This is a critical study of the great British man of letters G.K. Chesterton, devoted to the novels, stories and essays that explore the darker fringes of his wild imagination. "Everything is different in the dark," wrote Chesterton; "perhaps you don't know how terrible a truth that is." Chesterton's use of the theme of "gargoyles" provides the thematic structure of the book. It covers the detective stories of Father Brown and others, the locked rooms and miracle crimes in his writing, his status as a science fiction writer, and the riddles and paradoxes of three works--Job, The Man Who Was Thursday, and the play The Surprise. This volume also includes an interlude about Chesterton and Jorge Luis Borges and a robust appendix including interviews about the formation of Ignatius Press's Collected Chesterton.

"A Year with G.K.Chesterton will be a treasure, both for those who are coming to his wit andwisdom as a fresh discovery, and for those who have known and loved his workfor years. . . . Chesterton's talent for paradox, and his ability to embodyprofound truth in simple images, makes him as compelling now as he was ahundred years ago. . . . He was a prophet in his own time and a prophet forours, speaking out against insidious evils and kindling us all again to acommon love of the common good." --The Reverend Dr. Malcolm Guite, chaplain of Girton College, Cambridge University "This world of ours has some purpose; and if there is apurpose, there is a Person. I had always felt life first as a story: and ifthere is a story, there is a Storyteller." --G. K. Chesterton A Year with G. K. Chesterton daily brings this truth to life. And we areheir to the winsome, arresting, utterly original outpouring of Chesterton'sreasons for hope. During his lifetime, a host of perspectives clamored for hisattention, but he saw nothing as vital and alive as Christianity. Readers ofthis book will find their faith strengthened and enriched, even as they see themany reasons why George Bernard Shaw called Chesterton "a colossal genius." A true anthology, the best of Chesterton's many works are presented in concise, memorableselections. From New Year's Day to New Year's Eve, each page contains a passageof Scripture and myriad moments for reflection, appreciation, and laughter. "Chesterton once aday? Well, that's a start. It is good to see that someone is finallyrecognizing the need for a daily minimum requirement of mirth and meditationfrom GKC." --Dale Ahlquist, President, AmericanChesterton Society "Kevin Belmonte writes in the preface to this excellent bookthat his editing of it has been a gift. As an author who has written regularlyon Chesterton I can understand his sense of gratitude at having been able tospend so much time with a genius as genial as the great GKC. Thanks toBelmonte's labor of love we can all spend a few moments of every day of the yearin Chesterton's inimitable company. All admirers of Chesterton and theChristian truth he explicates so sublimely will be grateful to Kevin Belmontefor this gem of a gift." --Joseph Pearce, author of Wisdom and Innocence: A Life of G. K.Chesterton "Who could not be grateful for a year spent with GKC?The great subverter of everything taken for granted, he stretches and deepensus with his insights, shakes us with his startling paradoxes and delights uswith his wit. Thank God there is no getting to the end of Chesterton." --Os Guinness, author of A Free People's Suicide

If Mr. Chesterton had been permitted to have his own way this handful of papers would have been sent out under the title of "Gargoyles." Perhaps the publisher foresaw horror upon the faces of really unimaginative readers when once brought face to face with a "monster" title; so it was changed to "Alarms and discursions," as indefinite and capable of possibilities as one could wish. "Fragments of futile journalism or fleeting impressions," Mr. Chesterton calls his essays. "This row of shapeless and ungainly monsters . . . does not consist of separate idols cut out capriciously in lonely valleys or various islands. These monsters are meant for the gargoyles of a definite cathedral. I have to carve the gargoyles, because I can carve nothing else; I leave to others the angels and the arches and the spires." Forty essays, in which excellent common sense and brilliantly phrased wisdom mingle with sheer nonsense.

The Complete Works of G.K. Chesterton is a comprehensive collection of the legendary writer's diverse and thought-provoking literary creations. Known for his witty humor, keen insight into human nature, and profound commentary on societal issues, Chesterton's works span across various genres including essays, novels, poetry, and detective fiction. His writing style is characterized by a unique blend of paradoxes, irony, and sharp observations, making his works not only intellectually stimulating but also highly entertaining. Set against the backdrop of the early 20th century, Chesterton's literary legacy continues to captivate readers with its timeless relevance and provocative themes. G.K. Chesterton, a prominent figure in the literary landscape of his time, was influenced by his deep-rooted Catholic faith, social activism, and philosophical inquiries. His prolific output of works reflects his wide-ranging interests and profound insights into the complexities of the human experience. Chesterton's sharp wit and intellectual prowess shine through in his writing, earning him a place among the literary giants of his era. I highly recommend The Complete Works of G.K. Chesterton to readers who appreciate philosophical depth, social commentary, and masterful storytelling. Chesterton's unparalleled wit and wisdom offer a rich and rewarding reading experience that will leave a lasting impression on all who delve into his works.

Between the silver ribbon of morning and the green glittering ribbon of sea, the boattouched Harwich and let loose a swarm of folk like flies, among whom the man wemust follow was by no means conspicuous -- nor wished to be. There was nothingnotable about him, except a slight contrast between the holiday gaiety of his clothes andthe official gravity of his face. His clothes included a slight, pale grey jacket, a whitewaistcoat, and a silver straw hat with a grey-blue ribbon. His lean face was dark bycontrast, and ended in a curt black beard that looked Spanish and suggested anElizabethan ruff. He was smoking a cigarette with the seriousness of an idler. There wasnothing about him to indicate the fact that the grey jacket covered a loaded revolver,that the white waistcoat covered a police card, or that the straw hat covered one of themost powerful intellects in Europe. For this was Valentin himself, the head of the Parispolice and the most famous investigator of the world; and he was coming from Brusselsto London to make the greatest arrest of the century.

This volume contains Chesterton's commentaries and reflections on what he saw on his travels in America and Rome, plus an appendix on how America saw Chesterton. On January 10, 1921, Gilbert and Frances Chesterton began a three month tour of the United States. During their first stop in the City of New York, Chesterton examined the lights of Broadway and proclaimed: "What a glorious garden of wonders this would be to anyone who was lucky enough to be unable to read." In his writing on America, Chesterton shows a remarkable ability for sympathetic appreciation of the principle traits of America. He would acquire an uncanny clear-sightedness about many things in America that it would not be an exaggeration to call clairvoyant. One greatness recognized another greatness, and one can say that Chesterton truly knew something profound about America. Throughout the 1920's and 1930's, Chesterton's travels included Jerusalem, Ireland, North America and Rome. This volume contains his reflections on his 1921 and 1930-31 tour of North America and his 1929 trip to Rome. Readers will enjoy the great man's impressions of city skyscrapers, rural America, the politics of Washington, as well as his views of Pope Pius XI, the Eternal City, Mussolini and Fascism. The introduction to this volume was written by Dr. Robert Royal, Vice President of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, Washington, D.C. The appendix was compiled by the late Chairman of the Northeastern Chapter of the G.K. Chesterton Society, Mr. Robert Knille. The appendix gives the newspaper accounts of Chesterton's 1921 trip to America. It contains generous excerpts of the speeches, interviews and comments G.K.C. made during his tour. Most of the material provided has never appeared in book form.

This book examines adaptations of G.K. Chesterton's Father Brown stories in film, radio and television. Part One covers adaptations prior to 2013, including portrayals by Alec Guinness, Kenneth More, and others, as well as German and Italian versions. Part Two focuses on the BBC series Father Brown, launched in 2013 with Mark Williams starring in the title role. It provides information about the series' creation and production along with a helpful episode guide, and it analyzes critical and audience responses to the show.