A Brief Biography of Gilbert Keith Chesterton

Gilbert Keith Chesterton, more often referred to as just G.K., was born the son, grandson, and great-grandson, of house agents, or men who sold homes for a living. He was born in London, 1874, and was raised in a healthy, Christian home, which led to his clear worldview. He was a very intimidating man, at 6' 4" and weighing 300 pounds. Three aspects are attributed to Chesterton: he was a journalist, an author, and a man of great influence.
At first, Chesterton had aspired to become an artist, so never went to college, but instead attended Slade Art School. However, he quickly realized that he would not be able to sustain himself as an artist. Instead, he looked for another means of work that he could still find enjoyment in, and he found it in writing. “...he (Chesterton) attended lectures on English literature at University College. A fellow student whose family controlled the publishing firm of Hodder & Stoughton gave him some art books to review in the firm’s monthly, The Boohman (Gilbert).” After writing for his friend and a couple of other newspapers, Chesterton landed a job at the Liberal based The Speaker, beginning his work as a professional journalist. From his first article to his death, Chesterton was constantly at work writing articles, whether it be for the newspaper he worked for, or the one his brother later owned. According to Dale Ahlquist, president and cofounder of the American Chesterton Society, “... He considered himself primarily a journalist. He wrote over 4000 newspaper essays, including 30 years worth of weekly columns for the Illustrated London News, and 13 years of weekly columns for the Daily News.” This large portion of his work is what initially made him famous, because many came to respect...

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...dom of a man from the early 20th century can cross the span of time and and instill in me the same knowledge and wisdom, here in the early 21st century. T.S. Eliot, another one of the most prolific writers of the 20th century, once said of Chesterton, “He did more, I think, than any man of his time...to maintain the existence of the important minority in the modern world.” Chesterton’s heart was always with the minority, and to this day, his words are fighting for those who do not have a voice.

Works Cited

Ahlquist, Dale . "Who is this Guy and Why Haven’t I Heard of Him?." American Chesterton Society. 27 Mar. 2014. .
"Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874-1936)." Catholic Authors. 27 Mar. 2014. .
White, Krista L. British Literature. Rock Rapids, IA: Alpha Omega Publications, 2014.