- Title: Heretics
- Author: Gilbert K. Chesterton
- Publisher: John Lane Company: New York
- Estimated year of printing: 1906
Notes:
Inscription: John ???
This book, first published in 1905, is a collection of 20 essays. The theme of the collection of essays is supporting the idea of Christian-based “orthodoxy”, respecting the past and the way things have been done, and attacking secular thinking increasingly popularized by Edwardian intellectuals and literary figures. Several of the essays target specific intellectuals of the time (H.G Wells, George Bernard Shaw, Rudyard Kipling, and others). Others are aimed at more general topics — for example, one essays debates the concept of science, another debates the migration from small towns to larger cities.
The book is not in the best condition, but the is part of my collection because of how interesting the content is. It is a fascinating collection of writings arguing against changing times — a genre of literature that still exists today, albeit with mostly different targets.
This book was criticized at the time for the fact that it argued against many people and ideas, but never quite put forth its own coherent proposal. So, Chesterton eventually followed up with Orthodoxy in 1908, which puts forth a vision for his Christian-based worldview.
Gilbert K. Chesterton (1874 – 1936) was an English writer, philosopher, Christian apologist, and literary critic. In his life he wrote 80 books, several hundred poems, 200 short stories, 4,000 essays, and several plays. He was known for his writing style, which made heavy use of popular sayings, proverbs, and allegories.
The publisher, John Lane (1854 – 1925), founded The Bodley Head in 1887, a bookshop dealing in antiquarian books, before moving into publishing in 1894. He was known for publishing controversial and audacious texts such as this book. His nephews went on to found Penguin Books.
Historical context:
This book was printed in 1906, the same year that comedian Lou Costello, composer Dmitri Shostakovich, and Curious George author Margaret Rey were born. It was also the year that social reformer Susan B. Anthony, painter Paul Cezanne, and physicist Pierre Curie died.