On Lying in Bed & Other Essays

This collection of Chesterton essays is quite extensive. It compiles many hard to find works in one volume, and therefore is worth having if you like Chesterton and want to sample a variety of his writings. The reason my review lacks five stars is because for one, the introductory essay has some biographical facts wrong, and secondly, there is no bibliography, source notes, or index. Chesterton himself always rates five stars, of course!

What an absolute joy! Chesterton is among my favorite authors, and this collection of essays lived up to my expectations. Ranging from reflections on Shakespeare and "penny dreadfuls" to essays on losing a piece of chalk and the Book of Job, these articles have a lot to offer by way of lessons on life, literature, theology, and philosophy. Chesterton is often called "the apostle of common sense" and this collection underscores that moniker well. His particular take on life is a result of his incisive wit and broad-ranging observation of human nature. Combine that with his deep commitment to Christianity and his almost super-human way with the English language, and you have a volume that will be valuable for many years to come. One of my favorite moments in the anthology is an essay that begins with a stroll through the countryside to sit on a hill and draw. It turns into an expression of the full-blooded nature of Christian virtue as Chesterton reflects on missing his white chalk. There are moments when the reader would need a deeper understanding of English culture 100 years ago than I have for some of the essays to have their full force, but I hope that is not a deterant. There is much in the volume of worth to us all.