My second month of reading Chesterton has introduced me to his journalistic essays: I read 'Twelve Types' and started 'All things considered'. Though they are interesting, I sometimes struggle with these pieces: sometimes they presuppose some background knowledge that I lack.
I did not read as much as I was planning: though I started 'Heretics', I am only in the beginning of the book. I did read 'The man who was Thursday', however, and enjoyed it very much. When I started reading, I soon became fascinated by the undercover story. Then, nearing the end, I became very much puzzled. Now, ruminating over the story I read some days ago, I become more and more impressed. It is definitely a book that I will return to some time.
After finishing the first 'Father Brown' bundle last month, and starting the second one last week, I just began watching the series today. At first sight, I am not overly impressed. Though the scene is beautiful, and Father Brown was well played, the story lacks some speed when watched on television. But perhaps I just have to get used to it.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
France
In 'The Defendant', Chesterton includes one essay on patriotism. The subject is discussed again in 'All things considered': Chesterton explains in 'Patriotism and sport' why England need not be overly distressed about her sportsmen: because 'the real historic strength of England, physical and moral, has never had anything to do with this athletic specialism'.
The following three essays were apparently written shortly after a journey to France. Here, one sees how much importance Chesterton gives to national characteristics. 'An essay on two cities' discusses the differences between London and Paris: in the names of the streets, in the monuments one finds. He asserts that 'London is a riddle. Paris is an explanation'.
Before one can be international, one must be national. 'International peace means a peace between nations, not a peace after the destruction of nations'. In 'French and English' various differences between English and French perceptions are discussed: their attitude to nobility, the differences in literature.
Finally, 'The Zola controversy' opens with a comparison between how the two countries honor their writers. England has barely erected a statue for Shakespeare (and not because Shakespeare is not a great writer), while France discusses giving great honors to the recently deceased Zola. The latter discussion is far more practical: there is really a question to be asked about Zola's role in literature. England, on the other hand has something 'modest and manly about not attempting to express our greatest poet in the plastic arts in which we do not excel'.
Chesterton, on his travels to France, has encountered a different culture. He realizes that one can respect, even admire, different cultures, without wanting to copy it. This is one more thing we can learn from in our time of 'cosmopolitanism'.
The following three essays were apparently written shortly after a journey to France. Here, one sees how much importance Chesterton gives to national characteristics. 'An essay on two cities' discusses the differences between London and Paris: in the names of the streets, in the monuments one finds. He asserts that 'London is a riddle. Paris is an explanation'.
Before one can be international, one must be national. 'International peace means a peace between nations, not a peace after the destruction of nations'. In 'French and English' various differences between English and French perceptions are discussed: their attitude to nobility, the differences in literature.
Finally, 'The Zola controversy' opens with a comparison between how the two countries honor their writers. England has barely erected a statue for Shakespeare (and not because Shakespeare is not a great writer), while France discusses giving great honors to the recently deceased Zola. The latter discussion is far more practical: there is really a question to be asked about Zola's role in literature. England, on the other hand has something 'modest and manly about not attempting to express our greatest poet in the plastic arts in which we do not excel'.
Chesterton, on his travels to France, has encountered a different culture. He realizes that one can respect, even admire, different cultures, without wanting to copy it. This is one more thing we can learn from in our time of 'cosmopolitanism'.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
The man who was Thursday
I just finished Chesterton's most famous novel: a sort of detective called 'The man who was Thursday; a nightmare'. I completely enjoyed the middle part of the book, in which Syme gets to know the other members of the Council. It was a great read, with unexpected turns, but completely 'logical'. Towards the end, though, from chapter 13 on, I did not really grasp the story anymore. Chesterton's thinking may have been too deep for me at that moment; I will reread it sometime.
Monday, February 21, 2011
A nightmare?
By now, I am halfway 'The man who was Thursday', and I am enjoying it completely. The combination of discussions about anarchism and the plot in which Syme actually becomes member of an underground organization is fast paced, hilarious, and deep at the same time.
"The work of the philosophical policeman is at once bolder and more subtle than that of the ordinary detective. The ordinary detective goes to pot-houses to arrest thieves; we go to artistic tea-parties to detect pessimists. The ordinary detective discovers from a ledger or a diary that a crime has been committed. We discover from a book of sonnets that a crime will be committed. We have to trace the origin of those dreadful thoughts that drive men on at last to intellectual fanaticism and intellectual crime."
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Heresies
As far as I know at this moment, Chesterton wrote three main books about Christianity: 'Heretics', followed by 'Orthodoxy', and, years later, 'The everlasting man'. After reading the last two, I decided to start this blog. 'Heretics' is, however, the first written of the three; I recently started reading in it.
My first idea is that it has the form of a collection of essays, rather than of one sweeping argument. This is natural, since there are various different 'heresies' to discuss. Chapter one, however, is more general and begins with 'introductory remarks on the importance of orthodoxy'. Chesterton explains clearly why a man's philosophy is immensely important, that opportunism fails, and that he means, in this book, to go back to fundamentals.
Chapter two is also fairly general; here the difference between negative and positive ethics is explained. In the modern world, people tend to focus on the bad effects of doing wrong. While this is, of course, not wrong in itself, there is one thing missing: a sense of what is right, a sense of positive direction. The modern thinking will 'shirk the problem of what is good', but at the same time promote 'progress'. This thought is singular, for if we do not know the direction we should go, how can we make progress in this direction?
From chapter three on, Chesterton discusses particular cases, often using specific people to explain specific 'heresies'. For example, Rudyard Kipling is used as an example of how 'exploration and enlargement make the world smaller'. Becoming more global, we fail to understand the essence of a particular locality.
My first idea is that it has the form of a collection of essays, rather than of one sweeping argument. This is natural, since there are various different 'heresies' to discuss. Chapter one, however, is more general and begins with 'introductory remarks on the importance of orthodoxy'. Chesterton explains clearly why a man's philosophy is immensely important, that opportunism fails, and that he means, in this book, to go back to fundamentals.
Chapter two is also fairly general; here the difference between negative and positive ethics is explained. In the modern world, people tend to focus on the bad effects of doing wrong. While this is, of course, not wrong in itself, there is one thing missing: a sense of what is right, a sense of positive direction. The modern thinking will 'shirk the problem of what is good', but at the same time promote 'progress'. This thought is singular, for if we do not know the direction we should go, how can we make progress in this direction?
From chapter three on, Chesterton discusses particular cases, often using specific people to explain specific 'heresies'. For example, Rudyard Kipling is used as an example of how 'exploration and enlargement make the world smaller'. Becoming more global, we fail to understand the essence of a particular locality.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Quotes
I stated before that Chesterton is 'very, very quotable'. Quotes from his books can not only be found in abundance all over the internet, they are also one of the ways people actually hear about Chesterton.
A few weeks ago, I read the following quote somewhere: "An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered." This quote actually stems from the essay 'On running after one's hat' in the bundle 'All things considered'.
The essay discusses various inconveniences, such as the recent flooding of parts of London, having to run after one's hat, and waiting for the train. For the latter case, Chesterton points out that small boys would never complain about hanging about a railway station: for him 'to be inside a railway station is to be inside a cavern of wonder and a palace of poetical pleasures'. We too, might be able to accept some inconveniences, even enjoy them.
I immensely enjoy finding quotes in their own context: usually they become more comprehensible, beautiful and even easier to remember.
A few weeks ago, I read the following quote somewhere: "An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered." This quote actually stems from the essay 'On running after one's hat' in the bundle 'All things considered'.
The essay discusses various inconveniences, such as the recent flooding of parts of London, having to run after one's hat, and waiting for the train. For the latter case, Chesterton points out that small boys would never complain about hanging about a railway station: for him 'to be inside a railway station is to be inside a cavern of wonder and a palace of poetical pleasures'. We too, might be able to accept some inconveniences, even enjoy them.
I immensely enjoy finding quotes in their own context: usually they become more comprehensible, beautiful and even easier to remember.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Merchandise
To my surprise, there is actually 'Chesterton merchandise' around: fans of Chesterton can actually get quite some Chesterton 'objects' online. A few weeks ago, I had already noticed that zazzle.com has dozens of Chesterton items (mainly t-shirts, mugs and refrigerator magnets), most with beautiful quotes (since Chesterton is very, very quotable).
Now recently, the Chesterton Society opened its own online store, mainly featuring books (as it should, in my opinion). To my surprise, there are quite some Chesterton dvd's: not only the 'Father Brown' series and a play by Chesterton, but also five seasons of 'The apostle of common sense', a series of which I had never heard (though I did see a book with that title).
The merchandise is quite attractive; I will not, however, buy much at the moment. Before I read (and see) about Chesterton, I really want to read his own words. A nice mouse pad, as a reminder of my quest this year, might be enough for the moment.
Now recently, the Chesterton Society opened its own online store, mainly featuring books (as it should, in my opinion). To my surprise, there are quite some Chesterton dvd's: not only the 'Father Brown' series and a play by Chesterton, but also five seasons of 'The apostle of common sense', a series of which I had never heard (though I did see a book with that title).
The merchandise is quite attractive; I will not, however, buy much at the moment. Before I read (and see) about Chesterton, I really want to read his own words. A nice mouse pad, as a reminder of my quest this year, might be enough for the moment.
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