Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog Project Gutenberg 2004-05-01 Public domain in the USA. 357 Chesterton, G. K. (Gilbert Keith) 1874 1936 Chesterton, Gilbert Keith Chesterton, Gilbert K. (Gilbert Keith) The Defendant Introduction -- A defence of penny dreadfuls -- A defence of rash vows -- A defence of skeletons -- A defence of publicity -- A defence of nonsense -- A defence of planets -- A defence of china shepherdesses -- A defence of useful information -- A defence of heraldry -- A defence of ugly things -- A defence of farce -- A defence of humility -- A defence of slang -- A defence of baby-worship -- A defence of detective stories -- A defence of patriotism. Produced by Robert Shimmin, Frank van Drogen and PG Distributed Proofreaders "The Defendant" by G. K. Chesterton is a collection of essays written in the early 20th century, specifically the early 1900s. In this work, Chesterton passionately defends various aspects of life and culture that are often dismissed or criticized, such as popular literature, absurdity, and the seemingly trivial elements of daily existence. He aims to challenge prevailing societal norms and pessimistic worldviews, arguing instead for a perspective that appreciates the richness and wonder of life in all its forms. The opening of "The Defendant" introduces the author's reflections on the misconceptions surrounding contemporary literature and life. Chesterton begins by addressing the value of forgotten works, suggesting that obscurity allows for fresh appreciation. He critiques pessimistic views, emphasizing that true optimism recognizes the inherent value in the mundane. In doing so, he sets the stage for a series of spirited defenses—ranging from the merits of popular literature to the beauty found in awkward realities—arguing that society often overlooks the joy and significance of seemingly insignificant things. This initial exposition lays the foundation for Chesterton's overarching theme: that we must learn to embrace the world and find goodness within it rather than dismissing it outright. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 61.0 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. en English essays PR Text Category: Essays, Letters & Speeches Category: British Literature 194697 2025-07-05T13:49:12.072029 text/html 166646 2024-10-28T19:18:43 text/html 137193 2025-07-05T13:49:16.553055 application/epub+zip 139211 2025-07-05T13:49:13.674024 application/epub+zip 139211 2025-07-05T13:49:12.646064 application/epub+zip 238623 2025-07-05T13:49:18.809014 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 217447 2025-07-05T13:49:15.947058 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 185496 2022-09-06T19:32:23.318809 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 175690 2023-10-06T04:38:41.768034 text/plain 155975 2024-10-28T19:18:43 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 16016 2025-07-05T13:49:18.935015 application/rdf+xml 9927 2025-07-05T13:49:13.133026 image/jpeg 2911 2025-07-05T13:49:12.887029 image/jpeg 131941 2025-07-05T13:49:12.087052 application/octet-stream application/zip en.wikipedia