A Voice in the Wilderness In Defense of "Mere Conservatism"

Orthodoxy

Believe me, I fully appreciate the fact that you people lead busy lives and don't have the time to read as much as you'd like.  But I also understand that a person like yourself does not read as much as you could (and definitely not as much as you should).  What I would like to do, starting today, is help narrow the field in your mind about which books and authors are more worthy of your precious time than others.

The most famous book by my favorite author is Orthodoxy.  It was written exactly 100 years ago, in England, and yet after working your way through the chapters that I will be re-publishing on my website over the next eight weeks, you'll see that it might have been written last week.

Gilbert Keith Chesterton was born in Kensington, England in 1874.  He was raised by two loving parents who were in the real estate business, and had a younger brother (Cecil) who was his best friend and fiercest critic.  In 1901 he met and married Francis Blogg to whom he remained lovingly devoted until the day of his death in 1936.  Physically, he was a massive man (6'3'', 300 lbs).  Intellectually, he was a massive force.

GKC was a prolific writer, popular debater, and insightful social commentator.  His ability to acutely analyze the passing scene was something akin to Mozart's ability to compose heavenly music.  He stood for and defended everything I hold most dear: Christianity, the family, good food, close friends, and the de-centralization of power in the hands of fallen men.

I don't want to write a love poem to the guy, but I really like Chesterton.  I mean really like.  There is no author who has spoken to me in quite the way he has.  I feel a connection to him, and hope you will as well.

G.K. Chesterton is a name that many have heard, and even more have never read.  My goal is to change that.

When I first started reading GKC, the biggest obstacle to mining the depths of his wisdom was the steady stream of early 20th century British references he would make to drive home his points.  I had no idea who Jospeh McCabe was, or what Hanwell might be, or where Brighton was located.  However, when I took the time to investigate what I was reading, a whole new world opened up to me and I became the Chesterton devotee I am today.

And that's what I'm proposing to do for you.  I will be your middle-man on the path to reaching Chesterton nirvana.  Because Orthodoxy is public domain, I am legally able to provide you with a slightly adapted version of the most important book (outside of The Good Book) in my life.

Below are the nine magnificent chapters of Orthodoxy.  Read them.  Give GKC a try.

Please do enjoy and feel free to send me any questions or feedback you have.

Preface and Chapter I: Introduction, In Defense of Everything Else

Chapter II: The Maniac

Chapter III: The Suicide of Thought

Chapter IV: The Ethics of Elfland

Chapter V: The Flag of the World

Chapter VI: The Paradoxes of Christianity

Chapter VII: The Eternal Revolution

Chapter VIII: The Romance of Orthodoxy

Chapter IX: Authority and Adventure