(As I Was Saying (Dodo Press)) [By: Chesterton, G. K.] [Oct, 2008]

by G.K. Chesterton

George Bernard Shaw called him a colossal genius. Pope Pius XI called him a devoted son of the Holy Church and a gifted defender of the faith. A dominant figure in English letters during the first third of this century, G.K. Chesterton was a prolific writer whose great range of personal interest and intellectual involvement makes his writings of almost universal appeal.Though he produced nearly 100 books in his lifetime, Chesterton considered himself primarily a journalist, writing articles for 75 different British periodicals and for about 50 different American magazines. His huge literary output includes social commentary, detective stories, biographies, religious and philosophical argumentation, humorous writing and nonsense verse, economic and political writings, literary criticism, novels and short stories, plays and poetry.This anthology, which is arranged thematically, features a judicious selection from a wide range of Chesterton's works, including excerpts from Orthodoxy, a selection of his poems-humorous, religious, and social/political-and passages from the popular Father Brown detective stories. Also included are excerpts from Chesterton's many essays, on subjects ranging from Catholic schools, women's rights, and heresies, to fairy tales, advertisements, and George Washington and the cherry tree. A selection of short quotations displays the epigrammatic wit that plays through all of Chesterton's writings and makes him a joy to read.Witty, wise, and eminently quotable, Chesterton not only addressed the time in which he lived, but continues to speak significantly to our time. This volume, which culls much of the best and the brightest from his works, will delightChesterton aficionados as well as all who appreciate likable genius.ROBERT KNILLE was a lifelong Chesterton enthusiast. About ten years ago he founded the first eastern chapter of the Chesterton Society, and he remained its chairman until shortly before his death in 1983. Knille authored numerous articles on religion and literature as well as a bibliography of U.S. publications about Chesterton.

Genres: Essays, Nonfiction, Philosophy

Paperback

First published June 1, 1936

About the author

Gilbert Keith Chesterton was an English writer, philosopher, lay theologian, and literary and art critic.

He was educated at St. Paul’s, and went to art school at University College London. In 1900, he was asked to contribute a few magazine articles on art criticism, and went on to become one of the most prolific writers of all time. He wrote a hundred books, contributions to 200 more, hundreds of poems, including the epic Ballad of the White Horse, five plays, five novels, and some two hundred short stories, including a popular series featuring the priest-detective, Father Brown. In spite of his literary accomplishments, he considered himself primarily a journalist. He wrote over 4000 newspaper essays, including 30 years worth of weekly columns for the Illustrated London News, and 13 years of weekly columns for the Daily News. He also edited his own newspaper, G.K.’s Weekly.

Chesterton was equally at ease with literary and social criticism, history, politics, economics, philosophy, and theology.

Reviews

[Alden · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked this up at the library because Terry Pratchett said Chesterton had some very witty turns of phrases.
For me, there were too many archaic ideas to make it worth hunting out the wit.

[Gordon Down · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first venture into Chesterton beyond reading every Father Brown story he wrote. Even though I took 12 months to complete this Reader, it felt rushed. Some paragraphs deserved days of rumination. Chesterton was an amazing mind. At times I wanted to shout "Yes!! This is still so socially relevant today!", and at other times I had a good laugh, or he ushered me into wonderment anew. In other sections I was honestly a bit bored, I think largely because I was failing to track with him - for example some pieces regarding St. Thomas Aquinas. Overall though I thought Editor Robert Knille gave me a wonderful tour through the mind and heart and spirit of a literary giant - like a good plot line or even a good concern, just when I was feeling worn from a heavy section, we jumped off into a chapter of poetry or frivolity. My only regret is that I didn't take the time to underline or highlight for future reference.

[Abigail Drumm · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I Was Saying contains more on the social trends and political history about which Chesterton shines in writing. I especially liked "About Impenitence," in which Chesterton criticizes the pacifist position and the notion of some pacifists that “not fighting, as such, would prevent somebody else from fighting, or from taking all he wanted without fighting.” Other good essays deal with the matter of history repeating itself or "dead" philosophies re-emerging and being regarded by the historically uneducated as new. The content is comparable to Fancies and Fads.

[Chris Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chesterton has done it again with perhaps his greatest collection of essays that I have yet come across. This is not to be missed.

[Victor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this collection of writings because Chesterton seems to share some of my ideas. Being a practicing Catholic in the 21st century with nearly no Catholic friends, I like being reminded that there are others who think like me. I did not agree with Chesterton on everything, and some of his ideas were a bit outdated, but on the whole, I enjoyed this book.

I was not, though, impressed with his poetry. I just started skipping over those sections.

[Mary Catelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of his essays. Rather random at that. Advice about writing mysteries, or as they were termed, shockers. Discussion of wedding ceremonies. Metaphors. Silly language in newspapers.

Can be a surprise when an essay is easily dated by its topical references to politics -- this was published in the 1930s.

[Clay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great introduction to Chesterton's wit, charm, and cutting insight.

[Erik]

Recommended by James Schall in Another Sort of Learning, Bibliography.