A Great Man by G.K. Chesterton
A Great Man is a biography of G.K. Chesterton written by Ian Ker. The book provides an in-depth look at the life and work of one of the most influential writers of the early twentieth century. It covers his childhood, education, career as a journalist and author, and his conversion to Catholicism. The book also explores Chesterton's views on politics, religion, and culture, and how they shaped his writing.
By G.K. Chesterton · First published 1930 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Satire · 1,372 words
First lines
People accuse journalism of being too personal; but to me it has always seemed far too impersonal. It is charged with tearing away the veils from private life; but it seems to me to be always dropping diaphanous but blinding veils between men and men. The Yellow Press is abused for exposing facts which are private; I wish the Yellow Press did anything so valuable. It is exactly the decisive individual touches that it never gives; and a proof of this is that after one has met a man a million times in the newspapers it is always a complete shock and reversal to meet him in real life. The Yellow Pressman seems to have no power of catching the first fresh fact about a man that dominates all after impressions. For instance, before I met Bernard Shaw I heard that he spoke with a reckless desire for paradox or a sneering hatred of sentiment; but I never knew till he opened his mouth that he spoke with an Irish accent, which is more important than all the other criticisms put together.
What this Textopian page supports
A Great Man is listed on Textopian as a short story by G.K. Chesterton, dated 1930 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: G.K. Chesterton
- Date: 1930 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Satire, Social Commentary, Fantasy
- Length: 1,372 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Great Man by G.K. Chesterton
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Great Man?
- How does this short story by G.K. Chesterton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Perfect King by Charles Kingsley
- The Lion by G. K. Chesterton
- The Prophet And The Country by Rudyard Kipling
- Alfred The Great by G. K. Chesterton
- The King Of The Earth by Charles Kingsley
- The Servant Of The Lord by Charles Kingsley
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The narrative focuses on character exploration, philosophical musings, and the nature of greatness, typical of literary fiction.
- Philosophical Fiction — The text delves into themes of identity, perception, and the nature of journalism, reflecting philosophical inquiry.
- Satire — The critique of journalism and societal perceptions of great men suggests a satirical approach.
- Social Commentary — The work comments on societal norms and the media's role in shaping public perception.
Tags
biography · philosophy · Christianity · morality · heroism · sacrifice · faith · inspiration · leadership · humanity · virtue · wisdom