G. K. Chesterton

This clear and fine perception of what may be called the an sthetic element in the Victorian era was, undoubtedly, the work of a great reformer: it requires a fine effort of the imagination to see an evil that surrounds us on every side. The manner in which Morris carried out his crusade may, considering the circumstances, be called triumphant. Our carpets began to bloom under our feet like the meadows in spring, and our hitherto prosaic stools and sofas seemed growing legs and arms at their own wild will. An element of freedom and rugged dignity came in with plain and strong ornaments of copper and iron. So delicate and universal has been the revolution in domestic art that almost every family in England has had its taste cunningly and treacherously improved, and if we look back at the early Victorian drawing-rooms it is only to realise the strange but essential truth that art, or human decoration, has, nine times out of ten in history, made things uglier than they were before, from the 'coiffure' of a Papuan savage to the wall-paper of a British merchant in 1830.

"The sane man who is sane enough to see that Shakespeare wrote Shakespeare is sane enough not to worry whether he did or not," quipped G. K. Chesterton. The prolific author -- whose works include journalism, poetry, plays, history, biography, apologetics, and detective fiction -- took a keen interest in the English literary tradition, particularly in the plays of its greatest dramatist. This original compilation by Chesterton expert Dale Ahlquist introduces the best of the noted critic's short reviews and essays on The Bard.

G. K. Chesterton is one of the few Christian thinkers admired and quoted equally by Christians of all types and even by non-Christians. Each daily reflection in this book--from Ash Wednesday through the Second Sunday of Easter--begins with thoughts from the finest writings of Chesterton on an appropriate theme and supported by Scripture, a prayer, and a suggested activity for spiritual growth. View sample pages. "Paperback"