Orthodoxy

By: Gilbert Keith Chesterton

Narrated by: Stephen Gammond

Length: 6 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's Summary

Standing six foot, four inches tall, and weighing 21 stone, GK Chesterton was a man of striking appearance, and all the more so for his chosen uniform of cape, large hat, swordstick, and cigar. A prolific writer, he regarded himself primarily as a journalist, but he also wrote poetry, philosophy, biography, detective fiction, Christian apologetics - and fantasy.

For as he once said: 'Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten.' Fascinated by the occult in his youth, Christianity played an increasingly important part in his life, and he wrote the biography of St Francis of Assisi in 1922, shortly after converting to Roman Catholicism.

His choice of clothes revealed a man who liked attention; but he also displayed great reserves of will power, which he directed towards his chosen goals. Using paradox and laughter as weapons - he was called the 'Prince of Paradox' by Time magazine - his writing was a constant assault on complacent acceptance of conventional views. He rallied against the dark side of English imperialism; and with his friend Hilaire Belloc, he promoted the social system of 'distributism', which called for a greater sharing of wealth. When The Times newspaper asked various leading figures of the day to say what was wrong with the world, Chesterton simply replied: 'Dear Sirs, I am. Sincerely yours, GK Chesterton.'

Orthodoxy, first published 1908, is Chesterton's spiritual autobiography. Subtitled, 'The romance of faith', Chesterton declares that people need a life of 'practical romance; the combination of something that is strange with something that is secure.'

©1908 White Crow Productions Ltd (P)2009 White Crow Productions Ltd

Critic Reviews

"If I were "stranded on a desert island, and could choose only one book apart from the Bible, I may well select Chesterton's own spiritual autobiography, Orthodoxy." (Phillip Yancey)

Interesting book, poor editing of audio

The book discusses the Author's thoughts on why he believes what he does, and brings up some points worth thinking about regarding each persons own position.

But the good points of the book are brought down by the reading of the book. The reader has frequent breaks in the middle of sentences, and comes off as very stiff and stuff. Additionally, I kept finding places where the reader repeated words, phrases and sentences. The book needed some basic quality control checking before being released.

Good book. Bad narration.

The narrator has a lovely voice. Too bad he has all the emotion of google maps. Chesterton has a very wry wit and mischeivous snark which is completely lost in this narration. Probably better to find a different performance if you really want to appreciate his style. Fairly well reasoned throughout, although Chesterton may be a little too fond of straw men and slippery slopes.

This or that

Underneath G.K. Chesterton's analysis and approach to the subject at hand, is a masterpiece player of "this or that". This is one of the few audiobooks for which I'm following up with a version for reading (and highlighting) on my Kindle.

Orthodoxy is a classic by a very great writer

Would you listen to Orthodoxy again? Why?

Because it is solid worthwhile writing by a man with tremendous perspicacity about the realities around us.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Orthodoxy?

I haven't got very far into it yet

Which scene was your favorite?

Ditto

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Ditto

Any additional comments?

Chesterton was capable of deep and serious matters and yet could write things like

Good book

You can't go to heaven without reading this greatest book thanks for all of is content y

mind changing

Logical to extreme level. Will have to, and with pleasure, go back to this book.