G. K. Chesterton Books

Eugenics was more than a pseudoscientific fad of the early 1900ýs: it provided much of the philosophical underpinnings of the Nazi ýmaster raceý and its logical culmination in the concentration camps. Today its ideas lurk more subtly behind such movements as birth control, abortion rights, euthanasia, and cloning. So, this book by GK is far more than an historical curiosity; the arguments he sets forth enable us to see far more clearly the dangers of conceding to a government, a group of elites, or even a vague movement, even a fraction of our rights and responsibilities concerning our own life, death, and progeneration. In the first third of the book, GK utterly dismantles the superficial logic of eugenics. In the second third, he exposes the real objectives of the movement that lay beneath the surface. The final third is a compilation of truly bone chilling articles and letters written by eugenicists of the period. Essentially, GK believes that the movement arose out of the capitalist desire to maintain cheap labor and the socialist desire to scientifically organize society. His analysis of these seemingly opposed forces has a heavy political, social, and historical focus, and is surprisingly light on religious considerations. He foresees that eugenics unleashed would result in an utterly inhuman society. Unfortunately the Nazis proved his theory. He foresees the dehumanizing effects of even a more moderate eugenics, which unfortunately has come to pass and is quite evident in the monstrous plight of our poor, homeless, mentally handicapped, and unborn. How do these social horrors occur? GK believes that most people are right, but donýt know that they are right. Thus theyýwe--are susceptible and even defenseless to attacks by an organized group of activists driven by malevolent or merely foolish motives. This book shows how that actually played out in pre-WWII Europe, and gives us a better understanding of how it is happening now, and how we might reverse course.

Reading this book as I ate my lunch provided me with some of the best food-reading I've done. I cannot eat without reading, and these short stories were clever and entertaining. I'd love to give this book as a gift.

G.K. Chesterton -- full name, Gilbert Keith Chesterton -- was a British intellectual of the early 20th century who engaged in many high-class philosophical and religious debates. His books covering areas of religion and theology are still read.

For diversion and entertainment, Chesterton turned his hand to mystery stories and espionage tales. His finest mysteries involve the little priest, Father Brown. His espionage novels include "The Man Who Was Thursday" and others. Most of these tales were written in the early decades of the 20th century-- from 1910 through about 1925.

I read some of the Father Brown stories more than 40 years ago. Now, in my sixties, I came across the Father Brown Omnibus in the library and started reading again.

The stories are excellent. The man is a prose master. One wishes more detective fiction written today were half as well penned.

The plots are so fresh, unexpected, and imaginative they just take your breath away. Here I am, with so much more to do, drawn on and on into this huge book.

I have decided I am going to buy the book. There are several editions of Father Brown, variously edited, that are still in print. The omnibus has the whole shebang-- about 800 or more pages of the stories.

"Try it. You'll like it." On a par with the Sherlock Holmes short stories written by Arthur Conan Doyle.

A late Victorian-era/early modern age author/thinker, some of whose writings were precursors to science fiction and others which are seen as reactionary and in some cases bigoted and narrow-minded, G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936) is impossible to categorize. And Clark doesn't try. Rather than attempt to give a coherent, rational perspective of the prolific English author--an inevitably procrustean effort--Clark critiques many of Chesterton's diverse writings. Not only something of an exegesis of these writings, the critiques also entail putting them in a social context, noting their influence, and explaining what was controversial or provocative about them. Clark does not go so far as to be an apologist, but gives some background for a broader view of Chesterton's seemingly outdated and sometimes offensive opinions and remarks which have been called anti-Semitic, misogynistic, and anti-Darwin. As Clark--an English professor of philosophy--shows, all of Chesterton's writings and ideas, inspiring as well as irksome, grew out of his ingrained, vital, immense optimism. This optimism not only aroused him to be sharply critical of contemporary influences such as nihilism and science and progressive social developments such a women's suffrage and relativism, but also gave him a vision of ideal, desirable conditions for humanity.

Compiled, edited, and with an informative Introduction by Steven Doyle, G. K. Chesterton's Sherlock Holmes presents nineteen previously unpublished illustrations intended for Sherlock Holmes stories. Commissioned from Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874-1936) for an edition of the Sherlock Holmes tales that was ultimately never published, these rare black-and-white sketches had lain unseen in the Lilly Library of the Indiana University for years. Thoughtful appreciations of Chesterton's work, and Chesterton's own writings concerning the literary figure of Sherlock Holmes round out this fascinating "must-read" for any avid fancier of G. K. Chesterton's artwork, as well as the legions of fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic detective stories showcasing the most famous detective in the history of English literature.

Any serious work about Gilbert Keith Chesterton (I'm writing my Thesis about him) must start with this incredibly comprehensive biography made by a close friend of the Chesterton family.

Access to rare letters between Chesterton and his wife Frances, George Bernard Shaw, quoted passages of his most well-known and beloved books, novels, essays, articles and poems (even personal notes). Interviews with childhood friends, co-workers, friends, rivals. All of this make this over-600-paged book a must-have for anyone that wants an up close and personal account of this incredible human being.

From his early childhood, to his parents, his first friends, his first thoughts, his first writings, his first job, his wife, travels, his great books, joys and frustrations both personal and professional, everything up until his last day on this earth when after he died "Gilbert's pen lay on the table beside his bed and Father Vincent picked it up and kissed it."

I cannot stress enough the importance of this book. By far, the best biography of Chesterton ever written.

If you like Chesterton's books and feel compelled to know more about this man, this should be your first stop.

With a growing interest in the life and literary works of the English writer G.K. Chesterton, I was in the market for a modern, one-volume biography of the man. A friend suggested this book, and I am SO glad he did! As literary biographies go, this one is excellent. Coren not only covers the great Chesterton's life with sympathy and humour, but also manages a solid critique and evaluation of the writer's output...and Chesterton's output was very substantial (rather like the man himself)! What is a real joy though, is to read a biography of a fine writer, written by another fine writer. And Michael Coren is all of that. This well-educated, erudite, and witty man is a wonderful author in his own right, and I look forward to further works by him. I suspect that a century from now, people may be reading a biography of Michael Coren, just as we can now read Coren on Chesterton. We can only hope that such a future author creates as pleasant and stimulating a work as the Canadian Michael Coren has here! I'll go so far as to say that this biography is a worthwhile read, even if you don't care about Chesterton. Biography doesn't get any better than this! -A wonderful book.

This book is simply a must read for all those who love the great English novels of the Victorian Era and, furthermore, its poetry which, while historically it has fallen into what Chesterton would probably see as justified neglect (save that of Robert Browning), and is now seen as a pale and jejune lifting from the "High Romantics," notably Byron and Shelley, to whom Chesterton pays due homage at the beginning of the work, was much more preeminent at the time. Also, English prose writers get a thorough threshing out. Above all, Chesterton's treatment of Dickens is the most remarkable aspect of this work. I've never read such a spot on and thorough treatment of that omnipresent Victorian anywhere.

But all this would be for naught if it weren't for Chesterton's unique and thorough style of assessing these authors. There are thousands of dry dissertations on the subject and just as many tendentious books published full of stifling academese drivel that renders them well nigh unreadable. The closest thing in the modern era to which I can compare Chesterton's writing is Harold Bloom. But this is not quite fair to either of them. Chesterton is far less trenchant. His judgments are made in a mollifying context, and he doesn't rely on anything like the "anxiety of influence" to bolster his insights.

Of course, all this presumes a broad knowledge of the Victorian era, such as the Pre-Raphaelite movement in art etc. But I presume any reader of this review possesses such knowledge, or they wouldn't be considering the purchase of this book.

PLEASE do buy it or check it out or something, especially if you are a beleaguered student (graduate or undergrad). I wish I'd had this splendid, readable, erudite analysis to pass around my Victorian Novels seminar in Grad School-sighs-Everybody at the time was reading the banal Feminist tract, The Mad Woman in The Attic (allusion, if you didn't catch it, to Jane Eyre (the novel, not the character). - In any event, this book is simply a joy to read for anybody who loves English literature and splendid writing. My highest praise.

While this classic work borders on the "alternate history" form of Sci-Fi, it has an informed foundation due to the caliber of the writers in this anthology. Entertaining and informative. The inclusion of an essay by Winston Churchill is a bonus.

Unlike some of the earlier volumes closer to World War I, this collection of essays centers more on culture than politics, history and economics. Some of his favorite topics here include:
1. The growing cultural influence of America--mostly bad.
2. The inability of modern thinkers to think.
3. The inability of the most people to get beyond platitudes.
4. Commercialism as a destroyer of liberty.

As always GKC offers penetrating insights, thought-provoking paradoxes and masterful humor. That being said, I would recommend the World War I era volumes over this one. With so much drama on the world stage, GKC has far more important issues on which to focus his keen attention.