G.K. Chesterton

Gilbert Keith Chesterton, (29 May 1874 – 14 June 1936) was a poet, novelist, playwright, literary commentator, editor, biographer, journalist, orator and theologian. He was often dubbed as the “prince of paradox” for his light whimsical style that often addressed serious issues such as politics and religion, .. The latter was as a member and defender of the Christian faith and the former was shaped by a distrust of concentrated wealth and power. He advocated Distributionism and said that every man should be allowed to own "three acres and a cow." These political views have spread round the world, crediting Chesterton as the father of the “small is beautiful” movement. It is also said to have influenced Gandhi in seeking a genuine nationalism for India rather than imitating the British state. As one of the world’s most prolific writers, his main claim to fame is as the creator of Father Brown, but Chesterton’s style and ideas in this work reveals a truth that makes it remarkably contemporary and relevant to the modern reader. This is clearly demonstrated in “The Club of Queer Trades” a collection of stories about different people making a living by extraordinary or novel means thereby gaining admittance to the Club. Chesterton employs an excellent half pardoy of detective stories, in particular Sherlock Holmes, for each tale, amking this a jugely entertaining and enlightening read.

A Word To The Wise

The Club Of Queer Trades: "There are a great many good people, and a great many sane people here this afternoon. Unfortunately, by a kind of coincidence, all good people are mad, and all the sane people are wicked."