G. K. Chesterton

What's Wrong With The World By G. K. ChestertonRenewal of interest in the work of GK Chesterton continues apace. The writer whose career began when he dictated his first story to his aunt Rose at the age of three started early and aimed high, and his intellectual development was among the more conspicuously interesting of the Edwardian age. His Orthodoxy of 1908 has become a sort of touchstone text during the present vogue for philosophical theology, much cited by the likes of Slavoj Zizek and the radical theologian John Milbank, while oddball novels such as The Napoleon of Notting Hill (1904) and The Man Who Was Thursday (1908) retain the power to entertain and bemuse in equal measure. This year, however, sees the centenary of one of his rather less high-profile publications. What's Wrong with the World represents an extrapolation of Chesterton's original response to a query posed in so many words by the Times to a selection of eminent writers and thinkers of the day. "Dear Sirs," ran GK's succinct rejoinder, "I am". The publication of the book suggested that, on reflection, there might have been more to say on the subject. The Chesterton offered us by his latter-day biographers and critics is a lost proto-radical, if we could but make him out as such. Along with his close friend Hilaire Belloc, he was the proponent of a species of Third Way politics avant la lettre, a plague-on-both-your-houses confutation of capitalism and socialism known as distributism. Drastically simplified, the vision was of an atomised entrepreneurialism in which as many individuals as possible pursued the goal of profit, so as to wrest capital accumulation from both a few vastly powerful interests (such as "Jewish banking families") and a monolithic socialist state. What's Wrong with the World opens with an analysis of the predicament of modern humanity, too obsessed in the great age of political idealism with visions of the future. Has the Enlightenment ideal of continual social progress been a reality, or has it all been a piece of western myth-making? "Are we still strong enough to spear mammoths, but now tender enough to spare them?" he wonders. But then again, "Does the cosmos contain any mammoth that we have either speared or spared?" What it does contain is the wreckage of half-realised ideals. There is a lack of conviction in attempts to enact the radical doctrines of Christianity or of political justice, and too often the espousal of great causes results in panic at the consequences of one's own actions. Where national leaders paid lip-service to such humanist ideals as egalitarianism, they came to rue their faith in humanity. "Joseph of Austria and Catherine of Russia quite agreed that the people should rule what horrified them was that the people did.""The Guardians: The World of of GK Chesterton, and what's wrong with it"

"The Incredulity of Father Brown" is a 1926 collection of mystery short stories by English writer G. K. Chesterton. Set in the early twentieth century, each of the stories centres around the cunning investigations of Father Brown, an amateur detective who uses his incredible intuition to solve a variety of perplexing mysteries. The stories include: "The Resurrection of Father Brown", "The Arrow of Heaven", "The Oracle of the Dog", "The Miracle of Moon Crescent", "The Curse of the Golden Cross", "The Dagger with Wings", "The Doom of the Darnaways", and "The Ghost of Gideon Wise". Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874-1936) was an English philosopher, theologian, writer, and critic. Born in London in 1874, he studied at the Slade School of Art and began to work as a freelance journalist after graduation. Over the course of his life, his literary output was incredibly diverse and highly prolific, ranging from philosophy and ontology to art criticism and detective fiction. However, he is probably best-remembered for his Christian apologetics, most notably in "Orthodoxy" (1908) and "The Everlasting Man" (1925). Read & Co. Classics is proudly republishing this classic work now in a new edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.

The masterpiece of G. K. Chesterton's distinguished literary career, this treatise mounts a defense of Christianity. The author employs the term "orthodoxy" as a synonym for "right opinion," and he applies the concept of correct reasoning to his formal and scholarly arguments, which are expressed in down-to-earth language. Chesterton's thought-provoking analogies, personal anecdotes, and engaging humor make this polemic a work of enduring charm and persuasion.

"The Myth of the "Mayflower"" is a 1921 work by G. K. Chesterton. Within it, he attempts to separate fact from fiction concerning the story of the 'Mayflower', an English ship that transported early Pilgrims to the New World in 1620. The ship has since become an important part of American history and culture, as well as the subject of innumerable works of art, plays, films, poems, songs, books, etc. This fascinating treatise is highly recommended for those with an interest in this famous sea voyage and in American history and culture in general. Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874- 1936) was an English philosopher, theologian, writer, and literary and art critic. Other notable works by this author include: "Heretics, Project Gutenberg" (1905), "The Innocence of Father Brown" (1911), and "The Man Who Was Thursday" (1908). Read & Co. History is republishing this classic work now complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.

The Ballad of the White Horse is one of the most important works of English literature. This large epic poem is a highly romanticized account of the adventures of King Alfred the Great, King of Saxon Britain and the battle of Ethandune (Edington ). It tells mainly the mythical and to some extent the historical past of the conflict between Christianity and the forces of paganism. This text continues to be a source of encouragement for Christians facing secular pressures. Its diversity, complexity and profoundness, the timeless themes of power, courage, love and faith, together make this poem one of the most compelling and memorable works of world literature. As in the classical tradition of epic poetry (Homer's Odyssey, Virgil's Aeneid, Ferdowsi's The Epic of Kings, Beowulf) the poem is concerned with human values and moral choices. This book has entertained generations of readers, and it continues to be fascinating. LARGE PRINT EDITION

" Orthodoxy, the book in your hands, came to me after I had already come to understand and love the clarity of Reformed theology. When Chesterton arrived in my intellectual scene, it was like flipping an extra breaker in my soul that turned on the party lights, brought out the dancers, and cued the music.... Orthodoxy is Chesterton's greatest book, and the greatest gift in this book is deep joy. This is not a trivial, superficial joy, but a profound joy in the world which we have been given, a joy powered by gratitude to the sparkling, joyous, God who gave us this uproarious existence." From N. D. Wilson's introduction, Adapted from N. D. Wilson's Grace Agenda seminar 'Chestertonian Calvinism'In this brilliant book, the enormously fat and jolly G. K. Chesterton gives a stirring defense of Christianity. Chesterton fought against the reductionist materialism with laughter, joy, and gratitude for the beauty of the world God has given us. We usually think of orthodoxy and the tenets of the Christian faith as dry, arbitrary, and perhaps even nonsensical. Chesterton shows that orthodoxy is beautiful and fits perfectly the strange, quirky world. For those of us who do not pay any attention to the strangeness of the world, this book is essential reading. The world may not have fairies, but it does have the sun, rivers, trees, and the sky, and they are as strange as anything we will find in a fairy tale. Read this book, then go outside and marvel." Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, 'Do it again'; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, 'Do it again' to the sun; and every evening, 'Do it again' to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we." From Chesterton's Orthodoxy

Renowned English author G. K. Chesterton is praised for his brilliant writing, his social criticism, and his blending of philosophy and theology in his works. Not only this, but his work spans many different genres, ranging from adventurous fiction to Catholic apologetics to mystery and much more. From the "prince of paradox," The Man Who Knew Too Much is a novel full of suspenseful whodunnit stories that are unlike other tales from this genre. Set in pre-WWI England, these eight adventures follow Horne Fisher, the alleged 'man who knew too much, ' and his incredible detective skills. Each of the eight tales, with unique characters and tragic stories, are connected by some invisible string of fate and end with Chesterton's usual theme of moral questioning. With classic murder mysteries such as "The Fad of the Fisherman" and social commentary in "The Vanishing Prince," Chesterton's The Man Who Knew Too Much combines rich storytelling with intense questioning of the universe to make this novel an essential read.

Chesterton's The Flying Inn is a story of adventure that will capture both new readers and old fans. In this England, a "progressive" political party has pushed in a new prohibition era, where the rich can buy alcohol at a steep price for "medicinal" reasons. These restrictions leave a pub owner named Humphrey Pump empty handed. He comes up with a plan: he roams the country with a donkey-pulled cart, affectionately named "The Flying Inn", with his friend Captain Partick Dalroy. With clever tactics, they are able to exploit various loopholes in the new law to avoid being arrested during Prohibition. Chesterton's magical storytelling, coupled with his criticism of 20th century classism and politics, makes The Flying Inn much more than a simple tale of friendship and adventure. With poems and songs that come from the Temperance movement and characters that will have you rolling with laughter, The Flying Inn is the perfect novel for those who want a lighthearted, entertaining read that questions the boundaries of the Victorian era classes.

The brilliant English author G. K. Chesterton, widely known for his style of blending philosophy and theology into his writing, has taken the classic whodunnit genre and turned it upside down with his collection of mysteries, The Club of Queer Trades. Filled with Chesterton's masterful storytelling and his strong held belief of questioning the truth, The Club of Queer Trades is more than just a mystery novel. Instead, Chesterton takes his readers on a lighthearted, but deeply moving journey that cannot easily be forgotten after being put down. This short, yet wild 20th century novel contains six amusing stories which follows a club of eccentric characters, all who have peculiar trades in which they make a living from. The narrator, "Cherub" Swinburne, is a detective who is tasked with investigating the problems that crop up from the club members' unique situations. With his friend Basil Grant, a retired judge, the two end up in whacky adventures while trying to solve these queer mysteries, sometimes finding that unquestioned facts can be unreliable. With Chesterton's genius writing, his delightfully weird characters, and the quirky mysteries that need solving, The Club of Queer Trades is a short, but immeasurably satisfying read.

Manalive details the story of Mr. Innocent Smith, a new tenant at a London boarding house, who uses a great wind that follows him to breathe life into the residents at Beacon House. Mr. Innocent Smith uses his comedic nature and eccentric antics to charm the other tenants easily, transforming the bleak atmosphere of the boarding house into one full of childlike joy. However, despite the happiness that Smith brings, when he is accused of a whole slew of crimes, everyone turns on him without a second thought. While Manalive is a book about searching for the truth, it is also about faith, with or without doubt. G. K. Chesterton delivers his message through incredible descriptions, colorful characters, and a storyline that will keep you on your toes. Light-hearted and funny, Manalive is a mystery novel that blends philosophy and theology, a style English author G. K. Chesterton is revered for. It is for good reason he is known as the "prince of paradox."

Witty and honest about belief in the Christian Faith, Heretics is a collection of essays from the 20th century by the "prince of paradox," G. K. Chesterton. While recognized as a philosopher as well as a social critic, Chesterton is also considered a lay theologian due to the nature of his content. Along with Heretics, Chesterton has also written apologetics, poetry, and even fantasy novels with faith interwoven into the themes. His essays in Heretics focus on well-known individuals from the 20th century, such as Rudyard Kipling and H. G. Wells, who pride themselves on separating their morals and ethics from Christian values, or "heretics" with an unpopular opinion. While the main goal of his work is to observe these prominent figures, he also makes his own observations on philosophy, theology, nihilism, and life itself throughout the novel. Heretics makes use of G. K. Chesterton's good humor and his curiosity of the universe to make stark, yet thought-provoking, criticism on those who stick to incomplete beliefs without questioning further.

"Es w re nicht fair, die Abenteuer von Pfarrer Brown aufzuzeichnen, ohne zuzugeben, dass er einst in einen schwerwiegenden Skandal verwickelt war. Es gibt immer noch Personen, vielleicht sogar aus seiner eigenen Gemeinschaft, die sagen w rden, dass eine Art Schandfleck auf seinem Namen lag. Es geschah in einem malerischen mexikanischen Hotel von eher lockerem Ruf, wie sich sp ter herausstellte; und einigen schien es, als habe der Priester ausnahmsweise einmal zugelassen, dass eine romantische Ader in ihm, und seine Sympathie f r menschliche Schw chen, ihn zu einer lockeren und unorthodoxen Handlung verleiteten. Die Geschichte an sich war eine einfache Geschichte; und vielleicht bestand die ganze berraschung darin, dass sie so einfach war. So beginnt der erste von neun Pfarrer Brown Krimis aus diesem Buch, das Spannung und einen besonderen Lesegenuss verspricht.

"Dombey and Son" is a novel by English author Charles Dickens, originally published as a serial between 1846 and 1848. The story revolves around the owner of a shipping company who is disgruntled by his lack of a male heir, rejecting his daughter and her love until reconciliating shortly before her death. Including many common Dickensian themes such as betrayal, deceit, class, arranged marriage and child cruelty, "Dombey and Son" is not to be missed by fans of Dickens's work and Victorian literature in general. Charles John Huffam Dickens (1812-1870) was an English writer and social critic famous for having created some of the world's most well-known fictional characters. His works became unprecedentedly popular during his life, and today he is commonly regarded as the greatest Victorian-era novelist. Although perhaps better known for such works as "Oliver Twist" or "A Christmas Carol", Dickens first gained success with the 1836 serial publication of "The Pickwick Papers", which turned him almost overnight into an international literary celebrity thanks to his humour, satire, and astute observations concerning society and character. "Hard Times" constitutes a must-read for Dickens fans and deserves a place on every bookshelf. This classic work is being republished now in a new edition complete with an introductory chapter from "Appreciations and Criticisms of the Works of Charles Dickens" by G. K. Chesterton.

Originally published as a 20-episode serial between March 1852 and September 1853, "Bleak House" is a novel by English author Charles Dickens. The story centres around Esther Summerson, the novel's heroine and omniscient narrator, and a long-running legal case in the Court of Chancery which arises as a result of conflicting wills. Though brimming with arguably exaggerated satire, "Bleak House" helped further a judicial reform movement which led to legal reform in the 1870s. A classic example of Dickens's much-celebrated literature not to be missed by fans and collectors of his timeless work. Charles John Huffam Dickens (1812-1870) was an English writer and social critic famous for having created some of the world's most well-known fictional characters. His works became unprecedentedly popular during his life, and today he is commonly regarded as the greatest Victorian-era novelist. Although perhaps better known for such works as "Oliver Twist" or "A Christmas Carol", Dickens first gained success with the 1836 serial publication of "The Pickwick Papers", which turned him almost overnight into an international literary celebrity thanks to his humour, satire, and astute observations concerning society and character. This classic work is being republished now in a new edition complete with an introductory chapter from "Appreciations and Criticisms of the Works of Charles Dickens" by G. K. Chesterton.

The tenth novel written by Dickens, "Hard Times" was first published in 1854. The story is set in the fictitious Victorian industrial mill-town of Coketown and examines English society while satirising the social and economic conditions of the era. Charles John Huffam Dickens (1812-1870) was an English writer and social critic famous for having created some of the world's most well-known fictional characters. His works became unprecedentedly popular during his life, and today he is commonly regarded as the greatest Victorian-era novelist. Although perhaps better known for such works as "Oliver Twist" or "A Christmas Carol", Dickens first gained success with the 1836 serial publication of "The Pickwick Papers", which turned him almost overnight into an international literary celebrity thanks to his humour, satire, and astute observations concerning society and character. This classic work is being republished now in a new edition complete with an introductory chapter from "Appreciations and Criticisms of the Works of Charles Dickens" by G. K. Chesterton.

Commonly hailed as his masterpiece and his own personal favourite, Dickens's novel "David Copperfield" was first published as a serial in 1849-50 and as a book in 1850. The story revolves around the titular character and spans his growth from infancy to maturity, chronicling the people and places of his life as he develops as a person. A must-read for fans of Dickens's work and well deserving of a place on every bookshelf. Charles John Huffam Dickens (1812-1870) was an English writer and social critic famous for having created some of the world's most well-known fictional characters. His works became unprecedentedly popular during his life, and today he is commonly regarded as the greatest Victorian-era novelist. Although perhaps better known for such works as "Oliver Twist" or "A Christmas Carol", Dickens first gained success with the 1836 serial publication of "The Pickwick Papers", which turned him almost overnight into an international literary celebrity thanks to his humour, satire, and astute observations concerning society and character. This classic work is being republished now in a new edition complete with an introductory chapter from "Appreciations and Criticisms of the Works of Charles Dickens" by G. K. Chesterton.