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Gilbert: The Man Who Was G.K. Chesterton
Traces the life of the popular, yet misunderstood, British writer, looks at the influences on his work, and depicts his outlook on life
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 27, 1989
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About the author
Michael Coren
35 books32 followersMichael Coren is an English-Canadian columnist, author, public speaker, radio host and television talk show host. He has been the host of the television series The Michael Coren Show for six years. He has also been a long-time radio personality, particularly on CFRB radio.
He has writen more than ten books, including biographies of H. G. Wells, Arthur Conan Doyle, and C. S. Lewis. His latest book, Why Catholics are Right, will be published in 2011.
He has writen more than ten books, including biographies of H. G. Wells, Arthur Conan Doyle, and C. S. Lewis. His latest book, Why Catholics are Right, will be published in 2011.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 23, 2018
It's fitting, given Chesterton's mastery of paradox, that Michael Coren begins this biography with an account of the man's death. Then the narrative circles back to the other end of Chesterton's life and ends with poignant tributes offered by Walter de la Mare and Chesterton's wife, Francis.
It's hard to believe that a life as busy as Chesterton's could be encompassed in less than three hundred pages. I was impressed by the sheer volume of his writings--especially considering those late evenings drinking in London pubs (until he and his wife moved to the country, which cut down on the pub crawling if not on the drinking).
The author doesn't shy away from controversial topics, such as Chesterton's streak of anti-Semitism, but he explains the likely reasons for it and offers mitigating observations (in this case, noting Chesterton's criticisms of Hitler at a point when many Europeans still admired him). One of the last scenes in the book involves one of Chesterton's debates with George Bernard Shaw, who was advocating Socialism vs. Chesterton's 'Distributism' philosophy (which argued that the most equitable society would not do away with private property, but distribute its ownership as widely as possible). Given the subsequent history of Europe, I wish more people had considered giving Chesterton's approach a try.
Overall, an excellent book about a unique and indispensable writer.
It's hard to believe that a life as busy as Chesterton's could be encompassed in less than three hundred pages. I was impressed by the sheer volume of his writings--especially considering those late evenings drinking in London pubs (until he and his wife moved to the country, which cut down on the pub crawling if not on the drinking).
The author doesn't shy away from controversial topics, such as Chesterton's streak of anti-Semitism, but he explains the likely reasons for it and offers mitigating observations (in this case, noting Chesterton's criticisms of Hitler at a point when many Europeans still admired him). One of the last scenes in the book involves one of Chesterton's debates with George Bernard Shaw, who was advocating Socialism vs. Chesterton's 'Distributism' philosophy (which argued that the most equitable society would not do away with private property, but distribute its ownership as widely as possible). Given the subsequent history of Europe, I wish more people had considered giving Chesterton's approach a try.
Overall, an excellent book about a unique and indispensable writer.
August 28, 2015
Very enjoyable biography of a most interesting man. Chesterton was larger than life in many ways. I liked the way the author addressed the common stories about him, refuting those that were incorrect and supporting the truth. He didn't shy away from explaining why Chesterton was accused of being anti-Semitic. Good to remember that our heroes have feet of clay.
Of course, as he mentioned the many books Chesterton wrote during his lifetime, I kept seeing more things to add to my reading list! A nice problem to have. :)
Of course, as he mentioned the many books Chesterton wrote during his lifetime, I kept seeing more things to add to my reading list! A nice problem to have. :)
April 8, 2018
This book has several strengths. It puts Chestertion within the particular English milieu of ideological Catholic Jew-haters. It shows his colleagues were greater and more systematic Jew-haters than he. And it rightly points out his crank economic ideas of "distributionism" were anti-capitalist in the sense of fascism's anticapitalist rationalizations.
That the same man wrote Father Brown and The Man Who Was Thursday is a triumph of art over radical brown middle class politics.
That the same man wrote Father Brown and The Man Who Was Thursday is a triumph of art over radical brown middle class politics.
October 16, 2020
Great fun to read. Apart from a short section just over halfway through there was a sense of joyousness about the writing. Coren deals kindly, indeed sympathetically, with his subject although he does not shirk some of the weaknesses of Chesterton.
I wish I could ask my grandfather, now 60 years deceased, what he thought about Chesterton; my grandfather did read the Illustrated London News for which G.K. wrote articles.
I will now re-read my copies of the Father Brown books with new insights into the author.
I wish I could ask my grandfather, now 60 years deceased, what he thought about Chesterton; my grandfather did read the Illustrated London News for which G.K. wrote articles.
I will now re-read my copies of the Father Brown books with new insights into the author.
July 25, 2018
A supreme delight to read the life story of one of England's amazing essayists and the author of one of my favorite books (Manalive).
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews