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The Well and the Shallows book cover
The Well and the Shallows
1935
First Published
4.08
Average Rating
210
Number of Pages
One of Chesterton's last books, this book is considered by Chesterton critics and fans as one of his finest collections of essays on a variety of cultural, social and moral issues that seem even more urgent today. His trademark wit and perceptive analysis of the absurdities and excesses of modern life are here, but with a more serious tone than usual. He diagnoses the rising threats of anti-Semitism and Nazism, of unchecked militarism and the dangerous idealism of pacifism, the problems of materialism and capitalism, the sickness of immoral sexual behavior and eugenics, the twin threats of fascism and communism, and much more. Throughout his writings, always so prophetic and seemingly more timely now than when he lived, Chesterton fiercely defends the Church (the "Well") and Christian teachings as the source of wisdom, reason, compassion and strength to face all the dangers and evils in modern times (the "Shallows"). The popularity of G. K. Chesterton and his writings continues to flourish as the new Chesterton movement grows in the USA and abroad.
Avg Rating
4.08
Number of Ratings
148
5 STARS
37%
4 STARS
39%
3 STARS
20%
2 STARS
5%
1 STARS
0%
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Author

G.K. Chesterton
G.K. Chesterton
Author · 176 books

Gilbert Keith Chesterton was an English writer, philosopher, lay theologian, and literary and art critic. He was educated at St. Paul’s, and went to art school at University College London. In 1900, he was asked to contribute a few magazine articles on art criticism, and went on to become one of the most prolific writers of all time. He wrote a hundred books, contributions to 200 more, hundreds of poems, including the epic Ballad of the White Horse, five plays, five novels, and some two hundred short stories, including a popular series featuring the priest-detective, Father Brown. In spite of his literary accomplishments, he considered himself primarily a journalist. He wrote over 4000 newspaper essays, including 30 years worth of weekly columns for the Illustrated London News, and 13 years of weekly columns for the Daily News. He also edited his own newspaper, G.K.’s Weekly. Chesterton was equally at ease with literary and social criticism, history, politics, economics, philosophy, and theology.

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