Saturday, April 30, 2011

Defiant Joy: The Remarkable Life and Impact of G.K. Chesterton by Kevin Belmonte, A Review

A jovial mound of renown—that phrase or something similar kept coming to my mind as I read this biography of the “real G.K. Chesterton”. And I think the title aptly describes the contents.

The joy of Chesterton certainly comes through not only in his writing but in his interactions with others. His heroes bring smiles of surprise. The country priest Father Brown and the Napoleon of Notting Hill, Auberon Quin, are not our typical heroes but have taken that form in the playful mind of Chesterton. (G.K. himself did not have the looks of a hero either with his massive girth and unruly head of hair.)

However, this joy was not obtained without pain. In a chapter entitled A Perfect Storm the writer describes the crisis of faith Chesterton experienced in school. G.K. later said of that time, “I held on to religion by one thin thread of thanks”. He also knew the pain of death having lost a sister. Her death brought a grief that hung over the Chesterton home and could have shaped G.K. into a melancholic soul but when he found faith he also found joy.

What I especially appreciated in the book was the relationship G.K. had with those who did not share his views. He maintained an ongoing friendship with George Bernard Shaw and H.G. Wells and his passing was mourned by those who did not share his faith. I couldn’t help but ask if the same would be true of many people of faith today. Will we be mourned by our opponents or will our passing bring a sigh of relief?

Apart from a few biographical notes I had not read anything before about the life of one of the most influential authors of the last century. Kevin Belmonte’s book was a good place to start.