Random G. K. Chesterton Podcasts

  • Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton
  • The Man Who Knew Too Much by G. K. Chesterton
  • Charles Dickens by G. K. Chesterton
  • All Things Considered by G. K. Chesterton
  • A Short History of England by G. K. Chesterton
  • The Man Who was Thursday by G. K. Chesterton
  • What’s Wrong With the World by G. K. Chesterton
  • The Innocence of Father Brown by G. K. Chesterton
  • Heretics by G. K. Chesterton
  • The Club of Queer Trades by G. K. Chesterton
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    Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton

    Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton

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    Since Sep 29, 2020 00:00 UTC

    Orthodoxy is a book that has become a classic of Christian apologetics. In the book’s preface Chesterton states the purpose is to “attempt an explanation, not of whether the Christian faith can be believed, but of how he personally has come to believe it.” In it, Chesterton presents an original view of the Christian religion. He sees it as the answer to natural human needs, the “answer to a riddle” in his own words, and not simply as an arbitrary truth received from somewhere outside the boundaries of human experience. More great books at LoyalBooks.com

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    The Man Who Knew Too Much by G. K. Chesterton

    The Man Who Knew Too Much by G. K. Chesterton

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    Since Dec 26, 2023 00:00 UTC

    Robbery, murder and treason. Strange happenings in quiet English villages. A book critic who happens to find a corpse with its head crushed, an Irish freedom fighter framed for a crime, the disappearance of a valuable coin, a strange dispute over a property claim and a host of other intriguing situations make up the contents of G K Chesterton’s collection of short stories The Man Who Knew Too Much. For fans of Chesterton’s immortal clerical sleuth, Father Brown, these stories are equally delightful and intricately wrought. The man who knows too much is in fact, the protagonist, Horne Fisher, who is doomed to solve mysteries, but faces a moral dilemma each time he arrives at the solution. He is connected by blood and friendship to all the leading political figures of the country and a wrong move on his part could bring the government down. Hence, in all these stories, Horne Fisher’s intelligence allows him to unravel the most complex of enigmas and then discover that things are not as simple as they seem. Often the victims deserve their fate and are in fact more criminal than their killers. Fisher is accompanied in his investigations by a young reporter, Harold March, with whom he engages in long philosophical conversations. These are another attractive feature of the stories. Apart from the mystery element the stories provide deep insights into the murky world of politics and the darker side of human nature. They have continued to delight readers since they first appeared in 1922. The stories are also brilliant examples of Chesterton’s craft. His mastery over the language, brilliant style and deeply humanitarian outlook make these stories a delight for readers of any age. Gilbert Keith Chesterton was a multitalented English genius. He was a poet, biographer (he wrote a detailed biography of Charles Dickens) theologian, playwright, hymn writer, novelist, art and music critic and political philosopher. He authored more than eighty books, thousands of essays, hundreds of poems and contributed extensively to several newspapers. As the contemporary of Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw and Hilaire Belloc, G K Chesterton often engaged in public and deeply philosophical debates with many of them. For modern day readers, The Man Who Knew Too Much provides valuable insights into the workings of both Edwardian and present day governments. It can be read on several levels and above all, certainly appeals to mystery story fans of any age!

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    Charles Dickens by G. K. Chesterton

    Charles Dickens by G. K. Chesterton

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    Since Dec 22, 2023 00:00 UTC

    G. K. Chesterton was a great admirer of Charles Dickens, and wrote a noted critique of Dickens’ works expressing his opinion in his own inimitable style.

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    All Things Considered by G. K. Chesterton

    All Things Considered by G. K. Chesterton

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    Since Dec 22, 2020 00:00 UTC

    Another delightful and sharply pointed excursion into the topics of the day, and of this day as well, with Gilbert Keith Chesterton. These reprinted magazine articles are filled with his good natured wit, his masterful use of paradox, and devastating ability to use reductio ad absurdum to destroy the popular myths that drive a society driving full-speed into secular humanism. You will come away with a whole new collection of wonderful quotes. (Ray Clare) More great books at LoyalBooks.com

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    A Short History of England by G. K. Chesterton

    A Short History of England by G. K. Chesterton

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    Since Oct 10, 2020 00:00 UTC

    Gilbert Keith Chesterton was a prolific writer on many topics. His views of history were always from the standpoint of men and their interactions, and it may fairly be said he saw all of history as a battle between civilization and barbarism. So it has always been, and that remains true even today.“But it is especially in the matter of the Middle Ages that the popular histories trample upon the popular traditions. In this respect there is an almost comic contrast between the general information provided about England in the last two or three centuries, in which its present industrial system was being built up, and the general information given about the preceding centuries, which we call broadly mediaeval. “As this quotation taken from the Introduction clearly shows, he is no mere pedant reciting dry dates and locations, but a profound thinker flooding new light onto those modern “myths” that have filled our historys. He is a master of paradox, and the techique of reducing his opponents arguments to the logical absurdity they have inherent in them. He often turns them upside down. All of which makes his work both a sound subject for reflection and highly entertaining all the while it remains permanently timely. More great books at LoyalBooks.com

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    The Man Who was Thursday by G. K. Chesterton

    The Man Who was Thursday by G. K. Chesterton

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    Since Oct 12, 2020 00:00 UTC

    Two poets in a London park at sunset, debating on the attributes of poetry and whether it’s really a metaphor for anarchy. A group that meets in secret, planning to overthrow the world order. Disguises and deceptions, ideals and ideology. A medley of themes and genres makes this a great read for anyone who’s a fan of Chesterton and his iconic Father Brown. The Man Who Was Thursday includes Chesterton’s favorite theme of Christianity with touches of delightful humor to enliven the twists and turns that abound throughout the book. Set in the early part of the twentieth century, the novel’s main protagonist, Gabriel Syme is a Scotland Yard detective who’s assigned to break the trend of anarchic groups mushrooming all over London. He hides his true identity and takes on the role of a poet. He meets Lucian Gregory, also a poet, and they become friends. One evening, they get into a passionate debate on the true function of poetry and whether it is a symbol of revolution. As the debate rages on, Gregory is incensed and indiscreet enough to confess that he is part of a secret group that espouses anarchy. The group meets in a remote public house in Chiswick on the banks of the Thames and Gregory invites Syme to join them that evening, to prove that he (Gregory) is indeed a true blue anarchist. At the meeting, Syme discovers that the group of seven are all code named by days of the week. Currently, the slot of Thursday is vacant and Gregory is a strong contender for the post. The rest of the story describes how Syme is drawn into the group and uncovers some of its deepest and most incredible secrets. The final conclusion is typical Chesterton – almost unbelievable and totally unexpected! Orson Welles, who was one of Chesterton’s most devoted fans directed the first radio adaptation of The Man Who was Thursday in 1938. Since then, the book has been adapted for radio readings and a film was also planned based on the book, though it wasn’t made. The appeal of the book lies in its extremely readable style, exciting twists and turns of plot, memorable characters and the lyrical descriptions of Edwardian London. For die-hard Chesterton fans, this would be a great new addition to their list, while those whose good fortune it is to encounter Chesterton for the first time in this novel will certainly enjoy the experience! More great books at LoyalBooks.com

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    What’s Wrong With the World by G. K. Chesterton

    What’s Wrong With the World by G. K. Chesterton

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    Since Dec 19, 2023 00:00 UTC

    Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874–1936) has been called the “prince of paradox.” Time magazine observed of his writing style: “Whenever possible Chesterton made his points with popular sayings, proverbs, allegories—first carefully turning them inside out.” His prolific and diverse output included journalism, philosophy, poetry, biography, Christian apologetics, fantasy and detective fiction. The title of Chesteron’s 1910 collection of essays was inspired by a title given to him two years earlier by The Times newspaper, which had asked a number of authors to write on the topic: “What’s wrong with the world?”. Chesterton’s answer at that time was the shortest of those submitted – he simply wrote: “Dear Sirs, I am. Sincerely yours, G.K. Chesterton”. In this collection he gives a fuller treatment of the question, with his characteristic conservative wit.

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    The Innocence of Father Brown by G. K. Chesterton

    The Innocence of Father Brown by G. K. Chesterton

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    Since Dec 22, 2023 00:00 UTC

    A Chief of Police hosts a dinner party for an American millionaire wishing to will his entire fortune to the Church of France. Jewels that have been stolen and recovered so many times that they’re known colloquially by thieves as The Flying Stars. A murder committed by an invisible man. These and many others are the mysteries that are presented to the lovable, bumbling, stumpy Man of God, Father Brown. The Innocence of Father Brown, by G.K. Chesterton is a collection of eleven stories which marks the debut of this most unusual detective. Chesterton was a contemporary of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and it is only natural that his fictional sleuth be compared with the most famous one in English literature, Sherlock Holmes. Unlike Holmes, Father Brown is a gentle, unassuming figure, who solves crimes through reasoning based on spiritualism and philosophic truths instead of scientific methods. The priest is also deeply compassionate and insightful as far as psychological aspects go. He truly delves into the minds of the people and comes up with results. Another big difference is that unlike Doyle, Chesterton was in fact a brilliant writer. His elegant, humorous prose, full of literary touches is very different from Conan Doyle’s bland and simple style. The Father Brown stories are characterized by wildly improbably crimes and plots! In The Secret Garden for instance, the walled garden is almost a parody of the traditional Agatha Christie like isolated country house murder, with no access to outsiders. Though the stories are all stand alone ones, there are some common threads that run through them, providing a tenuous connection. One of Chesterton’s most famous Father Brown stories, The Hammer of God, is contained in this volume. It is a story of unbridled lust and murder that is set in a peaceful village. Full of memorable characters like Mad Joe, the local dysfunctional vagabond, the lascivious Colonel Bohun in hot pursuit of the blacksmith’s beautiful wife and many others, this is one of Chesterton’s masterpieces, remarkable for its tight plot and interesting solution. Chesterton wrote a total of five volumes in the Father Brown series, and a total of some sixty stories concerning the Catholic priest with “an uncanny insight into human evil.” As a most unusual sleuth, Father Brown is sure to captivate readers of all ages and if you haven’t encountered him before, The Innocence of Father Brown could be the beginning of a great literary adventure for you!

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    The Club of Queer Trades by G. K. Chesterton

    The Club of Queer Trades by G. K. Chesterton

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    Since Dec 28, 2023 00:00 UTC

    A collection of six wonderfully quirky detective stories, featuring the ‘mystic’ former judge Basil Grant. Each story reveals a practitioner of an entirely new profession, and member of the Club of Queer Trades.

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