Gilbert Chesterton. Creativity of the writer

In 2003, under the title "The Man with the Golden Key", Gilbert Chesterton's autobiography was published. In this book, he, the acknowledged author of polemics, speaks about himself and his convictions. But whatever Chesterton glorified in the past, about what he wrote or ridiculed, he suffers from the present. No matter how we relate to his conclusions and advice, one thing is important - it's hard not to love someone who sincerely loved people, worried about them and was very anxious to help them.

short biography

English writer Chesterton Gilbert Keith was born in 1874 in London. His father was a real estate agent. The family had three children, but Gilbert's sister died when he was two years old. Three years later, Cecil's brother was born. His father painted watercolors, engraved, composed books for his children and he weaved them himself.

In 1881, Gilbert Keith Chesterton went to the preparatory school, and in 1887 entered the school of St. Paul. From others, it was different in that it was in the center of London, and the students lived at home. Continuing education at the University Chesterton stubbornly did not want him to somehow learn, found a compromise - he only went to lectures in English literature at the University of London. Nevertheless, Gilbert constantly attended classes in the school of painting. He wanted to become an artist, but soon abandoned painting. He was fascinated by literature.

Writer Gilbert Keith Chesterton was not accidental, as he wrote from an early age. Career in this field, he began at the age of twenty at the publishing house "Bukman" reviewer, then moved to the publishing house "T. Fischer Anvin. " Gilbert's notes on books were so brilliant that he was noticed in literary circles.

Chesterton was helped to publish the first essays and poems. They were interested in Kipling and Shaw, as soon as his name appeared in print. For a year Chesterton became known, and five years later became one of the best authors of England. As a writer, Gilbert was very prolific. His pen belongs to more than one hundred volumes of works.

Essays and notes Chesterton can not be counted, only in the "Illustrated London News" they came out about 1600, and he was published not only there. Chesterton became famous in all genres. Gilbert Chesterton wrote seven collections of poems, ten biographies, six novels and eleven collections of short stories.

Chesterton died of heart disease in 1936.

What is characteristic of his works?

Thought Chesterton thought often had a paradoxical and eccentric form. At the heart of the author's work is an optimistic view of life, based on a deep faith in God and common sense. The paradox of Chesterton as a writer is not to complicate reality, but to simplify it.

Most of his biographical works are written not as a writer-researcher of the personality and creativity of the authors, but as Chesterton-reader. Biography seems to be fading into the background, and the creativity of these authors is for Chesterton reason for reasoning on the topics of politics, art, religion.

It is this combination of journalistic and lyrical principles that forms the characteristic artistic style of Chesterton's biographies. What makes them attractive to readers, since the author's image looks authentic and convincing. It is no accident that Charles Dickens, written by Chesterton, is recognized as one of the best works about the great novelist.

As a rule, in the works of many writers, in connection with any events in their lives, a turning point comes. What can not you say about Chesterton. A good-natured, talented person, he was distinguished by some kind of "childishness". Gilbert Chesterton looked at the world as a miracle, - admiringly and amazed. And the attitude of those around him was the same.

Reading his autobiography, one gets the impression that his whole life, like his childhood, was cloudless. But still there are two memorable events that somehow influenced his work.

The first, very important for the writer, is his marriage to Francis Blogg in 1901. Chesterton took care of the girl for a long time, but did not appoint a wedding day. This is probably due to the unwillingness of Gilbert's mother to see Francis as her daughter-in-law. The long-awaited, happy day for young people came, and after that Chesterton from articles and essays in newspapers turned to more serious works. He began to write artistic prose - stories and novels.

The second event, which affected his work, was far from joyful. In 1914 the writer Chesterton Gilbert suffered a serious illness, for several months the writer was unconscious. After that Chesterton's worldview changed, which is noticeable in his works. For the works of this period, the theological theme is typical. Chesterton's ideas acquired depth and brightness.

Creativity Chesterton

Literary career Gilbert Chesterton began with poetry. But the first collection of poems "Playing Old Men" did not bring success. The second collection of "Wild Knight", although it was marked by Kipling, also went unnoticed. The fate of the collections of essays was much more successful.

The first book "The Defender" was composed of essays published in "Speaker" and "Daily News". Both newspapers were flooded with letters by readers, and articles had to be published in a separate edition. When the second collection was published, the glory of the writer Chesterton was already used.

The most popular were the "Heretics" published in 1905, a collection published in 1908 "For All" and published in early 1912, the essay "Twelve Types."

In addition to biographies printed in separate books, Gilbert Chesterton wrote dozens of biographical essays. The first collection of "Twelve Portraits" includes essays on poets, artists, historical figures, and prose writers. The biographical books of Chesterton: "Robert Browning," printed in 1903, Charles Dickens, published in separate essays from 1906 to 1909, and then published in one collection. His pen belongs to remarkable works about B. Shaw and W. Blake, about R. Stephenson, whose works Chesterton read many times.

Historical works of Chesterton include two works - "Brief History of England" and "Crime of England", poem poem "Ballad of a White Horse" and about twenty essays. Here, just like in biographies, he was a true romantic. Back in school, the writer surprised everyone by the maturity of his historical characteristics. In these works, he was able to catch the essence of historical events and pass them on with his usual sensible senses, which differed Gilbert Chesterton.

Books on religious topics belonging to the pen of this great man raise questions and problems that are understandable to a wide range of readers. They attracted the attention of clerics. In 1908, essays "Orthodoxy" were published. The treatise "Saint Francis of Assisi", published in 1923, was highly appreciated by the Pope. In 1925, Chesterton wrote a theological treatise "Eternal Man". G. Green, an English writer, called this work "one of the greatest books of the century".

Chesterton owns novels:

• "Napoleon of Notting Hill," published in 1904.
• "The Man Who Was Thursday", published in 1908.
• "Ball and Cross", printed in 1910.
• "A man is alive", published in 1912.
• "Migratory Flight", published in 1914.
• Published in 1927 "The Return of Don Quixote", etc.

Chesterton's Detectives

But the most popular works of Chesterton were stories about a Catholic priest, who was more clever than Sherlock Holmes to unravel the crimes:

• The first book "Ignorance of Father Brown" was published in 1911.
• In 1914 the second book "The Wisdom of Father Brown" was published.
• "The suspicion of Father Brown" was published in 1926.
• "The Secret of Father Brown" was published in 1927.
• The final book "Scandalous incident with Father Brown" was published in 1935.

The plot line of his works is original and unique. They are written in a relaxed and easy style. In addition, bribes the fact that the main character of the cycle is a Catholic priest, whose main weapon is logic. Talented and at the same time modest father Brown unravels the most incredible stories.

Chesterton's contribution to the detective genre was highly appreciated by both critics and readers. The accounts of Father Brown are quite deservedly recognized as classics of this genre. The entertaining storyline of the Catholic priest perfectly complements the aphoristic style, humor and deep knowledge of human nature. Chesterton became the first chairman of the "Detective Writers Club", then A. Christie replaced the writer in this post.