G. K. CHESTERTON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 45, 23 February 1937, Page 6

G. K. CHESTERTON.

That review liv "< viano" of (J. 11. < ton's autobiography wli!<•)• appeare<l in the "Star" Magazine Section gave a delightful portraiture of one of the greatest voice* of modern England which wax stilled during HMI. * In this book we have ( hcMerton lit his mischievous, chuckling best, apologetically writing a inusterpiece. For lie ways on page I\~, ■. "But a real life of anybody is a very difli-ult thlnp to write; and as I have failed two or three times in trying to do it to other people, 1 am under no illusion that I call really do it to myself." If "Cyrano"' had l>een inclined to talk "shop," then we would have lienefited by his criticism of Chesterton's opinions with regard to journalism, and "the real advic« I could give to a young journalist." The rhapter "How to be a Lunatic" is perhaps one of the best pieces. It deals with his youth. And Chesterton admits that it concern* "the darkest and most difficult part of my task." Chesterton's description of "wandering doubters" is surely well done. What a tribute he pays on pqge 227 to "(1.U.5."! Havinjj spoken of their violent dispute*, whic'.i have lasted over a period of twenty years. Chesterton remarks: "And I can testify that I have never read a reply by Bernard Shaw that did not leave me in a b»*tcr and not a worse temper or frame of mind; which did not seem to come out of inexhaustible fountains of fair- . rnindedness and intellectual geniality; which did not savour somehow of that native largeness whicb the philosopher attributed to the Magnanimous Man." There is something pathetic afout Chesterton's life story, although written with fascinating charm and literary skill; it is unfortunately the last book of such a famous author. S. CLADrKO.