Showing results by author "G. K. Chesterton" in All Categories

In this classic of Christian apologetics, Chesterton lays out a sort of “spiritual autobiography”—how he personally came to believe. Chesterton considered it a companion book to his earlier work Heretics. Where Heretics was a collection of essays defending the Christian faith, Orthodoxy is Chesterton’s own story of how he came to believe that faith.

Set in London in the early 1900s, this metaphysical thriller follows undercover policeman Gabriel Syme, who, in partnership with a Scotland Yard task force, attempts to take down underground anarchists. Syme encounters Lucian Gregory, a passionate anarchist, who eventually takes him to a secret meeting place. Once there, Syme begins to influence the anarchists and is eventually elected to the central council. In his attempts to destroy the council of anarchists from the inside, he starts to uncover more secrets, each more mysterious than the last.

From 1974, five full-cast dramatisations of the short stories by GK Chesterton, starring Leslie French as the investigating Roman Catholic priest and Willie Rushton as GK Chesterton. Created in 1910, Father Brown inhabited the pages of several short story collections and novels before appearing in adaptations for film, TV, radio and theatre. His most recent incarnation is in the hit BBC TV series starring Mark Williams in the title role.

Evan Maclan, a devout Catholic, and James Turnball, a fiery atheist, agree to duel after a heated argument over religion. But every time the two men attempt to put an end to things, the authorities interfere – duelling, after all, is forbidden. In order to evade the law, the two men travel across England only to be confronted with a series of absurd events that challenge each of their beliefs and values.

Spirited and unpretentious, Chesterton's romp through English history recounts the thrilling story of a somewhat complicated nation, told through the soul of its people. From the Roman roads to the Magna Carta, the Reformation and the rise of democracy, Chesterton compellingly traces England's journey through history, often noting the persistent struggle between ordinary folk and overreaching elites.

A compelling series of twenty essays sees Chesterton take aim at fashionable contemporary thinkers – writers and philosophers such as H. G. Wells, Rudyard Kipling and Bernard Shaw – who are proponents of rebellion and relativism. With his razor-sharp wit and charm, Chesterton cleverly unpicks these concepts, arguing that there is a better way forward.

Delve into the rich tapestry of European culture through engaging short biographical essays that explore the lives of twelve influential figures. Join KevinS as he brings their stories to life, revealing the impact theyve had on art, literature, and society.

Discover the intriguing life of Thomas Carlyle through the lens of another literary giant, G.K. Chesterton. This engaging short biography, originally published in 1902, begins with Chestertons clever and humorous reflections on Carlyles literary contributions, before transitioning into a straightforward account of the authors life. Enriched with numerous illustrations and portraits, this work is a delightful blend of wit and insight that brings Carlyles legacy to life. - Summary by David Wales

Delving into the enigma of the unconscious, Robert Browning exemplifies a profound mystery that transcends the conscious mind—a mystery inherent in all humanity, yet uniquely pronounced in Browning, a man of remarkable simplicity and spontaneity. This phenomenon echoes throughout history and human endeavors. Deliberate creations may eventually unravel, but the natural remains shrouded in mystery. Crafting a narrative of Brownings life feels akin to mapping a labyrinth versus mapping a mist; his extraordinary intellect paired with an unassuming temperament invites endless exploration, yet...

Explore the captivating life of Robert Louis Stevenson in this concise early twentieth-century biography, crafted by polymath G.K. Chesterton and acclaimed journalist J. H. Nicoll. Often referred to as ‘The Characteristics of Robert Louis Stevenson,’ this collaboration features distinct sections by each author, offering unique insights into Stevenson’s remarkable character. This recording presents the third edition, which includes structural changes and additional material not found in the first edition. Join David Wales as he brings this literary exploration to life.

Effortlessly blending biography, philosophy and humour, Chesterton recounts with great imaginative depth the renowned Italian priest and theologist, Thomas Aquinas. Known as the ‘Angelic Doctor’, Aquinas was not just a scholar, but a passionate intellectual who was deeply in love with truth and natural theology.

Bold and prophetic, this essay is a scathing critique of eugenics and the danger it poses to both individual freedom and societal structure. With his trademark wit and moral clarity, Chesterton discusses the history of eugenics and the growing admiration of the movement – then gaining popularity amongst various intellectuals and politicians – arguing that this genre of ‘improvement’ threatens liberty, dignity and the rights of the poor.

A satirical adventure novel, The Flying Inn is set in a quirky, dystopian England in which a new puritanical government has outlawed alcohol and other traditional English customs. Enter Humphrey Pump and his spirited friend Captain Patrick Dalroy, who take it upon themselves to supply what the government refuses.

The intriguing paradox of Lord Kitcheners life is this despite being destined to become the staunchest adversary of Mahomedanism, he was, in many ways, an exceptional ally to Mahomedans. (Summary quoted from Gilbert Keith Chesterton)

"And the young woman of the house," asked Dr. Hood, with huge and silent amusement, "what does she want?" "Why, she wants to marry him," cried Father Brown, sitting up eagerly. "That is just the awful complication." "It is indeed a hideous enigma," said Dr. Hood. "This young James Todhunter," continued the cleric, "is a very decent man so far as I know; but then nobody knows very much. He is a bright, brownish little fellow, agile like a monkey, clean-shaven like an actor, and obliging like a born courtier. He seems to have quite a pocketful of money, but nobody knows what his trade is. Mrs.

While visiting his old friend Flambeau, Father Brown attempts to explain to an inquisitive American the 'secret' of his detective method, by means of eight stories of crime, murder, and obsession, including: a poet accused of the murder of a magistrate; stolen jewels and stolen fish; a theatre manager dead in a locked room; a mourner shut away in a castle; and the case of the worst crime in the world.

The Man Who Was Thursday–described as a metaphysical thriller–is an stunning work of detective fiction by the great G.K. Chesterton that follows the adventures of Gabriel Syme, an undercover detective who infiltrates a secret anarchist organization known as "The Council of the Seven Days".

Chesterton portrays Father Brown as a short, stumpy Roman Catholic priest, with shapeless clothes and a large umbrella, and an uncanny insight into human evil. Not long after he published Orthodoxy, G. K. Chesterton moved from London to Beaconsfield, and met Father O'Connor. O'Connor had a shrewd insight to the darker side of man's nature and a mild appearance to go with it--and together those came together to become Chesterton's unassuming Father Brown. Chesterton loved the character, and the magazines he wrote for loved the stories.

In a London of the future, the drudgery of capitalism and bureaucracy have worn the human spirit down to the point where it can barely stand. When a pint-sized clerk named Auberon Quinn is randomly selected as head of state, he decides to turn London into a medieval carnival for his own amusement. One man, Adam Wayne, takes the new order of things seriously, organizing a Notting Hill army to fight invaders from other neighborhoods. At first his project baffles everyone, but eventually his dedication proves infectious, with delightful results.

Chesterton demonstrates his intense distrust of power and "progressives," railing against Prohibition, vegetarianism, theosophy, and other "dreary and oppressive" forces of modernity. In a spirited response to the government's attempt to curtail alcohol sales, Humphrey Pump (called Hump) a pub owner in the fishing village of Pebblewick takes to the road in a donkey cart. Accompanied by Captain Patrick Dalroy, a crimson-haired giant with a tendency to burst into song, Hump provisions the cart with a cask of good rum, a giant round of cheese, and the signpost from his pub, The Flying Inn.