Gilbert Keith Chesterton Books In Order

Publication Order of Father Brown Books

Publication Order of Father Brown Collections

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories Books

Publication Order of Standalone Plays

Publication Order of Short Story Collections

Publication Order of Picture Books

Publication Order of Chesterton's Biographies Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of The Collected Works of G. K. Chesterton Books

Publication Order of Murderous Christmas Stories Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Gilbert Keith Chesterton was one of the critically acclaimed English novelist, orator, poet, journalist, biographer, philosopher, art and literary critic, and dramatist. He was better known by the name G.K. Chesterton and was often regarded as the ‘paradox prince’. The Time magazine has observed that author Chesterton used to make his points with the help of some popular proverbs, sayings, and allergies in his novels. He is particularly well known for developing the character of the fictional priest detective named Father Brown as well as for the reasoned Apologetics. Some people who did not used to agree with author Chesterton’s works have also recognized the huge appeal of his popular literary works. As a political thinker, author Chesterton has cast aspersions on Conservatism as well as Progressivism. He used to believe that the modern world has been divided into the categories of Progressives and Conservatives. On one hand, the Progressives keep committing mistakes and on the other hand, the Conservatives try to prevent those mistakes from getting corrected. Author Chesterton always used to consider himself as an orthodox Christian. With the help of Catholism, he went on to explore this consideration more and more in the later years of his life. He eventually converted as a Catholic.

A number of biographers have identified author Chesterton as a successor of popular Victorian authors like Thomas Carlyle, John Henry Newman, John Ruskin, and Matthew Arnold. Chesterton was born on May 29, 1874 in Kensington, London, England; and died on June 14, 1936 in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England. His birth took place in the Campden Hill town of Kensington, to Edward Chesterton and Marie Louise. Author Chesterton got baptized when he was one month old into the England Church. Initially, his family used to practice Unitarians irregularly. When he was young, he became very much fascinated with the occult and started experimenting with the Ouija boards along with his brother named Cecil. Author Chesterton went on to complete his school studies from the St. Paul’s School. After that, he joined the Slade Art School with the hope of becoming an illustrator. As the Slade School was attached to one of the departments of the London University College, author Chesterton got the chance to take literature classes as well. However, he was not able to earn his degree in any of the two subjects. In the year 1901, he got married to Frances Blogg, who remained his faithful wife for the rest of his life.

In his autobiography, author Chesterton has credited his wife for motivating him to get back to Anglicanism. Although, he considered it to be a pale imitation in the later years of his life. In the year 1922, author Chesterton entered the Catholic Church with full communion. Chesterton started working for the a publisher in London named Redway in the year 1896, and then he switched to Fisher Unwin, where he worked until 1902. At the same time, he also carried his first work as a journalist. It was a freelance work as a literary and art critic. The Daily News allowed author Chesterton to write a weekly opinion column in the year 1902. This was followed by a weekly column in the year 1905 in The Illustrated News. Author Chesterton continued to work for this London newspaper, for the next 30 years of his life. Very early in his, Chesterton became interested in art. He was very much interested in becoming an artist, which can very well be seen in his writings. As he began writing novels, he gained a lot of knowledge through reading. As a result of this, he began debating on various topics, often indulging in friendly disputes with the men like H.G. Wells, Clarence Darrow, and George Bernard Shaw. Chesterton has even acted in a silent film along with Shaw which did not get released.

The Father Brown series written by author Gilbert Keith Chesterton consists of a total of 5 books, which were published between the years 1911 and 1935. Its first book is titled as ‘The Innocence of Father Brown’, which was released by the Wildside Press in the year 1911. The important characters presented in this book includes Aristide Valentin, Father Brown, and Hercule Flambeau. Initially, the plot of the book begins in the United Kingdom, featuring Father Brown as a fictional character. Author Chesterton has depicted Father Brown in a total of 52 stories, which were later compiled by him in 5 books. Author Chesterton derived the character from a parish priest living in Bradford, called Father O’Connor. He was involved in the conversion of author Chesterton to Catholicism in the year 1922, due to which he was inspired to develop the character of Father Brown. He has depicted him as a challenge to the normal detectives in a number of ways and seems to be ingenious and amusing. Brown appears as a short and stumpy Catholic priest dressed in shapeless clothes and holding a large umbrella. Author Chesterton was very much amused by the Father O’Connor’s character when the two came close. He loved his character very much. Chesterton has said that it was a fun-filled and lovely experience for him to write the first book based on the life of Father O’Connor.

The next novel of the series was published under the title ‘The Wisdom of Father Brown’. It was also set in The United Kingdom and featured the same set of characters. The book was published by the Indie publication in the year 1914. In this book, it is shown that Father Brown and Dr. Hood are having a conversation related to a young woman’s wish to marry a suspicious man. When Father Brown asks Hood as to why the woman wants to get married to that man, he replies that is a complicated story. The man named James Todhunter appears to be a decent man, but no one seems to have much knowledge about him. Dr. Hood continues saying that James is a bright and brownish fellow with agility like a monkey and clean shaven like some actor. Also, he seems to have quite a pocketful of money. However, nobody knows what trade he carries out and therefore suspicions arise as how he is able to manage so much money. Another man named MacNab tells Dr. Hood and Father Brown that James is behind something very dreadful and seems to have connections with the dynamite business. However, by saying so, he tries to make James Todhunter look like a bad person in the eyes of both the men because he has the hidden intentions of marrying the young woman instead of James.