he was a student at Oxford. Written as a roman à clef, it included characters recognizable as prominent figures such as Benjamin Jowett, Matthew Arnold, Violet Fane, Thomas Carlyle, and Thomas Henry Huxley. Although early critical reception was mixed, the book caused controversy, particularly for its satirical portrayal of the critic Walter Pater. Contemporary and later commentators described the depiction as deliberately cutting and suggestive of aesthetic and sexual affectation.
The appearance of The New Republic coincided with discussion of the Oxford Professorship of Poetry and is frequently cited as one factor in Pater’s decision not to stand for the post. Pater later published “A Study of Dionysus: The Spiritual Form of Fire and Dew,” which has sometimes been read as an indirect reply to the atmosphere of the controversy.
In subsequent decades Mallock wrote both fiction and polemical works on religion and politics. In books on religious questions he argued for dogma as the foundation of religion and rejected attempts to base religion solely on scientific claims. In Is Life Worth Living? and the satirical novel The New Paul and Virginia he attacked positivist ideas and wrote in defence of the Roman Catholic Church.
He also contributed frequently to newspapers and magazines, including The Forum, National Review, Public Opinion, Contemporary Review, and Harper’s Weekly. His April 1889 essay opposing Thomas Huxley’s agnosticism appeared in The Fortnightly Review and was reprinted in Popular Science Monthly. The piece formed part of a broader public dispute involving Huxley and William Connor Magee, Bishop of Peterborough.
From the 1880s onward he published a series of works on economics and social policy critical of radical and socialist theories, including Social Equality, Property and Progress, Labour and the Popular Welfare, Classes and Masses, Aristocracy and Evolution, and A Critical Examination of Socialism. In 1907 he visited the United States to deliver a set of lectures on socialism under the auspices of the National Civic Federation and at universities in several cities, including New York, Cambridge, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Baltimore.
Among his anti-socialist works is also the novel The Old Order Changes. His other novels include A Romance of the Nineteenth Century, A Human Document, The Heart of Life, Tristram Lacy, The Veil of the Temple, and An Immortal Soul.
Mallock later received renewed attention from some conservative writers. Russell Kirk discussed him at length in The Conservative Mind, citing earlier critics such as George Saintsbury and John Squire on Mallock’s argumentative skill and style, while emphasizing his sustained opposition to political and moral radicalism.
He published a volume of Poems in 1880. His 1878 book Lucretius included verse translations from the Roman poet, followed by Lucretius on Life and Death, a sequence of verse paraphrases influenced by the style of Edward FitzGerald’s Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam; a second edition appeared in 1910.

Influence and legacy

Ironically, this last work on Lucretius came to be highly regarded by freethinkers and other religious skeptics. Corliss Lamont includes portions of the third canto in his A Humanist Funeral Service. Mallock himself, in his introduction, seems to be offering it, somewhat condescendingly, for the use of such non-Christians when he writes:
Those, however, who... are adherents of the principles which shares with the latest scientists of to-day, can hardly find the only hope which is open to them expressed by any writer with a loftier and more poignant dignity than that with which they will find it expressed by the Roman disciple of Epicurus.

The popular English novelist Ouida dedicated her book of essays Views and Opinions to Mallock—"To W. H. Mallock. As a slight token of personal regard and intellectual admiration."
Artist Tom Phillips used Mallock's A Human Document as the basis for his project A Humument, in which he took a copy of the novel and constructed a work of art using its pages.

Works

  • ' Oxford: T. Shrimpton & Son, 1872.
  • , . London: Chatto and Windus, 1877.
  • London: Chatto & Windus, 1878.
  • ' London: Chatto & Windus, 1879.
  • London: Chatto & Windus, 1880.
  • , London: Chatto & Windus, 1881.
  • ' London: Richard Bentley & Son, 1882.
  • ' London: Richard Bentley and Son, 1884.
  • London: John Murray, 1884.
  • , . London: John Murray, 1886.
  • ' London: William Blackwood & Sons, 1887.
  • ' London: Richard Bentley & Son, 1889.
  • , , . London: Chapman & Hall, 1892.
  • ' London: Hutchinson & Co., 1893.
  • ' London: Adam & Charles Black, 1893.
  • , , . London: Chapman & Hall, 1895.
  • ' London: Ward & Downey Limited, 1895.
  • ' London: Adam & Charles Black, 1896.
  • ' London: Published at the Central Offices of the Liberty and Property Defense League, 1896.
  • ' London: Adam & Charles Black, 1898.
  • ' London: Chapman & Hall, 1899.
  • ' London: Adam & Charles Black, 1900.
  • London: Adam & Charles Blackie, 1900.
  • ' New York: The Macmillan Company, 1903.
  • London: Eveleigh Nash, 1903.
  • ' London: John Murray, 1904.
  • London: Chapman & Hall.
  • ' New York: The National Civic Federation, 1907.
  • ' London: John Murray, 1908.
  • Short Epitome of Eight Lectures on Some of the Principal Fallacies of Socialism. J. Truscott, 1908.
  • ' London: George Bells & Sons, 1908.
  • '. London: Adam & Charles Black, 1910.
  • ' London: John Murray, 1914.
  • ' London: Chapman & Hall. London, 1918.
  • * with an introduction by the Duke of Northumberland. London: Chapman & Hall, ltd., 1924.
  • ' London: Blackie & Son Limited, 1918.
  • New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1920.
As editor'''
  • with Helen Guendolen Seymour Ramsden. London: Richard Bentley & Son, 1893.

    Articles

  • "Prophets and Poets," Dark Blue, Vol. XIV, April 1871.
  • Fraser's Magazine, New Series, Vol. XIV, July/December, 1876.
  • The Gentleman's Magazine, Vol. CCXL, January/June, 1877.
  • The Contemporary Review, Vol. XXIX, January, 1877.
  • The Nineteenth Century, Vol. II, August/December, 1877; , Vol. III, January/June, 1878.
  • The Contemporary Review, Vol. XXXI, March 1878.
  • The Contemporary Review, Vol. XXXII, April 1878.
  • The Nineteenth Century, Vol. IV, July/December, 1878.
  • The Nineteenth Century, Vol. IV, July/December, 1878.
  • The Nineteenth Century, Vol. IV, July/December, 1878.
  • The Nineteenth Century, Vol. V, January/June, 1879.
  • Appleton's Journal, Vol. VI, No. 32, February 1879.
  • The Nineteenth Century, Vol. VI, July/December, 1879.
  • The Edinburgh Review, Vol. CL, October 1879.
  • The Nineteenth Century, Vol. VII, January/June, 1880.
  • The Nineteenth Century, Vol. VII, January/June, 1880.
  • The Nineteenth Century, Vol. VIII, July/December, 1880.
  • The Nineteenth Century, Vol. VIII, July/December, 1880.
  • The Contemporary Review, Vol. XL, October, 1881.
  • The Contemporary Review, Vol. XL, December, 1881.
  • The Nineteenth Century, Vol. IX, January/June, 1881.
  • The Contemporary Review, Vol. XLI, February, 1882.
  • "The Radicalism of the Marketplace," National Review, Vol. I, June 1883.
  • "English Radicalism and the People," National Review, Vol. I, 1883.
  • National Review, Vol. II, September 1883.
  • The National Review, Vol. II, 1883.
  • The National Review, Vol. II, 1883.
  • The North American Review, Vol. CXXXIV, No. 306, May, 1882; , Vol. CXXXVII, No. 322, September, 1883; , Vol. CXXXVII, No. 324, November, 1883.
  • "How to Popularize Unpopular Political Truths," National Review, Vol. VI, 1885.
  • "The Old Order Changes," National Review, Vol. VI, 1885.
  • The Forum, Vol. II, 1886.
  • The Forum, Vol. II, 1886.
  • "Notes on Mr. Hyndman's 'Reply'," Fortnightly Review, Vol. XLI, 1887.
  • "Wealth and the Working Classes," Fortnightly Review, Vol. XLI, 1887.
  • The Forum, Vol. III, August 1887.
  • The Library Magazine, Vol. III, April/June, 1887.
  • "Qualities of the Bourgeoisie," Fortnightly Review, 1887.
  • "Scientific Prospects of Labor," Fortnightly Review, 1887.
  • "Conservatism and the Diffusion of Property," National Review, Vol. XI, 1888.
  • The Forum, Vol. V, 1888.
  • "Scenes in Cyprus," Scribner's Magazine, September 1888.
  • "Radicals and the Unearned Increment," National Review, Vol. XIII, 1889.
  • "Science and the Revolution," Fortnightly Review, Vol. LII, 1889.
  • Fortnightly Review, Vol. XLV, 1889.
  • "Cowardly Agnosticism, a Word with Prof. Huxley," Fortnightly Review, April 1889.
  • Quarterly Review, Vol. 192, 1900.
  • "Mr. Labouchere: The Democrat," Fortnightly Review, Vol. LIII, 1890.
  • "Reason Alone: A Reply to Father Sebastian Bowden," Fortnightly Review, Vol. LIV, 1890.
  • "A Catholic Theologian on Natural Religion," Fortnightly Review, Vol. LIV, 1890.
  • "Qualities of the Bourgeoisie," Fortnightly Review, Vol. XLVIII, 1890.
  • "Scientific Prospects of Labor," Fortnightly Review, Vol. XLVIII, 1890.
  • "The Rights of the Weak," National Review, 1890.
  • "Through Three Civilizations," Scribner's Magazine, February 1890.
  • The Forum, Vol. IX, March 1890.
  • "The Individualist Ideal," The New Review, Vol. IV, No. 21, 1891.
  • "A Human Document," Fortnightly Review, Vol. LVI, 1891.
  • "Public Life and Private Morals," Fortnightly Review, Vol. LV, 1891.
  • "Trade-Unionism and Utopia," The Forum, Vol. XI, April 1891.
  • "Wanted: A New Corrupt Practices Act," National Review, Vol. XX, 1892.
  • "Amateur Christianity," Fortnightly Review, Vol. LVII, 1892.
  • "Poetry and Lord Lytton," Fortnightly Review, Vol. LVII, 1892.
  • "The Souls," Fortnightly Review, Vol. LII, 1892.
  • "Le Style C'est L'Homme," The New Review, Vol. VI, 1892.
  • "Lady Jeune on London Society," The North American Review, July 1892.
  • "Are Scott, Dickens, and Thackeray Obsolete?," The Forum, December 1892.
  • "The Divisibility of Wealth," New Review, Vol. VIII, 1893
  • The National Review, Vol. XXI, 1893.
  • The National Review, Vol. XXI, 1893.
  • The National Review, Vol. XXI, 1893.
  • The National Review, Vol. XXI, 1893.
  • The National Review, Vol. XXI, 1893.
  • The National Review, Vol. XXI, 1893.
  • "Social Remedies of the Labor Party," Fortnightly Review, Vol. LIII, 1893.
  • Quarterly Review, Vol. CLXXVI, January/April 1893.
  • "Who Are the Greatest Wealth Producers?," The North American Review, June 1893.
  • "The Productivity of the Individual," The North American Review, November 1893.
  • "Socialist in a Corner," Fortnightly Review, Vol. LV, 1894.
  • "Fabian Economics," Fortnightly Review, Vol. LV, 1894.
  • "Heart of Life," Fortnightly Review, Vol. LVI, 1894.
  • Public Opinion, Vol. XVII, 1894.
  • "The Minimum of Humane Living," Pall Mall Magazine, January 1894.
  • "Fashion and Intellect," The North American Review, June 1894.
  • "The Significance of Modern Poverty," The North American Review, September 1894.
  • "Physics and Sociology," Contemporary Review, Vol. LXVIII, 1895.
  • "Religion of Humanity," Nineteenth Century, Vol. XXXVIII, 1895.
  • The Pall Mall Magazine, Vol. V, January/April, 1895.
  • "The Real 'Quintessence of Socialism'," The Forum, Vol. XIX, April 1895.
  • "Is an Income Tax Socialistic?," The Forum, Vol. XIX, August 1895.
  • "Demand and Supply under Socialism,"]The Forum, Vol. XX, October 1895.
  • "Bimetallism and the Nature of Money," Fortnightly Review, Vol. LX, 1896.
  • "Altruism in Economics," The Forum, August 1896.
  • "Unrecognized Essence of Democracy," Fortnightly Review, Vol. LXII, 1897.
  • "New Study of Natural Religion," Fortnightly Review, Vol. LXII, 1897.
  • The Nineteenth Century, XLII, No. 247, September 1897.
  • Cosmopolis, Vol. IX, February 1898.
  • The Nineteenth Century, Vol. XLIV, July/December, 1898.
  • The Nineteenth Century, Vol. XLIV, July/December, 1898.
  • "The Intellectual Future of Catholicism," Nineteenth Century, Vol. XLVI, 1899.
  • "The Comedy of Christian Science," National Review, Vol. XXXIII, 1899.
  • The Anglo-Saxon Review, Vol. V, June 1900.
  • The Anglo-Saxon Review, Vol. VIII, March 1901.
  • "Religion and Science," Part II, Fortnightly Review, September/November 1901.
  • The Nineteenth Century and After, Vol. L, July/December 1901.
  • "The Alleged Economic Decay of Great Britain," The Monthly Review, Vol. VI, 1902.
  • The Nineteenth Century and After, Vol. LI, January/June, 1902.
  • The Nineteenth Century and After, Vol. LI, January/June, 1902.
  • The Nineteenth Century and After, Vol. LII, July/December, 1902.
  • "The Myth of the Big and Little Loaf," Fortnightly Review, Vol. LXXIV, 1903.
  • "The Secret of Carlyle's Life," Fortnightly Review, Vol. LXXIX, 1903.
  • The Nineteenth Century and After, Vol. LIII, January/June 1893.
  • , The Pall Mall Magazine, Vol. XXIX, January/April, 1903.
  • The Nineteenth Century and After, Vol. LIV, July/December, 1903.
  • The Nineteenth Century and After, Vol. LVI, September 1904.
  • The Nineteenth Century and After, July/December, 1904.
  • "Reconstruction of Belief," The Contemporary Review, Vol. LXXXVII, April 1905.
  • "Through Matter and Mind," The Contemporary Review, Vol. LXXXVIII, July 1905.
  • "Science and Immortality: A Reply," The North American Review, October 1905.
  • "Two Attacks on Science," Fortnightly Review, Vol. LXXXIV, August 1905.
  • "Sir Oliver Lodge on Religion and Science," Fortnightly Review, Vol. LXXXIV, November 1905.
  • The Nineteenth Century and After, Vol. LVIII, July/December, 1905.
  • The Nineteenth Century and After, Vol. LVIII, July/December, 1905.
  • "Lodge on Life and Matter," Fortnightly Review, Vol. LXXXVI, July 1906.
  • The North American Review, Vol. CLXXXIII, No. 598, September, 1906.
  • The Nineteenth Century and After, Vol. LIX, January/June, 1906.
  • "Two Poet Laureates on Life," National Review, August 1906 .
  • The Nineteenth Century and After, Vol. LX, July/December, 1906.
  • "A Critical Examination of Socialism," The North American Review, No. 613, 19 April 1907; No. 614, 3 May 1907; No. 615, 17 May 1907; No. 616, 7 June 1907.
  • The Outlook, Vol. LXXXVI, June 1907.
  • Putnam's Monthly, Vol. III, October, 1907/March, 1908.
  • The Nineteenth Century and After, Vol. LXIII, January/June, 1908.
  • The New Age, Vol. II, No. 23, 11 April 1908.
  • The Dublin Review, Vol. CXLV, No. 290-291, July/October, 1909.
  • , The Nineteenth Century and After, Vol. LXV, January/June, 1909; , Vol. LXVI, July/December, 1909.
  • The Nineteenth Century and After, Vol. LXVI, July/December, 1909.
  • "The Possibilities of an Income Tax According with the Scheme of Pitt," The Nineteenth Century and After, Vol. LXVI, March 1910.
  • The Nineteenth Century and After, Vol. LXIX, January/June, 1911.
  • "Socialistic Ideas and Practical Politics," The Nineteenth Century and After, April 1912.
  • "Labour Unrest as a Subject of Official Investigation," The Nineteenth Century and After, Vol. LXXI, 1912.
  • "The Intellectual Bankruptcy of Socialism," The National Review, August 1912.
  • "Women in Parliament," Nineteenth Century and After, Vol. LXXII, 1912.
  • "The Social Data of Radicalism," Nineteenth Century and After, Vol. LXXIII, 1913.
  • The Dublin Review, Vol. CLV, No. 311, July 1914.
  • "War Expenditure of the United Kingdom," Fortnightly Review, Vol. CIV, August 1915.
  • "Cost of War, the Limits of Supertaxation," Nineteenth Century and After, Vol. LXXVIII, September 1915.
  • "The Distribution of Incomes," The North American Review, June 1916.
  • "Capital and the Cost of the War," Nineteenth Century and After, Vol. LXXXIII, January 1918.
  • Harper's Weekly, May/June, 1920.
Translations
  • The Anglo-Saxon Review, Vol. III, December 1899.
  • The Anglo-Saxon Review, Vol. VII, December 1900.