Gilbert: The Man Who Was G. K. Chesterton [Paperback]

Michael Coren (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2001

â??Michael Corenâ??s book is indispensable for helping us better understand the private side of this wonderful man.â?? â??Jay P. Corrin, Boston University â??Of all the studies of G.K. I have read, this is the best, deepest and most nearly complete.â?? â??Bernard Levin, Sunday Times of London â??The definitive work on Chesterton and one of the finest literary biographies in years.â?? â??Paul William Roberts, Toronto Star Michael Coren is a broadcaster, columnist and author of ten books, including biographies of C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, H.G. Wells, and Arthur Conan Doyle. He is also host of the television show Michael Coren Liveâ??described by BBC Radio as â??one of the best talk-shows in North America.â?? For more information about Michael Coren, visit his website

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874-1936), although perhaps best known nowadays for his Father Brown mysteries, which have been adapted for TV, was a prolific poet, novelist and essayist. He deserves another biography, but this affectionate work by a Toronto literary critic is merely adequate. Catholic writers in particular have lauded Chesterton's wit, style and industriousness, while others have castigated his logorrhea, sloppy research, unintending insensitivity and anti-Semitism. Coren tries to deal fairly with the corpulent, sword-stick-carrying author--whom he insists on calling Gilbert--but he fails to convince us of Chesterton's charm or importance. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Chesterton (1874-1936) crammed his life with work, drawing, editing, debating, and writing mysteries, biographies, histories, essays, and poetry, over 70 volumes in all. He knew many contemporary literary figures such as Shaw, Belloc, and Beerbohm. In a balanced and chronological way, Coren follows this huge, peculiar man, quoting extensively from letters, journals, and his autobiography. In readable prose he chronicles Chesterton's sometimes naive economic and political ideas, occasional bigotry, efforts to maintain his bloated body, and influential conversion to Catholicism. With his "frequent insistence on treading the middle road, even when that position was untenable," Chesterton is a slippery, sometimes annoying, figure. The book is a life, not a literary criticism, and is recommended for large libraries that want another view of this writer.
- John Miller, Normandale Community Coll., Bloom ington, Minn.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Regent College Publishing (August 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573831956
• ISBN-13: 978-1573831956
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,171,706 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Michael: The Man Who Is Coren, March 4, 2000

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"boniface" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gilbert: The Man Who Was G.K. Chesterton (Hardcover)

With a growing interest in the life and literary works of the English writer G.K. Chesterton, I was in the market for a modern, one-volume biography of the man. A friend suggested this book, and I am SO glad he did! As literary biographies go, this one is excellent. Coren not only covers the great Chesterton's life with sympathy and humour, but also manages a solid critique and evaluation of the writer's output...and Chesterton's output was very substantial (rather like the man himself)! What is a real joy though, is to read a biography of a fine writer, written by another fine writer. And Michael Coren is all of that. This well-educated, erudite, and witty man is a wonderful author in his own right, and I look forward to further works by him. I suspect that a century from now, people may be reading a biography of Michael Coren, just as we can now read Coren on Chesterton. We can only hope that such a future author creates as pleasant and stimulating a work as the Canadian Michael Coren has here! I'll go so far as to say that this biography is a worthwhile read, even if you don't care about Chesterton. Biography doesn't get any better than this! -A wonderful book.