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Recent Chestertonia New G. K. C. Videos & Books
For Chestertonians, it is a daunting task
to account for this in brief.
Let me try — in Chestertonian fashion — with a fairy tale. Imagine
a world under an evil enchantment, in which everyone has been cast into a
terrible, unrestful slumber — deep yet fitful, full of absurd dreams. The
best among us constantly nod off on the journey of life, a few struggle
forward in the twilight zone between sleep and wakefulness, and the vast
majority of humankind are sleepwalkers, absolutely out like a light. Now
imagine yourself being nudged to consciousness by a jolly fat uncle who has
joined you on the path and seems entirely immune to the enchantment: while he
can't cure you, he agrees to be your traveling companion, to apply persistent
and gentle nudges along the way. With every nudge you are roused, even for a
moment, to to a world bigger, deeper, wider, richer, and saner than
your dreams — and to the realization you very nearly missed it all.
The experience of being awakened by a mind awake is what makes
Chestertonians: why they dig through moldering boxes at book sales looking
for out-of-print items (though an astonishing number of Chesterton's books
remain in print), why they read and re-read those books, manage sneak his
words into their conversations and writings, and, alas, often vainly, try to
share the experience of G.K.C. with others.
In full sympathy with the newcomers' need for some kind of handle, I could
offer up a few facts (such as "Gilbert Keith Chesterton, 1874-1936, was a
journalist, novelist, social critic, cartoonist and poet who wrote, lectured
and debated philosophy, theology, history, economics, social reform and
art..."). But G.K.C. is too large for any single handle.
For more information about the American Chesterton Society, The Gift of
Wonderbook, the Apostle of Common Sense tapes, Gilbert!
magazine, or John 'Chuck' Chalberg as G.K.C., contact:
Send check or money order to:
© 2001 Cornerstone Communications, Inc. |
There's that name again — the one you keep
running into at the end of quotable quotes, almost as much as the equally
prolific "Anonymous". Chances are, though, most of you know as much about
the one author as the other. If so, let me astonish you with the fact that
there are people out there who find it impossible to imagine their lives
without the influence and constant refreshing presence of the man behind the
initials, Gilbert Keith Chesterton. 
And this is the man who inspires Minnesotan Dale Ahlquist to work so hard
trying to introduce his hero and inspiration to a new generation. Among the
recent efforts of the president of the 
"Let's start by getting something straight," says Ahlquist, settled in a
comfy chair on a tv-studio living room set. "G. K. Chesterton was the best
writer of the 20th century. He said something about everything, and he said
it better than anybody else." The firmly-opinioned Ahlquist is the creator
and host of G.K. Chesterton: The Apostle of Common Sense. Produced by
and originally aired on the Catholic Eternal Word Network, the series is
comprised of fourteen 25-minute episodes, now available on two video
cassettes. Along with the host/narrator, the shows feature still photographs
of Chesterton with voice-over quotes by Dr. John 'Chuck' Chalberg, an actor
and historian who does G.K.C. as a one-man show. Each episode includes a
vignette of Chalberg made-up and costumed as Chesterton, not as large as
life, but nevertheless a lively addition, complete with London fog.
The Gift of Wonder: The Many Sides of G.K. Chesterton, edited by Dale
Ahlquist, is a collection of papers from the 2000 conference of the American
Chesterton Society, and one can almost smell the cigar smoke rising from the
pages. Essays tackle G.K.C.'s views on law, science, Nietzsche, among other
topics (including a facinating look at Chesterton's works in Russia) with
occasional good-natured rambling and a spirit of warm fellowship.
Finally, this sad note: 