Manalive

First published in 1912, G. K. Chesterton's "Manalive" is the fascinating and incredible story of Innocent Smith, a man who can be described as a "holy fool". Innocent arrives at Beacon House, a London boarding establishment, and breathes new life into the residents with his games and antics. All in one day he creates the "High Court of Beacon", decides to elope with one of the residents, and convinces another lodger to declare his love for the landlady's niece. However, the authorities arrive and it is soon discovered that Smith is a suspected criminal who is to be brought up on charges of burglary, desertion of a spouse, polygamy, and attempted murder. The boarding house's residents decide to keep his presence a secret and convene their own "High Court of Beacon" to determine Smith's innocence or guilt. Smith's trial is a comical affair where curious and hilarious explanations are given for the charges against Smith, proving that he is not a criminal but is instead a lovable, but naïve and foolish man. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

Gilbert Keith Chesterton was an English author, philosopher, Christian apologist, and literary and art critic, best known for creating the fictional priest-detective Father Brown. Born on May 29, 1874, in Kensington, London, Chesterton was educated at St. Paul's Juniors and University College London before studying at the Slade School of Fine Art. His career spanned a variety of genres, from fiction to essays, and he was deeply involved in Christian apologetics, with works like Orthodoxy and The Everlasting Man solidifying his place as a prominent thinker of his time. Chesterton's works often reflected his devotion to Christianity and his philosophical musings on society, morality, and faith. He was a close associate of Hilaire Belloc and was influenced by thinkers such as Thomas Aquinas and Charles Dickens. Chesterton married Frances Blogg in 1901, and the couple remained together until his death on June 14, 1936, at the age of 62 in Beaconsfield, United Kingdom. His literary legacy continues to influence writers and thinkers, and his Father Brown stories remain a celebrated part of detective fiction.