G. K. Chesterton 
Orthodoxy 

Classic collection of essays. The Preface begins: ‘ This book is meant to be a companion to ‘Heretics, ‘ and to put the positive side in addition to the negative. Many critics complained of the book called ‘Heretics’ because it merely criticised current philosophies without offering any alternative philosophy. This book is an attempt to answer the challenge. It is unavoidably affirmative and therefore unavoidably autobiographical. The writer has been driven back upon somewhat the same difficulty as that which beset Newman in writing his Apologia; he has been forced to be egotistical only in order to be sincere. While everything else may be different the motive in both cases is the same. It is the purpose of the writer to attempt an explanation, not of whether the Christian Faith can be believed, but of how he personally has come to believe it. The book is therefore arranged upon the positive principle of a riddle and its answer.’ According to Wikipedia: ‘Gilbert Keith Chesterton (29 May 1874 – 14 June 1936) was an influential English writer of the early 20th century. His prolific and diverse output included journalism, philosophy, poetry, biography, Christian apologetics, fantasy and detective fiction. Chesterton has been called the ‘prince of paradox.’ Time magazine, in a review of a biography of Chesterton, observed of his writing style: ‘Whenever possible Chesterton made his points with popular sayings, proverbs, allegories—first carefully turning them inside out.’