The Uses of Diversity

by G.K. Chesterton

Collected Works of G.K. Chesterton

Genres: Essays

Paperback

First published January 1, 1920

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Kyle Grindberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Chestertonian gold

[Mary Catelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A diverse collection. hits on his ignorance of Wales; how detective novels are domestic; the problem on judges' using their discretion; various authors, from Dickens to George Meredith, to Jane Austen; the limited settings of the historical novel of his day; and a newspaper article about an alleged leprechaun.

There is something sinister about putting a Leprechaun in the workhouse. The only solid comfort is that he certainly will not work.

[Abigail Drumm · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

Well-written collection of essays from Chesterton, as always. I didn't care for the essays focused on other nationalities (the Irish, the Japanese, etc.), but that could have much to do with me not being an Englishman living in the early 20th century. Especially liked the essays on fiction, plays, and the teaching of history.

To remember: Wishes, The Duty of the Historian, Questions of Divorce

[Caleb Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's more or less a collection of very diverse essays by Chesterton, which means it's obviously a delight and fully of delicious rhetoric, important points, brilliant insights, clever jokes, common sense, and Chesterton just being Chesterton.

[Blake Wiese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good, really enjoyed some of the essays and really made me think deeply about matters of life and in a different way. Some essays were just on topics I couldn't relate to or understand since it was written over a century ago. Love Chesterton though

[K. P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book of essays. On Pigs as pets! A must read.

[T.E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This ruled and featured a host of buckwild opinions.

[Joey Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome collection of Chesterton’s thoughts on a host of issues. It really gets you into his mind well.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was most interesting as a walk in the past, with a convoluted writing style that wouldn't play in today's journalism and opinions about issues long dead.