All Things Considered [Paperback]

G. K. Chesterton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2008

I cannot understand the people who take literature seriously; but I can love them, and I do. Out of my love I warn them to keep clear of this book. It is a collection of crude and shapeless papers upon current or rather flying subjects; and they must be published pretty much as they stand. They were written, as a rule, at the last moment; they were handed in the moment before it was too late, and I do not think that our commonwealth would have been shaken to its foundations if they had been handed in the moment after. They must go out now, with all their imperfections on their head, or rather on mine; for their vices are too vital to be improved with a blue pencil, or with anything I can think of, except dynamite. -- G.K. Chesterton

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About the Author

Classic collection of essays. Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874 - 1936) was an influential English writer of the early 20th century. His prolific and diverse output included journalism, philosophy, poetry, biography, Christian apologetics, fantasy and detective fiction. Chesterton has been called the "prince of paradox." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: NuVision Publications, LLC (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159547661X
• ISBN-13: 978-1595476616
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,644,843 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

72 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chesterton handles all things well, December 8, 2006

By 

not4prophet (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: All Things Considered (Paperback)

G. K. Chesterton is well known as a novelist, essayist, storyteller, poet, philosopher, theologian, historian, artist, and critic. He's less well-known as a journalist these days, yet all evidence indicates that he viewed his work for the various newspapers as his primary raison-de-etre. Therefore anyone interested in exploring the works of this colossal genius should include a sampling of his newspaper columns along with all of his other brilliant books.

"All Things Considered" brings together about thirty columns that Chesterton wrote for the London Daily News in the years before World War I. There's no theme here; as the title suggests, this is a hodgepodge that wanders over everything imaginable. The only unifying thread is high quality.

Chesterton writes about politics. In an essay on canvassing, he ponders some unusual double standards. We mere mortals cannot even offer our fellow citizens food for their vote. Politicians, on the other hand, can allow bribes to run into the stratosphere. We also can't threaten each other. The MPs, however, can threaten the downfall of civilization. Lukring behind this apparent hypocricy is the apparent lunacy of expecting the power-hungry to be the most moral voluntarily, even as the crack down on the rest of us.

Chesterton writes about daily annoyances. While on vacation, he learns that his beloved home at Battersea has been flooded. Far from despairing, he sees it as a chance to look at that home in a new light. Could it be that our daily lives have grown so boring and monotonous that we barely see the things around us at all? Maybe a forced change of scenery is the only thing that can make us look at daily life anew.

Chesterton writes about literature. He ponders a copy of The Eatansville Gazette, a newspaper that's supposed to exist only within the fictional world of Dickens' "Pickwick Papers". Moreover, the imaginary rag was a vile and repulsive publication; why would anyone want to drag it into reality? It seems that two distinct towns are vying to be recognized as the model for Eatansville. In doing so, Chesterton notes, they are trivializing the meaning of the book.

There's lots more considered in "All Things Considered". But while every essay here is amusing and almost everyone is a masterpiece, the selections in this book are by no means higher quality that average for Chesterton's career. Pondering that fact, you may well decide that you have to track down all 4,000 of Chesterton's newspaper columns the minute you finish this little selection.

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great book and PERFECT copy!, September 13, 2009

By 

Christine Richardson (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: All Things Considered (Paperback)

I bought this with out looking at the reviews (generally they liked the book and did not like the edition), anyway, I wanted to report back that somehow this has been fixed, as this edition is perfect in every way! Fell good to get it, and read GK's views on everything, as he considers 'all things'. Ok, I'm not witty, but I know a good book when I read it! This is it!

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chesterton was a genius, but do NOT buy this edition, January 7, 2009

By 

A Seeker (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: All Things Considered (Paperback)

If a publisher is going to reprint a work in the public domain, that publisher can at least go to the trouble of typsetting the book in a readable font, with a readable line width. This edition is simply unreadable, and I am returning it forthwith. The 5-stars is for anyone unfamiliar with these essays, which are exquisitely, vintage Chesterton at his best.