Customer Reviews

All Things Considered

5 star:		(6)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

This edition is perfect! For those who were wondering if they would get a poorly made book based on the only 1 star review, let me assure you that you will not, I received this book without any mistakes, or missing pages, etc. Its a charming and complete edition.

I see that the release date for this edition is after the date the 1 star review was made.

This book has been well reviewed already, and all I can add is this is a real treat for anyone who loves intelligent argument, wit and written brilliance!

First, this book is in perfect shape - I think some reviews were of a different edition.

But more important, is this wonderful book! This is a collection of various newspaper columns by Chesterton - thus ``All Things Considered`` - what is also fascinating is the fact that while one expects the wit, charm, humor and intelligence to last the years, (and it does), the issues of the day, while different on the surface, are no different than those in Rome 2000 years ago, or the USA 100 years later, (today).

If you like Chesterton, you`ll love reading one of these columns each night!

This book is a great collection of wonderful newspaper stories of Chesterton, and as reverent today as when written! Enjoy!